Drink. Eat. Create.

My very first ArtJamz painting

That’s what ArtJamz’s founder and fearless leader Michael Clements (Genki Media LLC) says is his motto.  If you aren’t super familiar with Clements, you may know him as the dark haired artsy hip Managing Editor of Washington Life magazine, often found at events casually donning a backward beret, talking in a calm demeanor to the latest A-lister in from Hollywood, with a cameraman following him on the red carpet.  The recently engaged “Renaissance Man” is doing his best to create his own Renaissance here in our nation’s capital by inviting the usual party suspects (who frankly admit the only brushes they ever have used has bronzer on the end them), to “unleash their inner artist” at the ArtJamz sessions.

Typically, the intimate events which last a few hours in the evening (schedule link below) are held at various area venues and for a mere $60 attendees get drinks, food, music (by way of DJ or if you are lucky, live artists), paint, easel and canvas. And yes, you get to take your piece de resistance home with you.  Fear not little one. Don’t be intimitated by those who saunter in and with the flip the wrist somehow create something sort of like “Joy of Painting”‘s Bob Ross (“just a little birdie there…he wants to sing, oh that birdie wants to sing, oh look! that little birdie has a friend and they are so happy singing together…and oh, look at the sun, such a happy sun, the sun is joining them in singing…). No, don’t worry this is a pure “no judgment zone”, thank goodness.

What ArtJamz is, is truly one of the best events I’ve been to this year.  The environment is geared for everyone’s success and fun.  People walk around, drinking, eating, chatting, observing, consulting, asking, complimenting, and helping.  It’s is a positive zone where you can let loose and like a book club, you get to learn a lot about the guy/gal you’ve been talking with at every cocktail party since you could legally drink.  You get to share your inner artist, let go of your fears and find out about others in a meaningful way by creating and discussing.

Last week, thanks to generous Punch Partner and ArtJamz sponsor, vitaminwater zero™, a gathering of about 25 rounded up and met at Penn Quarter’s Gibson Guitar studio for an ArtJamz private VIP session.  When I walked in, of course I was a bit nervous, but relieved that I wasn’t the only one who felt shy about what mess I might make on the canvas.  Clements said, “Pamela, my motto is ‘eat, drink, and create’, so I suggest you start with that!”  That I did and before I knew it with the help of some inpiration (called red wine) and cool DJ tunes as well as the live soothing vocals and performance of local band US Royalty, I was able to develop somewhat of a piece of work.

Walking around and talking to the other “artists” I realized there was a cool eclectic dynamic already in progess, a mixing of  many whom did not know each other and yet were deposited in a vulnerable setting.  Everyone for the most part had let go, were laughing and really enjoying themselves.  Granted, as with any group, there will be a bell curve and believe me, there were a few canvases in there that no doubt could go for a few hundred.

Do I plan on attending another ArtJamz session? Absolutely and I do hope that you will join to “drink. eat. create. and unleash your inner artist”.  You never know just what’s inside waiting to come out.

http://artjamzdc.com

Special thanks goes to vitaminwater zero™ for its sponsorship!