I had coordinated with Scott for an in-home bachelorette party night. Chrissy was patient with our group and made it look so easy to make our painting. What is great is that they give you a lot of painting choices to pick from and we got all of the supplies, materials, and travel fees included for $35 per person. However, It was difficult to contact and follow up with them confirming the details for the entire event when it was closer to the date. Everything turned out fine overall. read more

Wine and Canvas - Chicago - Paint & Sip Near Me

Based on the person who was leading the event, Diane I think her name was, I would have called this "Lies and Canvas". Most people thought that the Living Social deal was misleading and made you believe that at least a glass of wine or cocktail would be included, not that you had to pay extra for all drinks (even soda). She announced that she was giving away two "gift certificates" but they ended up being coupons for 50% of of another Wine and Canvas class. She also announced that there was an "open bar" when she meant that the bar was serving drinks. Diane introduced a man and woman as the husband and wife who owned Bolat, but then the "wife" later told us that she was just an employee and not the owner. Our local teacher also told us that blue was not a primary color. It didn't help that the venue, Bolat, was equally sketchy. My friend and I saw a girl asking to have a bottle of wine opened and realized that we could BYOB with a $4 corkage fee. We asked just to make sure, and after receiving a "well, yes we do, but we don't encourage it. We would rather you purchase drinks at the bar.", my girlfriend ran out to get a bottle of wine. The drinks at Bolat were extremely expensive, considering it was a ma and pa joint. $8 for a red strip, $10 for wine and $12 for a cocktail. Those are Old Town Social prices. The "special" menu Bolat offered us was compiled of the most expensive things on their regular menu. On top of that, when my friend came back with the wine and asked for it to be uncorked, they told her it was really $4 per person, per glass. I went up and asked them to clarify, as they earlier told us $4, and they then said it was $4 per person. I asked why the other people who had BYOB told me it was only a $4 corkage fee, and the servers answer was that the owner had just called and told them it was $4 per person, per bottle. It must be nice to have a psychic owner who knew that everybody was BYOBing and not purchasing their over-priced drinks. The bartender/owner also said that she would have to go ask the other girls to pay the extra $4. She never did. Now, I don't see the point in doing another one of these events or dining at Bolat, given that neither group seemed to care much about the customer experience, but more about the money involved. read more

I have done many events through Wine and Canvas and have enjoyed every one. You are not allowed to bring wine, nor does Wine and Canvas serve wine, but you purchase wine at the venue, which is often a restaurant or a bar. Yes, it's a little more expensive, but $35 for a painting, canvas, paints, and someone telling you what to do? That's a good deal to me. You would have paid for wine at a restaurant if you were going for dinner anyway. And art supplies aren't cheap. My most recent experience with Wine and Canvas was for my sister's bachelorette party. I worked with Scott, the owner on setting up the details of the private party. He was very friendly and accommodating and made the process easy. On the day of the event, the venue was running late and things got a little hectic. The artist for the party, Mark, was very calm and collected. We had somewhere else to be and he worked with our time constraints. Mark was very professional and helpful. Everyone had a really great time and the paintings came out great! I would do this again and again. I think this is a great company and am highly satisfied with this experience and all of my previous ones. read more

I completely agree with the other review on here.... It should be called "lies & canvas" rather than "wine & canvas". Before I go into my review, let me just stare that there is NO WINE. You may not bring wine and they do not serve wine. So can you explain why they named it "Wine & Canvas"?!? Note: the first question under their FAQ "answers" that question, but it still makes no sense to me. I find it as false advertising. Isn't that illegal? My friend had found this company and it was hosting an event at a gelato shop in Batavia so we decided to go. I immediately regretted going to a traveling painting course rather than one with its own studio. It seemed cramped and we were confused on who to go to at first to check in. Once checked in, we sat down at a cramped table set up with our paint and canvases. I asked the man running the event (whom I later learned was the owner of the company) if he provided glasses for our wine. He made a disgusted face at me and snapped that we were not allowed to bring wine. I had a blank look on my face and assessed if he was joking or not. Once it was obvious he was serious, I asked if they provided the wine then. He simply said "we'll the bar is over there." At this point I'm thinking we must get drink tickets or something because why else would we pay $35 each just for a canvas and some cheap acrylic paint? I mean, can you say RIP OFF? I went up to the man again and asked for some clarity about the drinks. He looked bewildered and said "you obviously didn't even read the confirmation email or you would know that there is no BYOB and we do not provide wine." At this point I was getting upset with how he was treating me. My friend and I were definitely the youngest in the crowd and he was treating us as being bothersome. I calmly stated that I did, in fact, read the email and did not recall anything of the sort being said. He dismissed me by saying, yet again, that I obviously didn't read it. I went back to my seat and pulled up all my emails from the company and called him over. There was nothing about drinks in my confirmation emails. He snapped at me that he was talking about the FIRST confirmation email. I pulled that email up and he showed me that all the way at the bottom, in small print, it states that "we do not provide wine. Absolutely no BYOB is provided." Maybe I'm oblivious, but when I saw that I took it as "we do not provide wine, so bring your own. Also, no booze, just wine." I mean, it literally never crossed my mind that wine wasn't included since not only is the word "WINE" in the name, but ALL of its rival companies allow it. He then told me that everyone knows what BYOB means and that I'm the first person to ever not understand this rule. From hearing other people at the event talk and the other review on here after a quick google search at my seat, I knew that was a load of bullshit. I told him that I didn't appreciate how he was talking to me and that I wouldn't have paid $35 if I knew alcohol wasn't included or couldn't be brought. He did apologize and paid for a glass of wine for my friend and I. That is why I am giving this review 2 stars. However, I had such a sour taste in my mouth from the way he treated me and the lack of wine. The class itself was alright. Nothing special but nothing to complain about. However, at the beginning of the class, the owner introduced the artist and made a big deal about how he forgot the pre-made painting and that was why we had printouts at our seats. Personally, I preferred the printouts and since the artist was painting along with us, I didn't think it was a big deal. The owner was obviously pissed off and it seemed tacky & unprofessional. The artist was talking to my friend and I at the end and had some words about the owner with us, which was pretty funny. At least I knew I wasn't the only one to find him rude! All in all, I would NEVER go to another one of their events and would urge people not to either. For the same price or often even cheaper, there are MANY competitors with their own studios and that actually allow wine! read more

After reading the other reviews, I felt compelled to write one. It sounds to me like a lot of people had problems with the location more so than anything. I went to one that my boyfriend's apartment building was hosting and had a blast. We brought our own wine to drink, the artist was super friendly, helpful and played music for us to listen to while we painted. This was my first time every doing one of these and I think the set up of it being a private event made the experience better than others. I highly recommend. read more

A disappointing experience. The event should just be called "Canvas in a restaurant" - that would be a more accurate reflection of what the event is as you only find out the wine isn't included when you get the bill at the end of the event. read more

This was an OK experience. I bought the groupon for it. 2 people for like $35 which is pretty cheap. I went to a location in downers grove. I knew it wasn't BYOB and was in a restaurant, but it is kinda awkward cause they keep going around asking if you want any food or drinks. Well I am just here to paint......We did end up ordering some tacos which were pretty good. The instructor seemed friendly and positive but kept saying if you are not at this step yet take your time. At one point I was taking my time but then I fell so far behind I didn't know what I was doing. The painting actually turned out okay. Basically the next time I go to a painting class I would spend a little bit more money for either them to provide wine or BYOB. read more

We went to one in Woodale. I bought a paint class for my girlfriend for her birthday. She said it was the best present she ever received. We had lots of fun, and we are looking forward to doing it again. I was worried I wouldn't be able to paint a picture because I can't even draw stick people. I'm impressed that my "funky martini glasses" turned out so well. I'd recommend this for a fun girls night out. Scott and the teacher were very accommodating and really made the event amazing. read more

Wine and Canvas was great! Scott allowed us to reserve for a private event on VERY short notice. While yes we had to provide wine for our event it was a birthday party so that was not a problem. I am not sure how I would feel if I had to buy at a restaurant and maybe they can try for a discounted price or drink specials. Anyway Darren was great. He made it easy for all of us (15 in total, the minimum for a private event) to follow along. He was a lot of fun too. Again since this was a private event I highly recommend W&C. Thanks again guys. read more