Painting at Shamrock Tavern

Saturday Afternoon. With brushes in tow, headed down to the Shamrock Hotel's Saturday Jam to paint. Now painting is hard enough but when you throw in neon lighting with crazy colours on stage in a dark bar, it makes for the most interesting painting experience ever. Toss in the fact it's a jam, and the bands change every three songs, along with the fact that the musicians are always rocking. You need to paint fast.

I have to say that there is an incredible energy you get from painting people making music in front of you. The whole live thing is so positive. I have painted in many bars and spoken to many musicians. They really dig the energy you bring to the place when you're painting them playing. It's two reciprocal art forms at work.

I give most of my painting to the musicians as a way of thanking them for letting me sponge off their energy. I haven't been out for a while but there are a few things I'm thankful I know about painting in this vibrant environment.

1) Don't drink too much while painting. The Beverage can give you a false sense of 'awesome' while slapping on the paint. They could look too barfy the next day.

2) I'm glad I know my palette and that I always place my colours in the same spot every time I paint. It's so dark, some of your colours look the same!

3) I know my dominant and recessive colours. It sure will helps in getting the right colour and value at the get go and stop the over mixing.

4) Don't forget the baby wipes. It can be so dark I can't always see where all my paint is going and it mysteriously finds its way onto my clothes.

5) Michelle Grant was painting watercolours in a sketchbook. She says next time she will bring along two, so one can dry while she's working in the other.

6) Location location location. One of the occupational hazards of painting the bands can be the horde's of dancing gyrating bodies. Once they're out on the floor cutting a rug, they can completely obliterate the scene.

7) And don't forget to bring a wet painting carrier. I didn't give them all away..... These are the ones the followed me home.