The evening was billed "At Home With Hanh//Paint by Numbers" and it was more fun than you could have guessed.
Artist Hanh Tran opened her studio/apartment in West Ave. for a passel of would-be Van Goghs, who were unafraid of picking up a brush and palette and approaching a canvas. The young artist stocked her apartment with easels and oil paints for almost two dozen guests. And she wisely covered the hardwood floors in brown wrapping paper though she said the planks were treated and clean-up would be no problem. OK.
It was a party for sure with songbird Kristine Mills and guitarist John Curry entertaining. Max's Wine Dive "wine guy" Jacob Fairchild was on hand to present the vino he had selected as inspiration for the high-level creativity. And Max's Wine Dive chef Michael Pellegrino sent over a bountiful buffet (the fried chicken fingers to die for).
By day, Tran exercises her left brain working as a senior manager for contract negotiations at Memorial Hermann. By night, the right brain engages and she follows her true love of painting. This first-time event was so popular that she and publicist Tammy Dowe are already planning a few more, including one for families.
After wine and taste treats, the fledgling artists bravely approached their canvasses. Tran worked the room like a professional art teacher advising Realtor Beth Wolff on how to enliven her work and suggesting a touch of color to Jim Veal, director of trade and investment promotion for the State of Israel, southern region. Mark Horn, owner of Solution for Hair & Makeup, jumped right in covering the top half of his canvas in swaths of sky blue.
A few among the partygoers, such as Matt Young, preferred to observe the painting action rather than participate. He was over-dressed in any case for that messy exercise. Oil paints are not easily removed from fine clothing.
It was a successful night with two of the guests purchasing Tran's work right off the walls, which by the way were chock-a-block with her paintings. A percentage of the purchase price was dedicated to the Sunshine Kids.
Vote early, vote often
That could have been Kristine Mills' mantra at the paint-in. Voting continues through Saturday midnight in the Houston Press Music Awards competition and the popular musical artist, winner of the 2009 Best Female Vocalist, is hoping to capture top slots this year in several categories.
Included in the goodie bags that "Paint by Numbers" guests received was Mills' latest CD, bossanovafied.
Brewskies for all their friends
In the interest of attracting a younger crowd, the Katy Prairie Conservancy launched its new youth group — Covey – with a do at Saint Arnold Brewing Co. More than 75 young professionals rubbed elbows and generated interest in conservation efforts in the Houston area. The conservancy works to preserve what is left of the once-abundant Katy Prairie, now reduced to pocket remnants.
In addition to sampling various beers including root beer, guests noshed on taste treats from Rice Epicurean Market and focused on expanding the KPC's reach inside the Loop.
Catarina and Richard Cron, KPC advisory board member, hosted the beer fest where Bellaire City Councilman Corbett Parker loaned his support as did a group from Horizon Wind Energy.
Sight 'ems
Nidhika Mehta and family, who are visiting from Kuwait, lunching with Houston friends at RDG . . .
Melinda and Dr. Norman Berkman, Diane and John Connally and Sheridan and John Eddie Williams sampling the margaritas and Tex-Mex at El Tiempo on Richmond.
Tammy Dowe begins the set-up of easels at Hahn Tran's painting party in her West Ave. studio.
