Six Brooklyn drink and draw classes for art-/alco- holics

Drinking is no doubt a great vice to have in moderation. Drinking and drawing is an even sweeter combination in a borough full of such artistic ambition. The proliferation of drink n’ draw in Brooklyn brings to mind when Picasso found friends in Henri Matisse, Joan Miró and George Braque and would meet with them to exchange ideas in his and their craft. I picture them in Paris, the capital of the arts, drinking…and drawing together every week. Here’s a roundup of drink n’ draws in Brooklyn, whether you’re Picasso or just Picasso in your own mind:

Bar Chord
1008 Cortelyou Road, Brooklyn, NY 11218 (Flatbush)
Drink N’ Draw, Wednesdays 7pm-9pm, $12

Hosted by the Brooklyn ARTery – which is located right across the street – this drink n’ draw is a two-hour exercise with beautiful burlesque models. Paper is provided. If you stay after 9pm, you’ll get to hear the live music booked for the bar too.

Bat Haus
279 Starr St., Brooklyn, NY 11237 (Bushwick)
Drink N’ Draw, Wednesdays 8pm-10:30pm, $10

The former organizer of the weekly drink n’ draw at 3rd Ward before it closed last year has maintained its tradition at the Bushwick art space Bat Haus. If you bring your own supplies, they promise unlimited PBR and two-and-a-half hours of drawing time with a professional (a.k.a. nude) model. Joel Morrison is the guru/DJ/host of this popular meet-up.

Macri Park
462 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)
Drink N’ Draw, Sundays 10:30pm-12:30am, free with a 2 drink minimum

Every Sunday night, there is a different professional live model (mostly female) for you to draw. This is a more popular event due to the respectful environment. Payment to the model is based on drink sales, so drink up. You bring your own drawing supplies but there are crayons and printer paper in case you forget.

The Living Gallery
1094 Broadway Brooklyn, NY 11221 (Bushwick)
Drink N’ Draw, Wednesdays 7-9pm, $10

Workshops are pretty free flowing with little instruction, but they do have an instructor for answering any questions. This is a great night for groups if you let them know in advance. They provide drawing materials, a small glass or two of boxed wine and a fully clothed, non-professional model, while someone plays acoustic guitar. It’s a quiet atmosphere, but not ideal for serious hobbyists. On the other hand, they’ve also got a BYOB policy. Fun fact: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month is an open mic with the drink n’ draw, which can be really special.

This n’ That
108 North 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)
Drink N’ Draw, Tuesdays 7-9pm, no cover

Bartender Leslie Van Stelton runs this event with local nightlife performers featured for your muse. It’s Brooklyn’s newest gay bar with cheap drinks, and you only need to buy one to hang out and draw. Sounds like a win-win to me.