Paint & Sip in Inner West

A canvas, an easel and a bottle you brought yourself: paint and sip in the Inner West runs on BYO drinks and a teacher who walks everyone through the picture one step at a time.

Paper Rock Scissors Art Studios, a family-run art school with studios on Darling Street in Rozelle and in the Summer Hill Flour Mill development, runs private two-hour workshops from $77 per person, with cheese, fruit and chocolates laid on. Brush and Sip, at 547 King Street in Newtown, runs three-hour sessions from $55 per person, and everyone keeps a 40 x 50cm canvas.

Pick the studio by the kind of party:

• A hens night with a theme: Paper Rock Scissors can match the painting to the bride, switch to pottery or jewellery, or bring the set-up to a house, hotel or Airbnb
• A larger birthday crowd: Brush and Sip books its studio privately for 12 to 36 guests, with the painting chosen by the group from the studio's range
• A work Christmas party: Paper Rock Scissors offers festive crafts such as silver jewellery, a native wreath, printed bags or pottery as well as painting
• A kids' party: Brush and Sip hosts ages 6 to 12 for two hours, and Paper Rock Scissors runs weekend kids' birthdays with a painting, sewing or pottery project and time for cake
• Nervous first-timers: Brush and Sip's focus is on giving it a go rather than learning fine art technique

Food is handled differently. Paper Rock Scissors sets the table with a cheese board, fruit and chocolates, while Brush and Sip is BYO food and drinks only, and meals can be delivered once the group has arrived.