'Cocktails and Canvas' at LBIF

On Friday, Sept. 21, a group of year-round Jersey Shore residents looking for a unique evening out on Long Beach Island joined painting instructor Sheri Hansen in the gallery of the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences for the center’s first-ever Cocktails & Canvas event.

Photo by Jack Reynolds

“We offer a lot of painting and other art classes here, and sometimes people who’ve never tried them before are nervous to join them,” said Kristy Redford, LBIF’s public programs and membership coordinator, who also participated in the event. “A lot of people really like being creative. So we decided to create a casual evening here, where people can come hang out with their friends, drink wine and get an introduction to painting, all while in a relaxed atmosphere at the Foundation.

“People really seem to enjoy our evening date nights here. In the summer, our most popular classes were the different couples’ classes we offer, like our couples’ cooking classes in the Food Studio. It seemed like people were looking for something different to do on a Friday night on the Island, and painting is a fun way to let your creativity out,” she added.

As gentle indie music played quietly in the background through the gallery’s surrounding speakers, participants poured red wine into glasses and nibbled on a selection of chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and macadamia cookies, before taking a seat behind their selected easels, complete with a blank canvas and a plethora of paint brushes and acrylic paints to choose. A colorfully adorned table set up with still life images representing fall – including red and green apples and gourds, brown bricks and detailed china plates – lay before them under bright lights and cascading shadows, urging them to get creative.

“I’ve never really painted before, but I brought a lot of wine. So hopefully that will help,” joked Brian Koos, 31, from Wall Township in Monmouth County.

After mixing up a few different colors of paint, Hansen gave a demonstration on how to begin composing a mural. She encouraged the class to zero in on a specific element on the table, instead of trying to paint the entire display. She suggested choosing images with similar colors and mixing a comparable shadow, mid-tone and highlight color to make things simple, while reminding everyone that dark colors recede and light colors pop. Offering more advice, she said it was best to avoid drawing distinct lines, and sweeping curves were more manageable to work with. However, everyone was encouraged to let their painting take on whatever configuration felt natural.

Photo by Jack Reynolds

“Just start painting. Once you get all the white to go away, you’re engaged. Then keep reminding yourself what your original interest was,” urged Hansen, 29, from Galloway Township in Atlantic County.

While Koos sketched the logo of his favorite soccer team, whose emblem is a blue lion, Redford began painting “happy, little trees.” The others in the class got their ideas from a supplied printout, or focused on an image from the table.

Jason Ward, 32, from Galloway Township, said he was going to focus on the brown box and red bricks in the corner of the table.

“I like the different forms and textures of the rectangle and square shapes. I like geometric forms, opposed to the more-organic forms. The apples and pumpkins are more rounded, and they require more work,” he said while mixing up a pallet of oil paints, which he had brought himself. “I want to get as close as possible to completing something tonight, so I need to have a good, sensible plan before I start painting.

“Acrylic paint dries fast, which is good for short events like these, where people need the option to be able to retouch their paintings and cover up mistakes without a lot of muddiness. Having the option to paint something and take it home after it’s already dry is preferable. But I prefer working with oil paints because they don’t dry out as fast,” he remarked.

Recent graduates from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Hansen and Ward will be teaming up as co-instructors for the Foundation’s Teen Art Studio: Portfolio Preparation classes. The six-week charcoal drawing course will help students looking to get into art schools gather a portfolio of sample pieces, while also helping them sharpen their skills.

“Drawing is really the foundation for visual thinking,” explained Hansen. “So I think it will really help all kinds of artists in all different kinds of media, like sculptors and two-dimensional artists.”

Cocktails and Canvas continued for more than two hours. By 9 p.m., everyone was having too much fun to stop and put their paintings away.

Photo by Jack Reynolds

“I’m not stopping. I’ve come too far,” said Koos, who was intently focusing on painting the inside of his drawing.

But after a while, everyone was either finished with their canvas, or they had just had enough of it.

“I had such a wonderful time tonight. Cocktails go well with canvas, apparently,” said Lisa Sokal, a resident from Barnegat Light who has been volunteering at the Foundation since 1974. “I loved picking out what to paint. Sheri had such a nice display, with some really classic and inventive pieces and great lighting.

“She’s really patient, too. It’s fine if you’re a painter, and it’s fine if you’re a beginner. It doesn’t matter to her. She’ll help you with whatever it is you need,” Sokal added.

Cocktails and Canvas classes will be held again on Fridays, Oct. 5 and Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. Registration for each class costs $15 for Foundation members and $20 for nonmembers. Art materials are supplied, but participants are welcome to bring their beverages of choice. Teen Art Studio: Portfolio Preparation classes will be held on Sundays, Oct. 7 through Nov. 11, from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, visit lbifoundation.org.