Painting with Le Hubby

Amateur artists @work

Our Finished Work

About 3 weekends ago, we found our creative side!! well...sorta

I found out about Artsplashstudio Paint Nite while researching for my Eat. Drink. Chill & Play Abuja Post. I was intrigued, checked out their IG page and sent them a DM *humming 'it goes down in da DM'*. I got a reply from them and we conversed, i sent them my email address.

I got a mail from them not long after which specified the date, venue, time, cost per person and how to make payment. 

It costs #5,000 per person and payment must be made before the date to confirm your reservation.

My artist friend Ifesinachi has tried to convince me severally to try my hands at painting due to my love and interest in art and creative activities. This was the perfect chance as I had been informed that participants do not need to have prior experience at painting. I wasn't good at fine art in Secondary School so I would definitely feel comfortable in the midst of fellow amateurs and having a guide was also a plus. 

I told hubby about it and 'whitemailed' him into joining me, its more fun with a fellow novice afterall.

THE EXPERIENCE

The Paint Nite was on Saturday at Bamboo Lounge, Maitama and we got there early. There was a n ArtSplashStudio banner outside the room that helped us identify it. Our instructor, Mr. Bona and Christy were already there and welcomed us. The space had been set up with chairs and tables with blank painting canvases on easels, paint brushes, a rag and water to clean our brushes. It was to start by 7:00pm but we waited about 30 mins or so for the rest of the class to arrive while we conversed with our instructor, wore our aprons and got our different paint colors served on a paper plate.

Blank Canvas on Easel and Paint

Reference Painting

I initially thought there would be an outline or template for us to paint in but that wasn't the case, we only had a reference painting . We were gonna have to paint from scratch what was in the reference painting. It was a bit overwhelming to have to do it all on our own initially but our instructor, Mr. Bona ,coached us really well on how to go about it, mixing colors, etc.

Hubby in serious mode

Me feeling like an artist

We had a great time, nice conversation with others in the class, Christy was a delight and got us some great pics. 

In da zone

We got comfortable and painted our versions of the reference painting with the coaching of our instructor. Hubby and I definitely had fun and did not want it to end. We finished around past 9pm, took group and solo pics and the best part was taking home our precious creations. 

Group Pic

We are very proud of our amateur paintings, which are currently hanging on our walls at home and I intend to buy some paint and touch up my painting a bit and maybe paint some more.

I definitely have an even higher respect for artists and creators now, no be small thing abeg. 

I would really love us to try out pottery as well and explore our creative side some more.

We went to get some well deserved tasty Chicken Capitol Sharwarma for our hardwork. We'll definitely be back for some more painting fun with ArtSplashStudio.

Enjoy the pics.

Step out of your comfort zone and live a little!

Toodles!XooX

My fave birthday gift!!!!

The Picture

My last birthday was December 23, 2013 and i put up a post about it here, i ; yes it's around the corner again, but then this post is not about my upcoming birthday so let's stay on course :)

I'm here to rave about my fave birthday gift of all time! A charcoal painting of me, the gift came several months (sometime after May) after my birthday from a close friend who i really cherish. I honestly can't be grateful enough for the creative and artistic minds i have as friends, i feel very priviledged to know them on a deeper level and having them around has definitely expanded my mindset and made me more conscious of the artistic and creative abilities i possess and that surround me.

Words cannot express how much i love this painting!!! I had given a close friend one as her birthday gift but i honestly could not justify getting one for myself without feeling extremelyyyy VAIN.lol. and that was the one thing i really wanted for my birthday. My birthday is around the Christmas period so u can imagine how it goes, i don't think i ever got to celebrate my birthday in school (Pri, Sec. or Uni) because we were always closed for the holidays by then and even @home, most of my friends would have travelled to their different villages or have holiday plans made by their parents. I would be with my family and get a cake and drinks and Jollof rice and chicken (of course!) and a few cards and even fewer gifts, i did not really mind 'cos i had gotten used to it, but i would made a big fuss if my friends did not call or text me (it was more important to me than gifts). I beefed my friends who had their birthdays in school and would get loads of gift as well as loads of pranks!! Drinks will be poured on them while they were fully clothe and they would be drenched in all sorts of mixtures the minds of the perpetrators could think up (garri,dusting powder,water,closeup, etc.) and some would even beat them LOL! *smh #goodol'memories. It was always hilarious, well to me anyway, alas i never got to experience that, though i don't really care for the getting drenched part.

As i have grown older, i've been lucky enough to have friends being around to celebrate my birthday with me. My 23rd and 24th birthdays being the most 'Friendful' birthdays! and i'm more than grateful for the experience. I honestly have no idea how my 25th birthday will go and to be honest i'm not really thinking about it (stalling getting older as much as i can!!inevitable though), a holiday trip with the hubby will be nice though, y'all know how much i love to travel :D. Anyways bk to my fave birthday gift so far, the painting was given to me by Ishy B and it's a portrait of me from my wedding. He couldn't have selected a more perfect image and i'm pleasantly thrilled about it and found the perfect place for it in my new home. 

Big thanks to the artist behind the work TeenezMartinez. It was painted to perfection. You can check out the painting he made for my friend as well as other paintings he has done and the stages involved on his blog and instagram page. I put up a post about it a while back.

Ok i'm done raving about my painting. lool. It was definitely worth the wait :D

Toodles!XooX

One of the best Birthday gifts i feel i've ever given

if i do say so myself (i'm not being corny y'all).lol. Seriously i 'hunt' for special gifts to give my friends on their birthdays whenever i have the resources at my disposal sha. The fave gifts i've given so far to me are Spa treats (Hammam specifically-y'all know how i love pampering) and hubby's PS4 + 2games. This is the no. 3-a charcoal painting-and i'm glad my friend lurrveddd it (in her words '#bestpresentievergot'.ok ok.yh now i'm being proud.lool). Thanks the awesome talent of Monsieur Martins. I gave him a piture of my dear friend and he created a beautiful charcoal painting artwork from it, it was so beautiful that i almost kept it for myself even. :D *weird i know but that's how good it is! Here's a pic of the painting. 

You can check out his blog for the different stages involved in creating the piece.

I'd love to have a painting of moi from him sha....(post coming up soon on this-wishes get granted after all).

Toodles!XooX