Pawtucket’s support of the arts has been a part of its culture for years. There are grants available for those who meet the criteria to continue their pursuit of art and creativity. The Pawtucket Arts Collaborative builds awareness through education and promoting member involvement. And the month-long arts festival draws visitors from across the state and around New England. These are invaluable resources for artists hoping to grow not only their craft, but their exposure as well, and they aren’t alone.

Paint and Vino is the first of Rhode Island’s now-popular paint and wine studios, and it found its success right here in the City of Pawtucket. Home to both art galleries and top-notch breweries, combining the worlds of painting, fine wines, and craft beers was the next natural step. All you need to bring is yourself, a smile, and a few friends for good measure. Everything else is there, ready and waiting once you’ve made your reservation. The first two drinks are complimentary to keep you properly inspired from blank canvas to modern day masterpiece.

Voted Best of RI 4 times, most recently awarded the honor in 2017 by Rhode Island Monthly, this organization is also an incredible opportunity for local artists to get out in front of their community and make their names known. Paintings will vary from night to night, with each artist showing off their own spin on the wide range of portraits on offer. These classes give faces to Pawtucket artists, opening doors for those who may end up wanting to see or even purchase some of their original work.

One of if not the hardest part of being a working artist is right there in the title. Working. Creation takes time, and there’s only so much of that in a day. Producing artwork that sells enough to sustain the next piece coming down the pipeline is not something everyone can count on, requiring them to take on multiple jobs to keep their artistic career alive. Any work that allows creatives to not only earn a paycheck, but to do so within their passion and while honing their own talents and unique styles is truly special.

Not only are they a shining example of the creativity and community interaction that the City of Pawtucket is all about, Paint and Vino is right at home. There’s nowhere else they’d rather be. To learn more: www.paintandvino.com