Eastern were able to experience a little bit of luxury within the University Ballroom Tuesday.

The annual Paint and Sip was held for the third year in a row. The event’s title basically explains everything: the participants do their very best by using their paint brushes on the canvas placed in front of them.

Kadija Robinson-Stallings, an Eastern Illinois alumnus, taught the class as her PowerPoint of steps played behind her along with refreshments and little crackers served in the back.

“I like to say, personally because I’m not an artist…I like to say it’s as easy as doing paint by numbers because of how easy Kadija makes it,” said Katie Caulkins, Vice Chair of the University Board (UB). “She gives you the visual, she lets you know what colors you should be using, and my paintings never turn out as well as hers obviously, but I’m not ever ashamed of showing them.”

The Paint & Sip is a judgment free zone, organizers said.

“She makes it very easy for people who aren’t artists,” Caulkins said. This event was relatively easy to plan since Kadija Robinson-Stallings supplies all of the tools that will be needed.

Caulkins said Kadija is nice to work with and her prices are as well.”

Prices from outside painters coming in can round up to about $1,500, but Kadija’s prices were under $1,000.

Caulkins said there were a few minor difficulties nonetheless prepping the event. “It’s only the second week of school, so making sure that over the summer we were able to do all the preliminary things and making sure we had a date that [Kadija] could come,” said Caulkins. “Doing all that stuff before school even started—that was probably the most difficult because it is so early in the year.”

The second year had a bit lower of an attendance rate, but the first and current year’s turnout was a pretty positive one.

Caulkins says it all as to do with marketing. “Tonight, we’ve had about 85 to 90 people signed up to come.”

Some students, if they were early enough, got a chance to participate even without signing up previously.

“We have 10 to 20 seats available for anyone who walks through the door,” said Caulkins.

The turnout is the reason why the Paint & Sip returns each year. The Cultural Arts coordinator, Kaylee Fuller, normally runs this event, but due to interviews for a new person to fill the coordinator position she could not be a part of it this year.

“In a couple of weeks, we’re going to be putting on a Native American event which doesn’t have a name yet, but it’ll be throughout the Union,” said Fuller. “[Also] every October, we collaborate with LASO (Latin American Student Organization) and some other organizations on campus. We also do a Dias de los Muertos event. We do that one every year.”

That was not the end of the list of events. “Down the line, we’re going to do a ‘Tea Around the World,’” said Fuller.

Their predecessor last year with chocolates around the world was extremely successful…and delicious.

Out of all the events stated, the Paint & Sip is one of the favorites. And although there might have been some difficulties, the reward outshines them in the end.

“I think we’ll see the rewards at the end of the night when we get to see everybody leaving here with a painting that they’re proud of in their residence hall room or their apartment,” Caulkins said. “Also, getting to see them enjoy the event. I think that will be the reward.”

Dara McGee can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected]