Sign Up for an Overlake Experience at Cheers to 50 Years Gala

community building events

Dana Len, the newest member of the arts department has offered up her services as a painting instructor for an upcoming community building event that can be purchased during Overlake’s 50th anniversary gala on Feb. 10th.

Paint and Sip is one of the dozen or so activities that the community can purchase during the evening’s activities.  “Overlake’s community is exceptional, and these opportunities are one more way to strengthen our connections with one another in fun, informal ways,” explains Director of Development, Brisen Brady. “Although each event is truly priceless, the cost to attend is just enough to cover the expenses, as we wanted to make them as accessible as we could.”

Len may be used to teaching Overlake students, but now she can turn her focus to their parents. “I try to get them to think about it not as a goal, a finished product that’s going to be their masterpiece, but to just enjoy the experience of painting and know that they made something.”

Len says you might look at the painting event as a fun, therapy session. “People’s fears come out that it won’t be what they want. We try to keep the end product out of the picture and just enjoy the successes along the way, like how to hold the paintbrush and how to blend the paints,” explains Len.

It’s no different than the experience these parent’s students have in the art classroom. “What they see when their student’s artwork comes home is the final product, but they don’t necessarily know all the hard work, the struggles and successes that went into it and that’s really good, because that’s what I’m grading on, the process not the end product.”

For the community building event, participants will be using acrylics on canvas. They will be working through a scene that Len has already painted, so they can see what they’re wanting to achieve. Len will also paint the scene step by step so participants can follow along.

“I remind them that nobody’s is going to look the same. Yours will look like your painting and that’s a good thing.”

This event is available to all painting skill levels and no set up or clean-up is needed. Just come ready to paint and have fun!

Click here for a list of other community building experiences you can purchase at the gala. Deadline to RSVP for Gala tickets is Thursday, Jan. 25th.