What makes a Paintvine painting night different?
Social painting events combine creativity with a relaxed night out. Instead of a traditional art class, these experiences are designed to be social, beginner-friendly, and hosted in lively venues.
At a Paintvine event, guests are guided step by step through a painting while enjoying the atmosphere of a local bar. Everything you need is provided – canvas, paints, brushes and an apron – and no previous painting experience is required.
Because events take place in hospitality venues, guests can purchase wine, beer, cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks from the bar while they paint. Drinks aren’t included with your ticket, but they’re available throughout the evening, which helps create a relaxed and social environment.
For many people, it’s the perfect mix of creativity, conversation and a night out with friends.
The Rise of Social Painting Nights
How painting nights became a popular group activity
Social painting experiences first gained popularity in the United States in the early 2000s. Art instructors noticed that adults often felt nervous about painting and would spend too much time worrying about getting everything perfect.
The solution was simple – create a more relaxed environment where people could paint while enjoying a drink and socialising. The result was a new type of creative event where the focus shifted from technical skill to having fun and trying something new.
Over time, these painting nights spread internationally, becoming a popular option for date nights, birthday celebrations, team-building events and evenings out with friends.
Some companies run events in dedicated studios, while others partner with local bars and venues to create a more social atmosphere.
Paintvine: Bringing Social Painting to New Zealand
Paintvine introduced social painting events to New Zealand in 2017. Founders Alex and Denym discovered the concept overseas and saw an opportunity to bring a similar creative night out to Aotearoa.
At the time, there were few midweek activities that combined creativity and socialising in a relaxed setting. By partnering with local bars and venues, Paintvine created a format that felt less like an art class and more like an experience.
What started with a single event in Auckland quickly expanded across the country. Today, Paintvine hosts events throughout New Zealand, giving people in cities and regional areas the chance to try painting in a welcoming and social environment.
What Happens at a Paintvine Event?
A typical Paintvine event lasts around two to three hours. Guests arrive to find their canvas and painting materials already set up.
An instructor then guides the group through the artwork step by step, making it easy for beginners to follow along. There’s plenty of time to chat, relax and enjoy the atmosphere while painting. Paintvine events are 100% judgement-free zones, and fun is our only requirement.
By the end of the session, everyone leaves with their own finished artwork – and often a few laughs along the way.
These events are popular for:
- date nights
- birthday celebrations
- hens parties
- corporate team building
- Christmas parties
- creative evenings with friends
Private events can also be arranged for groups looking for a unique activity.
Today, Paintvine hosts thousands of enthusiastic apprentice artists monthly, offering not only public events but also customisable experiences for corporate events, team-building activities, hens parties, Christmas parties, and more.
One distinctive feature sets Paintvine apart: the company supports and commissions their team of New Zealand based artists to create unique paintings, releasing new pieces every month. They lead the industry in innovative events, introducing concepts like Paint Your Pet and pioneering glow-in-the-dark painting with their After Dark events.
Collaborations with Drag Queens Anita Wigl'it and Kita Mean resulted in the development of Dragvine, the world's first ever paint and wine event hosted by Drag Queens, complete with games and performances for a hilarious, unique night of creative entertainment.
Supporting Local Bars and Weeknight Hospitality
Paintvine events are designed to support local bars and hospitality venues by bringing new customers through the door on weeknights. By hosting social painting events during quieter evenings, venues can attract groups of guests looking for a relaxed and creative night out.
This collaboration helps build connections between artists, venues and local communities while offering people a creative way to spend time together.
A Creative Night Out in New Zealand
Social painting has become a popular activity because it offers something many people are looking for – a chance to try something creative without pressure or prior experience.
Whether you’re attending with friends, organising a work event, or simply looking for a different kind of night out, Paintvine events are designed to be relaxed, social and accessible to everyone.
Pick up a brush, enjoy the atmosphere, and see what you can create.
Drink. Paint. Just don’t drink the paint.™
