Hello! My name is Adam and I need to become an artist. Just to clarify, I don’t dream to become an artist, I do not aspire to become one, I simply NEED to. Like a life-and-death need! For real! 🙂
Unfortunately, I am too old (and busy) to enroll in a traditional art school, so online courses and relentless practice (when I’m not occupied or tending my kid) are my only true salvation. But practicing alone gets stale pretty fast… even when you have clear goals and a progression plan, sometimes you just end up sitting still and staring at the screen while feeling like a complete loonie in this world. It is not a fun feeling.
This is how I discovered the concept of Drink and Draw – it’s all about a bunch of strangers with a shared desire to scribble on paper (or tablet) gathering together and… drawing in peace. Some people visit such events to connect with others and find like-minded friends; others (like me 90% of the time) just want to come alone, sketch in silence, and leave on their own terms without saying a word.
The most important thing that makes this setting different from just casually taking a seat in a random cafe is the comforting sense of community. You may be completely anonymous and surrounded by strangers, but you know that these people share something deeply common with you. It’s a very powerful feeling, especially in our day and age when many of us become increasingly isolated between their job, home, and phone.
To my surprise, finding such an opportunity in Stockholm turned out to be harder than expected! A simple search on Google gave me many results… but 50% of them were just one single event at the Moderna Museet! To be honest, what they have organized there is a very cozy and cool thing, but it happens only once a month and lasts for merely two hours before the museum closes.
Other opportunities to drink and draw in Stockholm ranged from infrequent, hard-to-discover events organized by diverse small cultural organizations, to pretty costly timed experiences hosted in prominent hotels and galleries. The latter felt more like an entertaining tourist attraction for normies than something really art-related, which is a shame.
Surprisingly, I have managed to find a real “luxury problem” that has not been solved yet!
Drink and Draw Stockholm is a pretty simple win-win solution to two problems:
Many small businesses like independent cafes and restaurants frequently experience “empty” periods without visitors. And you know how it is – empty venue = dead venue.
On the other side, people like me need a place where they can casually gather and scribble on paper while being surrounded by a community of like-minded peers… for a minimum of social and financial cost.
So, why not just make a website that lists frequent events at independent venues where I expect to have my drawing practice?
And this is where you have landed right now! This site is really nothing more than a list of opportunities to meet up and draw along other art enthusiasts in safe and inclusive environment.
This is it. No commitments, no bookings, no cancellations, no upfront costs, no mailing lists, no apps. Just a very simple online space to coordinate drawing hangouts.
If you find this idea interesting, just check the event schedule and I’ll see you there! If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to me through the contact page. I’ll be happy to chat!
Q: Do I have to drink, like… Alcohol when drawing?
A: Nope. Not even all venues that we’ll visit serve alcohol, so picking a cup of coffee, chai or a glass of juice will be the most available (and preferable) options.Â
Q: How much does it cost?
A: As a venue’s guest you will have to buy something at the cafe, obviously, so expect to pay 50-100 SEK (5-10 EUR) directly to the venue owner… The more the better though – let’s support the local businesses!
Q: But really, who pays for this website and to the organizers?
A: Organizer (me, Adam) works for free in this regard, but gains much more than money can buy – a community of people that I can scribble together with! It’s more then enough for me!
Q: Are drawing supplies provided on site?
A: No. You have to bring your own pen and paper… or a tablet.Â
Q: If I have no idea where to start and what to draw, can I still come?
A: Sure! There will be no dedicated tutor to guide you, but you can peek at what others do and find some inspiration in that!
Q: Why is the event held at a new venue almost every time?
A: I love variety and want to visit as many places as possible… You will see that I have my favorites though! 😉 I’ll try to maintain a consistent schedule as much as possible, so check this website often!
Q: Why is there no mailing list or Facebook events for Drink and Draw Stockholm?
A: Anonymity and privacy are worth more then gold these days. But really, I just don’t want to bother. You can still add every meetup to your mobile calendar through the events page!
Q: I’m single! Is Drink and Draw Stockholm the right opportunity for me?
A: The best relationships begin from a shared passion! However, these events are meant to provide a safe, inclusive space for everyone. If you are more interested in practicing your pickup lines than actually drawing, a public library will be a much better choice. Intrusive or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.
Q: I love this idea! How can I help?
A: Having multiple reliable collaborators and partners means many more meetup opportunities! But for now – just come and sketch something. This is the best thing you can do for this movement!
PS: You can also download a (pretty bare bones) promotional flyer here!
