Paint It Easy (PIE) is a creative studio in the heart of Basel, which hosts a variety of painting activities from fun social events to art workshops, courses and in-depth study groups to hone your artistic skills. Their wide variety of art classes are available for all ages, levels and interests with no previous experience required.
Their Story
Paint It Easy was established by Patricia Kaliczka and Peter Kovacs in 2019. Patricia is a contemporary artist who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest and her partner Peter is a free spirit with a flair for hospitality. After arriving in Basel in February 2019 from their native Hungary, Patricia was looking for an atelier for her upcoming solo exhibition. She found and fell in love with the space that is now the PIE creative studio. Since the studio was bigger than what she needed, it was necessary to find a way to offset the rent. From here the idea of a 'painting school' first arose and after much brainstorming, research and trials, the concept of Paint It Easy came to life in November 2019 with their first event.
PIE’s mission is to make the experience of artistic creation accessible to everyone. In their studio they create opportunities for self-expression and connect local artists to the public. It is a place where people can explore their artistic side, recharge and socialise at the same time. Their events and courses are held in a relaxed atmosphere with options for drinks and food. They are also an excellent venue for private parties, birthdays, events or corporate team building.
The Studio
From the invitingly cosy living-room feel of the entrance area to the large, bright and airy studio spaces, PIE is a creative retreat. The studio provides all necessary art materials, you just need to bring yourself and the team of local, contemporary artists will share their skills and passions. There is also a well-stocked bar with tea, coffee, juice or cocktails, served with the greatest hospitality by bartender Peter. Some events, such as the Sunday Paint & Brunch & Chill even include catering, with delicious brunch items from La Manufacture.
Events
PIE offers many different kinds of events, which run multiple times per week. A great introduction to first timers is what is called a Paint & Sip event. Here participants paint a selected image following step-by-step instructions from a local artist, while enjoying a cocktail. This is a guided painting event where either an image or a popular masterpiece from art history is recreated. The themes are too numerous to list, so it's best to check out the PIE calendar for further details.
Private events are also possible, whether it be team building with colleagues, a birthday party with friends or a family get-together. Let PIE help you throw an unforgettable party.
Kids & Teens
There are also many offerings at PIE for Kids and Teens. For younger creatives (6-12 years old), the Little Brushes painting club (from 16:15-18:15 daily, and from 14:15 on Wednesdays) helps kids to develop artistic skills while also giving them room for self-expression. They also offer a Saturday morning series (from 10:30-12:15) called Picasso in Pajamas where children can participate on their own or with their parents to create their own masterpieces with snacks and smoothies included.
For Teens (aged 13-17), there are daily Teen Spirit classes (from 16:15-18:15 daily, and from 14:15 on Wednesdays) with each week introducing a new topic and medium to explore.
Courses & Workshops
PIE courses are designed for a wide range of art enthusiasts from complete beginners to more experienced hobbyists.
Courses usually run for four weeks, one weekday evening session per week. The first basic module is designed for beginners and teaches the fundamentals of a given subject. The second module builds on the foundation learned in the first module and helps develop skills further by introducing more advanced techniques and concepts.
For those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of specific topics, they also offer Thematic Courses. The Study Group option (also called Studio Classes) provides the opportunity to deepen your experience and push your skills further by practising what you have learned at the beginner or thematic course. Workshops are run on a one-off basis and introduce new skills and techniques to broaden artistic range and creative experiences.
Basic Courses (I)
Acrylic painting
Watercolour painting
Oil painting
Drawing
Hand Lettering
Advanced Courses (II)
Acrylic painting
Watercolour painting
Oil painting
Thematic Courses
Figure drawing with live model
Workshops
Pouring Acrylics
Intuitive (action) painting
Photorealistic paintings
Resin Art
All about Graffiti
Crafts workshops
Paint It Easy
Well now that you know the details, what are you waiting for? Grab a paintbrush and a drink in Basel’s coolest studio!
Website: Paint It Easy
Address: Wallstrasse 14, 4051 Basel
Photo Credit: Paint it Easy
Alison Waterfield
Alison Waterfield is a Brit who has been in the Basel area for over a decade. She currently resides in Oberwil, where she enjoys having countryside on her doorstep as well as town being only a short tram ride away. She loves cooking, baking and anything food-related and is a beginner food stylist and photographer. She enjoys being in nature and relaxing doing anything wellness-related, as well as engaging in creative activities such as abstract and fluid art and crochet.