In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Leadership hosted a lunch time event Paint by Pair on Feb. 11 at the MHS Library. The event was small and intimate, set in the rear of the library. There were tables with pink covers stocked with supplies such as canvases, watercolors, and paintbrushes. Refreshments such as pink lemonade were offered, as part of the $5 fee to enter the event.
Paint by Pair is based on the TikTok trend in which two people paint on two different canvases and switch canvases every two minutes, lead of public relations committee and junior Lillian Woodhams said. Some paintings that were created involved a sunset, landscapes of flowers, a bear eating an apple, and a ship sailing on a colorful sea.
“We figured that with Valentine’s on the way we could do a little Valentine event,” Woodhams said. “They can come with their friends or their boyfriends, girlfriends, significant others, and just come and paint and enjoy.”
Sophomore Zaed Shahid says that he liked the atmosphere of the event.
“I think the vibes are definitely here,” Shahid said. “It feels very artsy. I like watercolors. I feel like people don’t really paint with watercolors anymore. So I think it’s really nice and makes it seem more homemade.”
Member of the public relations committee Miyana Temple helped plan the event through outreaching, publicizing, and making posters, she said.
“(Paint by Pair) was supposed to be a bonding event with your friends, like a little painting event,” Temple said. “You’re hanging out with your friends, but you also create this little art piece. It’s something memorable.”
The event had originally been planned to take place at the green before it was moved to the library, Woodhams said.
“We wanted it to be intimate enough that they can communicate with each other, but also in a casual open space,” Woodhams said. “At first we were going to have it on the green because of the really open space here, but then it got really cold and it started to rain, and so we moved it in here. And I think that this one is way smarter.”
Leadership should host more events to allow people to destress, Shahid said.
“With all the big things that happen throughout the year, school wise or leadership wise, I think students need these little places to come paint and chill, especially to take a break from their struggles and stress,” Shahid said.
