I’d long seen pictures of “paint nights” pop up in my Instagram feed, but it wasn’t until recently that I discovered these aren’t just random meetings of people with paint and wine, but rather events fastidiously organized by a company named Paint Nite. Paint Nite puts on literally thousands of events each week. The week I write this, there were fifteen scheduled in San Francisco alone.

A mention of the Paint Nite phenomena at the Peerspace lunch table revealed that our Special Events Manager, Mona, has not only been, but organized and attended over a dozen Paint Nites for everything from bridal showers, dates, team offsites, and girls nights. Her two-word summary for why she keeps coming back: “group meditation.”

Despite the dissenters at the table, Mona insisted Paint Nite is not a competition nor is it an excuse to get tipsy; rather it’s a practice – like yoga or meditation. Each time she shows up to the easel, she sees her final work improve in small ways – be that applying a certain brush stroke or mixing her colors to get the perfect hue. The wine is just an added bonus (and she predicts helps people shake any insecurities around their amateur art skills).

She recommends anyone who wants to embrace their inner artist or just wants to have a fun and relaxing evening with a group try Paint Nite (and if you happen to need help organizing this for a team or executive off-site, she can help). That said, she has some advice for first timer attendees and organizers:

For attendees:

1. Go 30 minutes early – Seats fill up fast. Have someone in your group go early to reserve your seats.
2. Grab a drink – one of the best parts of Paint Nite is that you can order anything off of the menu. It’s the perfect time to try out a new cocktail or ask for a recommendation from the server.
3. Order food you can eat with a paintbrush in hand. I’m just saying, pizza goes great with reds.

For organizers:

1. Pick a space that’s near the office. It doesn’t matter how fun your event is, people don’t want to take any extra time on to their commute.
2. If you’re attending a public event, use the opportunity to try out a new restaurant or bar. Since Paint Nite happens in local venues, it’s a great chance to support the restaurants and bars near you.
3. If you’re planning a private event, you can have a Paint Nite artist come to you. Why not try out a Peerspace? You can find the perfect spot and let Paint Nite bring the party.

Here are some of our favorite spots:

Bright Luxurious Tribeca Loft Space, New York

Gorgeous Marina Event Space, San Francisco

Centrally located dynamic Offsite/Event space with a Madmanesque classy vibe, Los Angeles

Sunny Storefront Gallery – WOW District, Chicago

Explore Creative Spaces