How To Host a Watercolor Gathering
We all need more parties and more art in our lives. 2025 challenge: host 2 parties!
Hi + Happy Friday!
There’s a recent article in The Atlantic, “Americans Need To Party More”, that really spoke to me. There’s a great little video recap of the article here—(shout out to my friend Georgia of The California Table for sharing this!).
The problem is this: people want to attend more parties, but they don’t want to host them.
And we need parties to combat loneliness! Social interaction helps people feel happy, healthy and connected. It takes a little effort, but it doesn’t have to be hard! The article’s author, Ellen Cushing, has a challenge for us:
What if we each committed to throwing 2 parties in 2025?
You don’t need an occasion, and it can just be drinks (not a meal). It can be a picnic potluck in the park so you don’t have to clean your house! The goal is just to get people together, get to know each other better and have fun.
One idea I have for you (and I have lots!) is to host a Watercolor Gathering. It’s ok if you don’t know how to paint. All you need to do is put out supplies (you don’t even need that many, people can share) and let people doodle while they chat!
Last weekend I had 8 moms over for coffee while our kids were all at Sunday school. I bought pastries and made a pot of coffee and put the paints out! If people weren’t sure where to start, I suggested they paint stripes or circles. (In my new book, I have tutorials for painting “things” you could follow). We chatted, I got to know them better and in the end they told me they found it so relaxing and enjoyable.
Last year, right before we moved, I hosted a more elevated version of this: a Watercolor Cocktail Party. It was a crazy time, full of a million goodbyes and there were so many people I wanted spend time with. I had been dreaming of one last cocktail party on the deck but I was also working on The Watercolor Feast at the time, so I asked my friends if they’d come for a farewell gathering that was also a photoshoot.
Most of them had been there from the beginning and were used to being in photos at my parties! Over the years, each has been generous in sharing their advice and expertise with me to strengthen The Forest Feast. Mara, a consultant, helped me write my brand’s purpose statement and build out my newsletter. Margaret, a merchandising expert, helped me start my online retail store. Christine, a producer, worked with me to pitch a TV show. All of them bought my books and products and came to my events over the years! To try and show my gratitude, I gave a toast and went around to say a few words about each person in attendance. Not all of them knew each other, so my hope was to also spark conversation among them later.
As we painted it began to rain and they laughed and kept smiling while I got the photos I needed. It was so special to have these friends, who have supported me and my work so much over the years, be part of my new book. Here’s the spread:
How to Host a Watercolor Gathering
Invite friends! You could invite 4-6 people so everyone can sit at the same time. Or invite a larger group (20+) and just have a painting table and take turns. Try to be thoughtful in curating your guest list and think about who you want to get to know better and who you think might enjoy connecting. All women? All coworkers? All neighbors? Just grownups? Kids too?
Choose a time. Perhaps a 10am coffee, a 12pm lunch potluck, a 5pm happy hour with drinks and cheese, or a 6pm dinner. You could call it a Watercolor Brunch, a Watercolor Lunch, a Watercolor Happy Hour, a Watercolor Dinner Party, etc...
Choose what to serve: Whether you make it, buy it, order it or potluck…keep it simple and try not to stress about it. You can put out a bottle of wine and a bowl of popcorn and people will be so delighted that you invited them over. (I know I would!!) I usually buy some things and make 1 or 2 items. My favorite is a late-afternoon happy hour because it’s more mingly and you don’t have to set the table. I’d buy cheese, crackers, fruit, olives, drinks and cookies. Then I’d make deviled eggs. I’d set the food on a buffet or counter and the paints on the dining table.
Choose a location. I always think hosting at home offers your guests a better understanding of you and heightens the overall connection. But if this stresses you out (I totally get it), find some picnic tables at a park or ask a friend to co-host at their place. While I do think restaurants are slightly less personal, I have been known to bring watercolors to them (especially casual outdoor beer garden type places!).
Order some supplies. Each person will need a paper cup or jar of water, a paintbrush (I prefer #2 size), and at least 3 sheets of 5x7” watercolor paper. Each person could have their own paint set, or 2-3 people can share paints. Here are some inexpensive paint sets ($7) that come with brushes. I also like this set with a metal case and brushes ($17). Here is my favorite postcard-size watercolor paper ($11 for a 25-pack). These are higher quality #2 brushes ($9 each). The more professional paints I use for my work are made by Kuretake ($60). For a high-quality custom set of watercolors made by the coolest store in San Francisco, check out A Case For Making.
Offer a prompt: You could put some fresh produce or flowers in the middle of the table and suggest people draw inspiration from them. Invite people to doodle by drawing abstract stripes, circles, or a sunset. Set out The Watercolor Feast and let people follow a tutorial. Suggest they paint a card that they can mail to someone.
And that’s it! You’re giving people the opportunity to be creative and connect. It’s your gift to them!
Here are some happy hour menu ideas from the book:
If you feel inspired to host a gathering this year, let me know about it!! Cheers to more connections and art in 2025.
Happy Weekend and Happy Spring Break! We are off to Chicago for a few days— if anyone has ideas for things to do with kids, let me know!!
xx
Erin
PS: Thank you to everyone who has already preordered the book! My local independent bookstore appreciates your orders and I will sign copies preordered through them before they ship on April 15th.
The Forest Feast contains affiliate links which means we may make a small commission if items are purchased via links we provide, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate The Forest Feast earns from qualifying purchases. Prices may vary on items linked to external sites.
Copyright © The Forest Feast, LLC / Erin Gleeson 2011-2025
Chicago recommendations: Chinatown, Maggie Daley playground, cultural center, Garfield park conservatory, pretty cool ice cream (there is one near-ish to the conservatory), 5411 empanadas, MSI/field museum, saucy porka, smart museum (Hyde park). Have fun!