Paint, drink and be merry at Sip & Gogh

I have always been fascinated by art ever since I could remember. I grew up watching my architect dad draft his designs and seeing his masterpieces come to life. Although I dabbled in drawing and painting during my art electives in high school, I never really pursued that path. Now, I’m just happy appreciating art and not necessarily creating it. 

My inner artist though, was awakened when I attended a children’s party at Sip & Gogh, a paint and sip studio in the Philippines. It was the first time I stepped into an establishment that allows its guests to create works of art while enjoying some vino. 

Even before I stepped inside, I saw colorful artwork on display through the glass doors. On one side, vibrant oil paintings lined the walls, while on the other was the simple bar area. In the middle were rows of blank canvas on easels ready for the guests.

During that particular private event, I witnessed both kids and adults enjoy being an artist even for a day. The little ones painted the characters of Elsa and Anna from Frozen, and not to be outdone were the grown-ups who created a beach scene on canvas. It seemed like everybody had a good time no matter their age or level of experience.

Unleash your inner artist

The birth of this studio concept came about when a group of friends were enjoying a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon one rainy night, and one of them shared his experience about a particular painting activity that he attended in the U.S. Soon after, they put up a corporation and constructed the studio, which officially opened in 2012. They decided on a name that honored the art genius, Vincent Van Gogh. 

According to one of the business owners, Christopher Cruz, “We were particularly inspired by a lot of his encouraging statements one of which is: ‘If you hear a voice within you that say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.’ We believe that this is very suitable to most of our guests in our studio who would be painting for the first time.  We hope that they also get inspired by his words so they will develop a love for painting.” 

Guests do not necessarily need painting chops to enjoy the activities at Sip & Gogh, especially since it has its own in-house art instructors that provide step-by-step instructions during the whole painting process—from sketching to color-mixing and even applying proper brushstrokes.

These instructors are all graduates of Fine Arts who majored in painting and have been trained to supervise various sessions and workshops. I saw them taking their time to explain how to go about with the painting process to children as young as five years old who eventually displayed proud smiles on their faces when they finished their artworks.

Kids were not the only ones who liked the activity. I saw adults who had fun painting with their friends, too. In fact, since the studio opened, it has been getting guests composed of dating couples, girlfriends on a night-out, family members, and even co-workers who wanted to do a different team-building activity. 

Cruz mentioned that over 90 percent of their guests painted for the first time. “There is a growing number of Filipinos who are continuously looking for and are willing to spend on new activities that will allow them to express their ideas and showcase their creativity like painting.” Sip & Gogh’s formula of combing art with a more social element has appealed to different people who simply want a new venue to relax and have fun.    

According to Cruz, “Aside from simply providing art instruction and serving wine, we have included other alcoholic beverages like cocktails and imported beer and non-alcoholic drinks like juices and sodas as well plus complimentary snacks.” There were kiddie snacks at the children’s party I attended, but I found out that set plates of cheese and salami are served at painting session packages for adults. 

Aside from private painting sessions for special occasions, Sip & Gogh also offers a Basic Acrylic Painting Workshop for both kids and adults who want to learn the fundamentals of painting. It also has kid-centered sessions called Little Van Gogh, which aims to help the young ones develop their creativity and foster love for the arts. At the end of each session, participants get to take home their masterpieces, as well as a great sense of accomplishment.

Guests do not really have to bring anything when they visit Sip & Gogh, as its painting sessions already include all the art materials like paint, brush, easel and apron, and of course, assistance from the in-house artists. “They will only need to come to our studio with their enthusiasm to paint and we will take care of everything else to help them complete their artworks.” 

Prices vary depending on the type of session, so take a look around their website first before you decide to pay a visit. – Rappler.com

Sip & Gogh is located at G/F Capitol Greenstreet, Capitol Hills Drive, Old Balara, Quezon City. For inquiries, contact +63 (2) 961-1248 (Tuesday to Friday starting at 4pm and Saturday to Sunday starting at 10am) or email info@sipandgogh.com. For more, sipandgogh.com.

As a freelance writer and editor, Nikka Sarthou-Lainez enjoys being her own boss and having the flexibility to indulge in her other passions like food and travel. Every year, she vows to visit places she has never been to and tick them off her bucket list. She hopes to be like chef/host Anthony Bourdain someday who journeys around the world to sample different cuisines, one plate at a time. Find out more about her travel and culinary adventures and follow her on Twitter @nikkasarthou.