Paintings are a window into the artist's thoughts, from Pollock's chaotic canvases to the little frowny faces on each star in Starry Night. Paint it out with this Groupon.

$20 for $40 Worth of Art Supplies, Studio Time, and Beverages

ArtJamz hosts an open-house painting studio Tuesday–Saturday from 12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($12/hour). The bar opens at 6 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday and only artists 21 and older will be allowed to attend. Before 6 p.m., artists of all ages don smocks and wield the studio’s brushes, paints, and graffiti markers to blanket the walls or a purchased canvas ($12–$20) with musings. Two Night Owlz sessions are held Tuesday–Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ($12/hour). Night Owlz sessions are also available in two-hour packages ($35), which includes a 20"x24" canvas and complimentary Honest Tea.

ArtJamz

In June 2010, after a late-night session of painting, drinking, and generally rousting about with a group of friends, magazine editor Michael M. Clements found himself pondering an unshakeable question: “Wouldn’t it be great if we could do this at a bar?” The seeds of ArtJamz sprouted almost immediately into a traveling party, where the caterers brought not only beer and wine but also all-you-can-paint palettes, for-sale blank canvases, and invaluable artistic expertise. In the two years since that fateful, paint-spattered night, ArtJamz has become a citywide phenomenon, organizing collaborative events with the Corcoran Gallery of Ar and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and finally realizing the founding fathers’ vision of a tie-dyed capitol building.

Although these creative enablers still operate pop-up events at galleries and retail spaces across D.C., the brand-new, 800-square-foot permanent gallery in Dupont Circle has an open-house policy to enable paint parties six days a week. Day hours keep artists aged 5–18 in mind, whereas nightly sessions feature beer and wine for the 21+ set. More than 20 acrylic colors await inspired brushes, and the walls of the cozy venue are fair game for a fresh coat. A trained staff is always on hand to offer advice if needed or requested, and to make sure nobody loses an ear.