A picture perfect environment: imagine ending a stressful day with a glass of wine in one hand and a paintbrush in the other.
Sips n Strokes provides a place to escape from the chaotic world by painting worries away onto a canvas while sipping on a beverage.
"The inspiration behind Sips n Strokes, I would say, is just to have a fun night out, and good way to get out and do something different for a date night or something fun to do with the girls," said Charlotte Hames, instructor of Sips n Strokes.
Pre-stenciled canvases, drink stations, relaxing background music and paint pallets ready to go. Hames begins instructing her class step by step on how to paint the 'hat lady' as the majority of the class seems a bit eerie reaching outside their comfort zone.
Hames said she will start the class out with more difficult techniques first for many reasons. It provides more time to work on the challenging parts and by the end of the class people tend to be tipsy.
"The environment of the place was fantastic," said Anna McLendon, junior in nursing. "You never feel out of place, because you are there with around 20 to 25 other people who are in your shoes when it comes toart."
Hames said the concept of bringing your own drinks can help put people at ease.
"The more tipsier they are, the more relaxed," Hames said. "Unless they start painting horrible things, but we are able to fix anything."
Everyone is given the exact stenciled out canvas but end up with a completely different look than anyone else.
"There are some type A personalities that come in and they are all uptight and don't really relax and are stressed out," Hames said. "I feel like if you come in with an open mind set, it is a good way to slow down your day and relax." Hames said she has people come in to Sips n Strokes all of the time not knowing anyone and before they leave they have already made numerous friends.
"I have been coming here once a week, since June 26," said Annie Hillin, a customer of Sips n Strokes. "We just moved down here a couple of years ago so we do not know a lot of people. I like coming here and talking to the different people. All of the girls that work here are so nice as well as the owner."
After paying more than $1,000, Hillin is left with 34 paintings. She said it is merely for enjoyment and relaxation.
One could imagine where she would store all of these paintings in her house in Auburn, but she'd rather share her talent with others.
"I give them away as gifts," Hillin said. "Either as a Christmas or birthday gift."
Hillin said she started painting only 5 years ago and heard about Sips n Strokes from her mom, who had been encouraging her to check it out for a while now.
The unique getaway is for anyone, artist or not.
"Even though they go step-by-step, they still go just quick enough to kind of 'force you' to add your own little spin into it, to make it personal," McLendon said. "I recommend Sips n Strokes as a must-do in Auburn."
McLendon said she has always had a creative eye and enjoyed being artistic, but Sips n Strokes can be for anyone.
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