Step-by-Step to a Masterpiece: Behind the Scenes of a Paint Workshop at Riedbach

Have you ever wondered if you can really paint? Or are you looking for a creative change from your everyday office life in Zurich? I took the plunge and attended my first painting event at heycreate. In this post, I'll take you behind the scenes of our evening at the Riedbach restaurant in Oerlikon.

The arrival: everything ready for creativity

As soon as I entered Restaurant Riedbach, the stress of everyday life melted away. The location was perfectly prepared: the artist Raya was already there and gave us a warm welcome. What particularly impressed me was that you don't have to worry about a thing. Every canvas was already set up, the tables were covered, the brushes were ready, and the paints were just waiting to be used. This sight immediately takes away any fear of the empty, white surface—everything just looks so inviting! All that's left to do is order a drink, wait for the other guests, and get started.

The start: primer and first shapes

After a short welcome from Raya, we got started. Our goal for the day: the legendary “heycreate tiger.” We started off in a relaxed manner by priming the canvas. Raya explained step by step how to mix the paints and create the background.

This was followed by the preliminary sketch. Even if you're not a professional, Raya guides you through the process so confidently that you quickly recognize the first contours of the tiger. It's fascinating to see how a few strokes slowly give rise to a character. A painting workshop with us is not a dry theory course, but pure fun with color.

The details: When the tiger comes to life

After about an hour, it was time for a short break. This was the perfect moment to chat with the other participants and grab a second Aperol Spritz at the bar. The break is also strategically important so that the primer can dry before moving on to the fine details.

Refreshed, we devoted ourselves to the finer points in the second part. Raya showed us how to use fine brushes to give the tiger expression and add highlights. In this part of the painting class, you really notice how focused and relaxed the atmosphere is—it's like yoga for the brain.

At the end of the evening, we all held our own tigers in our hands. It's incredible how different and individual each work turned out to be, despite the same instructions. This art workshop was definitely not my last!