MAKE Plant City kicked off a new monthly event last weekend that invites local creatives to flex their artistic muscle.
The group created an event called Drink ’n’ Doodle, which is held each month at Keel & Curley Winery at Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Road. MAKE Plant City brings stacks of coloring sheets designed by local artists, water color paper, hordes of colored pencils and gel pens — provided by the Arts Council of Plant City — to the winery. From there, anyone is welcome to stop by and “leave your cares behind with other local creatives.” Artists are invited to bring their own supplies as well if they want to work on a unique project.
MAKE members Vicky Saunders and Jessie Frier lead the event by walking attendees through a brief “art workout” at the start of the evening. For the inaugural event, they had everyone draw a letter of the alphabet and then asked them to transform their letters into monsters. The results led to hilarious and often absurd creations that had the entire group in stitches.
After the workout, attendees were free to do whatever they wished. Each month’s Drink ’n’ Doodle will have a featured theme — for example, this month’s theme was “Grow” — but the artists don’t have to stick to that if they feel inspired to do something else. Many colored the provided pictures while they sipped on their wine and beer. Others sketched and a few even leaned into watercolors, which they brought along in honor of the event.
The event is held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the winery. The next event will be April 22. It’s free to attend and you’re welcome to come, order dinner and drinks from Keel & Curley and get your creative juices flowing.