Besties, booze and brilliant art. Paint and sip classes bring together all our favourite things. From day-drinking creative bonanzas, to twilight artsy affairs. Splosh, swoosh and glide your way to your next pièce de résistance. Whether that’s a wistful landscape, vibrant rap legend or your best mate in pop art form. Paw-traits are even a thing now, too.
There’s a paint and sip class for every stroke of folk. So gather the gals, your other half, or even your office crew. And uncork your creativity with our round up of the best places to paint and sip on the Gold Coast. No experience necessary.
The Sweet Fine Artist Studio
Mermaid Beach
Tucked away in Mermaid Beach’s creative corner, The Sweet Fine Artist Studio is the brainchild of artist Maree Quinn. A stone’s throw from The Borrowed Nursery, Maree has swung open her doors to share her talents and techniques learned over the past two decades, making this the longest-running paint and sip on the Gold Coast.
Set inside an airy space kitted out with upcycled furniture tenderly restored by Maree herself, this inspiring studio sets the scene to unfurl your creative genius during one of her frequent paint and sip classes on the Gold Coast. Or keep an eye out for their monthly pop-ups at The Henchman. No need to pack paints, paper, your canvas, apron or glassware, Maree’s sorted the lot. Simply BYO booze, bites and a mind on the brink of something beautiful.
Miami Marketta
Miami
Your willy-nilly weekend plans just got a whole lot tastier. Gather artisan nibbles as you wander through Miami’s iconic twilight markets before heading into this after-dark creative haunt. Featured in their Bare Art workshop series, Miami Marketta’s uber popular paint and sip classes take doodling to a whole new level.
Think: a DJ spinning the decks while you paint a nude model’s pecs. This adult-only affair includes your painting supplies, muse and a nude piece to take home. Hang it loud. Hang it proud.
Pinot & Picasso
Broadbeach, Southport & Palm Beach
Rumour has it, creativity is found at the bottom of a pinot noir. It’s also undoubtedly lurking inside one of Pinot & Picasso’s three Gold Coast studios. Channel Pablo in Palm Beach, swoosh brushes in Southport, or blot your worries away in Broadbeach. For a neat $59, or less mid-week, arrive with zero experience and an unquenchable thirst for creativity.
Simply BYO snacks and sips or add a locally sourced grazing board to your order at checkout. Come along to create everything from an ultra aesthetic Tuscan scene, to Mount Fuji with cherry blossoms in full bloom. Even a desert scene warmed by a beating Saharan sun. Or keep your eye out for new inspiring subjects rolling out on the reg.
Paint Juicy
Various Gold Coast locations
Did someone order drinks with a side of disco? From hot air balloons and nude muses to a good old-fashioned peacock. Paint Juicy doesn’t muck around with their wide stretch of styles and locales. Proudly an LGBTQIA+ inclusive space, come and express yourself on the canvas and in general, too. With classes spanning across the Gold Coast, slap some paint on your piece in Robina, Surfers Paradise, Pimpama, Nerang, at Burleigh Heads’ pink paradise or even Coomera’s Moonlight Night Markets.
Hit their Burleigh Heads studio on a Friday evening for a cheekily cheap $49 three-hour session—BYO drinks and nibbles for an epic night where art, entertainment and fun collide. Retro playlists feature your fave old school hits (looking at you Backstreet Boys) and their psychedelic-meets-disco studios almost guarantee your creative juices will flow as effortlessly as your BYO beverages.
The Art Exchange
Nerang
You’ve heard of a tipsy text. How about a plonked up portrait? Paint your pet, date or mate with The Art Exchange and your favourite secret weapon, a bottle of bubbles. Arguably hosting the most diverse range of paint and sip classes on the Gold Coast, local pro-artist Chad Stevens is here to pop-artify your pal painting as you create that gift that keeps on giving.
A literal painting of your friend while they return the favour before your very eyes, in real time. Cue the smirks, side eyes and hilarious reveal. Or flex your bristles with a purrfect pawtrait of your furry friend. How? Flick through a photo of Fido a few days before the event, and the friendly team will have a sketch ready to swirl your paintbrush over on the night. Situated in their Nerang studio, $59 will set you up with supplies, simply BYO booze and bites.
Wesley Taylor Art Studios
Various locations
If your nighttimes are reserved for cocooning with Netflix or telling your plant babies how cute they are, Wesley Taylor Art Studios Gold Coast paint and sip classes are your go-to. Kicking off at 2pm in Cavill Avenue on the first Saturday of every month, feel very adult with a day drinking-fuelled workshop.
Want to sip and… something else? Opt for clay play at Surfers Paradise’s Bavarian Haus on the last Saturday of every month. Ranging from $25 to a sweet $39 a pop, there’s a flamingo, flower arrangement or flaming hot sunset with your name on it.
Brushed N Boozee
Burleigh Heads
Like the Warhols, Dahlie’s and Picassos of the art world, hip hop’s seen some serious game-changers, too. Think Biggie, Tupac and Snoop who all rightfully deserve a place in your life. Any art wiz will reveal, atmosphere is everything. So Brushed N Boozee’s neon glow is set to unearth your inner artist. Blanketed in vibrant urban murals, this newlocale is exactly where you’ll find the best paint and sip classes on the Gold Coast for rap lovers.
Turn up the volume on your home’s decor with an ultra modern ode to a musical legend or original designer drip signed ‘you’. Shoot hoops, pre-order a nibble platter, or order Uber Eats direct to your desk. All while crooning to beats destined to get more than the gin and juice flowing. Every Friday and Saturday night, Brushed N Boozee invite you to their crib for beats, brushes and booze. Opt for a public class and BYO tipple, swagger in for ladies night or hire the place out for your own next-level event.
The Bubbly Canvas
Varsity Lakes
Pop a cork, wet your whistle and weave a paintbrush between your knuckles. The Bubbly Canvas has sketched up Gold Coast’s best paint and sip classes for you and your mini me. Featuring guaranteed giggles and with classes guided by the dang popular Jess, you may even leave with more than a masterpiece for your home, but new friends too.
Channel your inner artisté at a parent-child art class, give your little tacker a gentle nudge into a school holiday class. Or fly solo with a paint and sip sesh featuring a glass of bubbles and snack platter with every booking. Don’t mind if we do.
Ashley Bunting Studio
Hope Island
Spoiler alert: we found one of the best Gold Coast paint and sip classes to bring your kiddos to. Decorate your walls with painted florals, furry friends or creatures of the deep with your pro-guided masterclass at Ashley Bunting Studio.
Hosted in Sanctuary Cove's Bistro 19, add a charcuterie board to your order and nibble your way around a selection of salami, prosciutto, seasonal fruits, dips and nuts while you’re at it. The best bit? While you indulge in a cheeky sip, the kidlets will cheers with a complimentary juice and munch on a cheese toastie. We’ll have what they’re having.
Looking for more creative workshops on the Gold Coast? Check out these ceramaic classes.
Image credit: Pinot & Picasso, Paint Juicy & Brushed N Boozee