A little paint, a little guidance and something to take home

Suzon Anne has been keeping paintbrushes busy around the North Peace lately.

The Fort St. John artist has been hosting paint nights around the community, giving people a chance to sit down for a couple of hours, follow along step by step and leave at the end of the evening with something they painted themselves.

The Alaska Highway News happened to run into Suzon recently while leaving an opening reception at Peace Gallery North, as she was getting ready for another paint night inside the North Peace Cultural Centre.

That evening’s event ran from 7 to 9 p.m., with participants paying $50 for the class, supplies and a drink while Suzon guided them through the painting.

Suzon describes the nights as something people can take part in even if they do not consider themselves painters, with the idea being to walk everyone through the piece one step at a time rather than expecting anyone to arrive knowing what they are doing.

“If you're looking for paint nights of any sorts, private or corporative, I could offer you some fun time even if you don't have much experience with painting by guiding you step-by-step and you leave with an artwork to take home,” she wrote in her Facebook group.

The paintings change from event to event too.

Her Cultural Centre session featured a colourful woodland-style painting, while an Oct. 13 Paint & Sip at Beard’s Brewing Co. took things in a more seasonal direction with a big orange pumpkin and a few playful touches mixed in.

Suzon’s next event is set for Saturday, Oct. 17 at KNUX Gallery, which is already sold out, where participants will take on a Van Gogh-inspired sunflower painting as part of her Be Inspired series.

Another Paint & Sip is already planned for Nov. 7 at KNUX Gallery, continuing the Be Inspired series.

For anyone wanting to keep an eye on upcoming nights, Suzon also has a Paint & Sip with Suzon Anne Facebook page where she posts new events and details as they come together.

For people around the North Peace who have always wanted to try painting but maybe never quite knew where to start, Suzon seems pretty happy to provide the first few brush strokes.