Last month, a group of 10 people dressed in pop art-inspired outfits and headbands gathered for an art soiree at Hotel Savera in Mylapore. Artist and furniture designer Enslin Shruti, who hosted the paint party, decorated the venue with floral arrangements made from used Coca-Cola cans. In an attempt to interpret Warhol’s art, she replaced the Coca-Cola bottles with a filter copy in a Dwara and glass and painted Aishwarya Rai in place of Marilyn Monroe.

Since the beginning of the year, Shruti has been hosting themed paint parties every month. Each gathering is a celebration of a renowned artist whose work serves as the inspiration for the evening’s festivities. What makes this art soiree stand out is its seamless blend of art and hospitality. Attendees are not only treated to an entertaining painting experience but also enjoy a specially curated menu that pays homage to the cultural influences and personal preferences of the featured artist.

Shruti says, “There are a lot of art lovers and artists in Chennai who feel intimidated to paint among professionally skilled people. These painting parties give them a chance to learn about famous artists like Salvador Dali or Andy Warhol and paint their own interpretations of their work without any insecurities.”

First up was artist S.H. Raza, known for his geometric, abstract paintings. Shruti decided to have her participants paint ‘Raza’s world’ in light colours. Next came Salvador Dali’s meditative painting of a rose as the primary focus in February, followed by Frida Kahlo’s self-expressionist work with bold colours.

“I provide the participants with all the necessary materials, from colours to brushes and sometimes stencils or carbon paper. Recreating Raza’s work is not that scary as it was mainly geometric patterns. But in the case of Salvador Dali or Andy Warhol, I provide stencils and stickers. For Frida Kahlo, we looked at what her art meant, which is self-expression, and participants created their own identity on the canvas,” she explains.

Of the sketches and cutouts provided in the Andy Warhol edition, Rajinikanth’s image became the most popular choice. In line with the theme, Chef Jesús Lambert of Severa sent out chicken and cheese sliders, mildly spiced fried chicken and hearty mac and cheese. The icing on the cake was a cup of warm corn chowder wrapped in a Campbell’s soup print. Though a lot of the food turned cold by the time we took the brushes and pencils in our hands, sips of refreshing cosmopolitans and sweet virgin pina colada made the painting session even more enjoyable.

“I love to entertain. No party is complete without good food. For the Raza edition, we served Indian food, the Dali edition had great Spanish cuisine and for Frida, we had bold Mexican dishes. I also recommend that my participants dress up. They are excited to do so, I have not had to push anyone to do so yet. For the Frida Kahlo edition, the female participants wore her signature floral headbands and long skirts,” Shruti informs.

Though these parties are organised in an elaborate manner, with entry fees, separate pre-booked locations and photographers covering the event, only 10-15 participants can attend one edition. “I wanted it to be a community-building exercise. If the group is bigger, there will be sub-groups and that is not what I want. So we usually share a questionnaire and select 10-15 accordingly,” she explains.

The next artist to be included in the art festival is Katsushika Hokusai, whose iconic Great Wave painting will be the focus of attention on May 25.

If you want to participate, contact Ansleen Shruti at 6374902909. The entry fee is ₹4500.