Jul 26, 2015 4 min read

April Ryan unleashed her inner artist at a young age, and for the past year or so, she has been helping others of all ages do the same.

Ryan, owner of the aptly named Inner Artist Studio in downtown Washington, will conduct two paint-and-sip classes at the fifth annual Washington Wine, Jazz & Pops Festival Aug. 1 and 2 at North Strabane Township Park.

The Paint & Sip is a new attraction at the festival, which also will feature 10 wineries from central and western Pennsylvania, food and specialty vendors and some cool jazz and pops performed by area musicians. All proceeds will benefit the Mental Health Association of Washington County.

Ryan believes paint-and-sip parties are becoming more popular because they give the “artists” a chance to express themselves in a relaxing way.

“From my experience, it’s because people are so involved in left-brain activity with technology and logical thinking that they haven’t put themselves into activities to express themselves,” she said. “The right side of the brain is therapeutic. It’s hard for us to express ourselves.

“Almost everyone says, ‘I can’t draw that figure.’ They can. They need to settle down and relax. That helps them a lot. I try to encourage them and tell them, ‘You don’t have to do exactly what I’m doing.'”

Ryan, 60, started painting and drawing as a young child, but, for the longest time, she had no formal training.

“I loved art and just kept doing it,” she said.

Ryan previously owned and operated Designs by Ryan at the Washington Mall. The longtime business was successful, but when the mall closed, it turned out to be a blessing for Ryan. Tired of retail hours, she finally decided to pursue her ultimate passion.

At age 54, she enrolled at California University of Pennsylvania, where two years ago, she received her fine arts degree. “I never went to college, and I wanted a degree in art,” she said.

At the urging of her daughter’s friends, Ryan eventually started offering paint-and-sip classes.

“I like exposing people to what they either don’t know or what’s inside them,” said Ryan, who has since started to offer fine arts classes for the paint-and-sip enthusiasts who want to get more serious.

“It’s funny. A lot of people skip the wine because they get so involved with the painting they forget. Sometimes, I remind them,” she said.

Although Ryan prefers that her artists at paint-and-sip parties select their own scenes, Ryan has chosen the selections for the WJP festival. On Aug. 1, artists will paint a beach sunset; Aug. 2, a tuscan scene is planned.

“It’s a hard balance,” Ryan said, explaining how she makes the selections. “It’s not like I’m in Pittsburgh with a huge customer base. It’s a guessing game in the end.”

Those who enjoy the art of music won’t be disappointed, either. An impressive lineup of area jazz and pops musicians has been tapped to perform. They include:

• Washington Jazz Orchestra, 1 p.m. – Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington are staples of the WJO, as well as jazz of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

• Dave Throckmorton Trio, 2:30 p.m. – The Washington native is a drummer who leads the avante-garde jazz trio.

• Kenny Blake, 4 p.m. – The jazz saxophonist plays “soul hybrid,” a combination of traditional jazz with modern rhythm and blues.

• Opek, 5:30 p.m. – Led by jazz saxophonist Ben Opie, the ensemble devotes itself to jazz composers like Sun Ra and Thelonious Monk.

• Washington Symphony Orchestra, 12:30 p.m. – The WSO plays pops, light classic favorites and show tunes.

• Travlin’, 3 p.m. – The band, led by vocalist Tania Grubbs, crosses many genres.

• Impact, 4 p.m. – The gospel band, influenced by rhythm and blues and jazz, is led by Alton Merrell, a pianist, music producer and composer.

Food and specialty vendors include Coleman’s BBQ, Blue Moose Sweet Shoppe, Pittsburgh Crepes, BRGR Food Truck (Saturday only), Miss Meatball Food Truck (Sunday only), Distractions Jewelry, Herbal Kitchen Creations and Sera Bella Boutiques.

Hours for the Washington Wine, Jazz & Pops Festival are noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 1 and noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 2. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate, and are valid for admission on both days. To purchase tickets, send checks or money orders to MHA, 575 N. Main St., Washington, PA 15301. Tickets also can be ordered online at www.winejazzpops.org. Paint-and-sip classes are $40 each and includes all art supplies. Visit the website to register.