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Painting has never really been my thing—not since our earliest childhood. I remember doing all my schoolwork myself, but I would delegate anything that involved drawing straight to my mother. Who knows why that aversion showed up so early, especially when it’s natural for a child to go wild with brushes, paints, and all that mess. What’s certain is that I never nurtured the “doing” side of art—only the “appreciating.” What do I mean by that? Well, truth is, I’ve always loved art, but mostly as a spectator. Maybe my followers didn’t know that, but what they do know is that my son @stow01, a seasoned artist, is visiting me at home. It was his idea to host a “Painting Party” and invite some friends over. The day before yesterday, he went out and bought canvases, cold paints, brushes, markers, and all the little bits and pieces needed for the creative session we were about to dive into. I’m not familiar with the concept myself, but in the art world, these gatherings are quite common—they’re part of the social ritual among people who genuinely enjoy the craft.
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Another hallmark of these gatherings is the sharing of food and drink. Even better when guests pitch in somehow. I didn’t ask him too many questions, but he also went out and bought snacks and liquor to spice up the evening. The activity unfolds more or less like this: when the group isn’t made up of seasoned painters, the artist—in our case @stow01—guides everyone through the object they’ll be painting. It can be something he suggests (he offered four options: a rainbow, a cactus, a flower, and a duck in a pond) or something proposed by the participants themselves. In our case, since we’re tied to the crypto world, we came up with the idea of painting the Bitcoin symbol with a yellow lightning bolt shooting upward—crypto slang for when the market takes off and the coin “goes to the moon.” So we each sketched out the design we’d later bring to life with color.
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Remember I told you I used to delegate drawing to my mother? Well, the sketch I laid down had all the unmistakable traits of someone insecure with a pencil: crooked lines, disproportionate curves, a three-dimensional look with lights and shadows flipped upside down—in short, a disaster of biblical proportions. Still, the artist encouraged us to keep going, and in that spirit, I connected with the essence of the activity: having fun regardless of the outcome. Once the sketches were done, it was time for the brushes. The artist gave us tips on how to handle the colors, the paint, the strokes on the canvas, and a few tricks to avoid crashing mid-flight. That might’ve been the part I enjoyed most—filling in is far less demanding for me than sketching. And then came a tray of pastelitos and tequeños that tasted like heaven, grounding the soul right where it belonged. A well-paired wine, mixed with Sprite, played the role of a summer red for the occasion.
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As we wrapped up, the artist gave us final instructions to complete our “masterpieces,” and then each participant signed their work. After admiring everyone’s paintings, we each shared what the experience stirred within us, before explaining why we had chosen our particular subject. The closing words were deeply emotional, as the gathering also served as a farewell for @stow01 and his friends from Maracay. @aventurerasbike joined in and appears in the photos with her piece. @stow01 isn’t pictured here—he’s not one to show up on social media, preferring to keep that aura of mystery around him. In the images, you’ll also see this humble narrator’s sketching and painting process, along with the finished works of the other participants. Would I do it again? Absolutely. It was a beautiful experience that helped us reconnect with our inner child. Plus, you end up with something to show your visitors—a humble attempt at art. What do you think, dear reader? Have you ever joined a party like this? Tell me in the comments!
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