Tap into your inner street artist and receive a special Pride discount when you book a workshop at their Chicago or Evanston location this June.
Street art is a familiar sight around Chicago, but the average Chicagoan has probably never imagined painting a mural across an expansive brick wall or adding graffiti to an outdoor space in their neighborhood. That’s where Studio WIP comes in. At their Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip workshops, the company invites small groups to visit their Evanston or West Humboldt Park locations to learn more about the public artform, and pick up a can of spray paint and let their creative spirit shine under the watchful eye of an experienced local artist.
In line with their motto, “You can art, too,” Studio WIP welcomes patrons from all walks of life, and for Pride 2022 they’re showing their solidarity with Chicago’s LGBTQIA+ community by offering a 15% discount on bookings for all of their Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip workshops. “Pride is about acknowledging the risk takers and honoring them, and pushing [the idea of risk-taking] forward,” owner Adam Dittman says. “Each risk taker has a different reasoning, whether they’re doing it for themselves or for their community. I think anyone who celebrates Pride understands that and is here for that—gay, straight, or otherwise.”
That same notion of risk taking lies at the core of Studio WIP. Dittman says the company prides itself in providing a safe, welcoming environment that encourages people to step outside their comfort zones and explore something new. “The first risk is signing up for a workshop. The next is having an open mind; When people stare at a blank canvas, it can be the most daunting thing to get the first paint on it,” he says.
The workshops, which are BYOB for people 21+, provide a glimpse into the world of a street artist, with instruction on the basics of aerosol paint, manipulating a can of spray paint, blending colors, and safety tips (for example, Studio WIP only uses high-quality VOC-free paint). That said, it’s almost entirely interactive; participants can expect to start painting within the first twenty minutes. “So you’re up, you’re moving, and you’re experimenting on our walls, and then into your canvas,” Dittman says “From there, we take a break and see how everyone is doing, and we support each other in that moment.”
After that, the group might explore painting 3D objects and stencil technique using some of the more than 200 house-made stencils Studio WIP has at their facilities. Participants are invited to paint on the expanse of the studio walls, which are affixed with 16” x 20” canvases, so that everyone is able to take home what describes as “a punch-out of the entire experience.”
“We try to teach, ‘Don’t focus on the 16” x 20,” look at the broader area. And then they’ll be able to pull that one piece of it away at the end,” Dittman says.
While Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip workshops are designed to foster fun and connection, in a city with a history of stigmatizing street art and criminalizing those who make it, they also challenge misconceptions, such as the outdated stereotype that spray paint is inherently “bad” (In Chicago, it’s been illegal to purchase aerosol paint within city limits since 1992).
“We are here to open the door and hopefully start a conversation.” Dittman says. “Street art is for everyone. We’re here to facilitate a moment, and if we can change some perspectives along the way, then thumbs up.”
Book your workshop now at www.studiowip.biz
This sponsored content is paid for by Studio W.I.P.
