On September 13, Buctainment hosted “Masterpiece Meetups,” a completely free, step-by-step painting class from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event was brought to the ETSU campus by Masterpiece Mixers, a paint and party studio in Johnson City. The business provided the students with supplies and instruction to achieve the design Buctainment had picked out: a red sunflower.

The event took place across from the Starbucks in the D.P. Culp Center, where 20 students were welcomed with their own canvas lined up across a table. As the clock struck 6:30 p.m., the students had two hours to put their artistic skills to the test.

“Every event we’ve hosted here has always been successful. We’ve had events in the Cave, the Student Center lobby and out on the Commons, and the advertisement Buctainment puts into it never fails to bring students together in a setting that’s not just studying,” said Elizabeth Greenwell, owner of Masterpiece Mixers.

Each canvas gradually transitioned from a blank workspace to a mahogany red and concluded in a closeup portrait displaying the sunflower’s bright, yellow center with shadowed, rounded petals protruding from it. The event ended with similar masterpieces, only slightly differing from each individual students’ unique twists as a result of their skills, character, or emotions shining through. Yet, no matter the outcome, the event was constantly surrounded by smiles, laughter and chatter, hopefully making a memory that will last a lifetime.

Photo of a student painting during the Buctainment event. (Kellsie Hicks/East Tennessean)

Buctainment is always working to provide students with a free opportunity to come together, so keep an eye out for their future events and feel free to give their Instagram a follow: @etsubuctainment.