I’m the kind of artist who paints a dog that looks like a bunny. So, when I’m inveigled into a girl’s night out at the new Frida’s Sip n’ Paint in Noosa Junction, it’s with some trepidation I attend. It’s not that I don’t enjoy art.

It’s just that when a paintbrush finds its way into my hand it comes with a mind of its own.

As it’s opening night, we are greeted with a glass of bubbles on arrival. The swanky studio is a picture of opulence, with stylishly dark walls, chandeliers and beautifully-painted portraits of the studio’s namesake, Frida Khalo.

Long wooden tables bedecked with blank canvases fill the room and it is abuzz with chatter and a heady vibe that can only be attributed to the anticipation of delving into a work of art.

Overall, it is intoxicating – or perhaps it’s the bubbles. Either way I’m suddenly excited to get arty just like everyone else.

Co-Founder Rebecca Green says the name ‘Frida’s Sip n’ Paint’ speaks to the concept of the business.

“The name Frida’s is very intentional,” she says. “Everyone knows Frida Khalo but my grandmother was also named Frida and she loved a good time, so that spoke to what we’re trying to create.

“If you like having a good time and being creative you’re in the right place!”

Tonight, we are painting Frida Khalo – I find myself wondering how I’m going to recreate such a picture. As if on cue Rebecca reaffirms, “We’re about fun art, not fine art.” And with that we’re in the hands of our art teacher.

The overview of how we’re going to create our own Frida portrait involves a step-by-step guided process interspersed with great tunes and plenty of time for sipping, nibbling and checking out the progress of your painting pals.

I start mixing the red and white on my palette into an apricot colour and make my first mark on the canvas to the sounds of Shoop by Salt-N-Pepa. With each brushstroke Frida comes to life, and to my utter surprise it’s not awful!

As our Frida recreations become more animated so do we; we paint, sip, and even throw in a few dance moves. The vibe in the room is electric and to be honest, it’s the most fun I’ve had on a night out for a long time.

Rebecca opened the sip and paint studio in Noosa Junction following the success of their founding studio in Hobart and sister studio in Paddington, Brisbane. Noosa is the third, but not final, baby in the Frida’s family.

“When we moved to Noosa earlier this year, we were taken aback by the vibe in Noosa Junction,” Rebecca says. “It’s really come alive and there’s a such a fantastic community here.”

As the first high-end sip and paint studio in Noosa, Frida’s is a fantastic excuse to round up the girls, don your most sophisticated garb and enjoy a catch up with a side of flair.

Upcoming workshops include Frida Khalo, Desert Divine, Pineapple Vibes and Funky Ferns with special “Kids Day Out” creations including Greg the Giraffe or the Gingerbread Man.

New collections are added regularly and all sessions are BYO so bring your favourite drink or food or pre-order a grazing box.

This article originally appeared in the Winter ‘21 issue of IN Noosa magazine.