„The Painter has the universe in his mind and hands.“- Da Vinci; The Action Painters
invitation
There are those evenings that don’t announce themselves. They just happen. A Wednesday, somewhere between to-do lists, meetings, and that slight feeling that „I just need something different.“ That’s exactly the kind of evening it was. No elaborate planning, no dress code, no „we absolutely have to go somewhere fancy.“ Just me, a friend—and The Action Painters.
And I’ll tell you right now: It was truthfully what we needed.
Wednesday is such a strange day, isn’t it? Too far from the weekend, but not really the beginning of the week anymore either. You’re kind of stuck in between. That’s precisely why it was perfect to go to The Action Painters on that particular day. We met up after work, both still half in „office mode,“ half already in that „I just want to get out“ feeling. And we knew: Today wasn’t about looking good, being productive, or ticking things off a list. Today was about simply letting it all out.
And that’s exactly what The Action Painters is made for.
Between Gürtel and reality
– Vienna as we know it
I feel like everyone in Vienna knows those corners of the city that aren’t exactly… the first ones you’d expect something interesting. And yes, the area around Gumpendorfer Straße definitely falls into that category for me. But honestly? It didn’t change anything for us. Not even for a second. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the most unexpected places — the ones that might feel a little rough, a little overlooked at first glance — often hide the most exciting experiences. And that’s exactly the case with The Action Painters.
From the outside, you could almost walk right past it. No big fuss, no „something magical is happening here“ sign. But as soon as you step inside, you’re suddenly in a completely different world. Colors. Canvases. Music. Energy.
We walked in and were basically right in the middle of it. No long arrival, no awkward waiting – just that immediate feeling of: Okay, here you can let go. And that’s exactly what makes The Action Painters so special.
Put on the protective suit
and briefly forget reality
Our instructor that evening was Mel – relaxed, easygoing, just the right energy for that kind of setting. We signed up, got a quick introduction, and were sent straight to the changing rooms. „Just grab a suit, drinks are included.“
So that’s exactly what we did. And let me tell you: getting dressed was an experience in itself. Protective suit, shoe covers – I was standing there in my black boots, just laughing. We looked at each other and said, „We look like we’re about to work with something really dangerous.“ Completely exaggerated, of course, but that moment perfectly set the tone for the evening. Relaxed. Unfiltered. Just fun.
And yes – that’s all part of the fun at The Action Painters.
What I also found really exciting: the studio itself. It’s located right under the subway, in one of those typical arches along the Gürtel (Vienna’s ring road). You know those arches – you drive past them and often don’t think anything of them. But inside? A completely different world.
High ceilings, plenty of space, prepared white canvases everywhere. This slightly raw, industrial feel, combined with color and music. And that’s exactly where The Action Painters takes place.
A quick crash course
before everything escalates
Before we started, there was a short introduction – in German and English. It was explained in a very relaxed way how everything works, what colors are available, and most importantly: how to mix them correctly. Because yes, it’s not just about „throwing it around.“ There are actually little tricks to ensure the paint has the perfect consistency.
Not too thick, not too runny – just right for splashing. And that’s exactly where you realize: The Action Painters isn’t just chaos. It’s controlled chaos. We had absolutely no idea what we wanted to paint. Really, none at all. No Pinterest board, no inspiration, nothing. And you know what? That was perfect. Because The Action Painters isn’t about creating something perfect. It’s about simply starting. And that’s exactly what we did.
We’ve known each other for over ten years. And I think that’s precisely why this evening was so easy. No pressure, no „what’s the other person thinking?“, no perfectionism. We chose green – simply because it suits vanivanity. Different shades of green, mixed a bit, experimented a bit. And then?
Just went for it. Grabbed the paint. Slapped it on. With brushes, sponges, palette knives. Sometimes cautiously, sometimes completely wildly. And that’s exactly what The Action Painters is for.
Brushes, sponge, spatula
and pure energy
There are no rules. Absolutely none.
You can fling the paint, drip it, spread it, smudge it. You can dance while you paint. You can be loud, laugh, just go for it. And that’s exactly what we did. I don’t think I’ve ever given so little thought to how something should look. And that’s precisely the feeling that defines The Action Painters. At one point, we took a short break. Just to breathe, look around, see what everyone else was doing.
And it was so exciting.
Everyone had a completely different style. Some were totally structured, others completely wild. Some minimalist, others totally overloaded. And that’s exactly what’s so great about it: there’s no right or wrong at The Action Painters. We also grabbed something from the fridge—sodas, cola, beer, shandy. Everything was there. That little break somehow gave us new energy. Of course, we couldn’t resist adding our two cents. Very quietly, very charmingly. „Oh, that looks really good.“ „That’s kind of crazy.“ But always with this feeling that everyone here is just doing their own thing. And that’s exactly what unites everyone at The Action Painters.
Music, dance
and color in the air
Music was playing the whole time. Good music.
Mel walked around, helping out when someone got stuck, and even taking song requests. And at some point, we weren’t just painting anymore. We were dancing. Laughing. Paint on our hands, on our suits, everywhere. And it was in that moment that I understood what The Action Painters is really about. It didn’t matter at all what we looked like. Absolutely nothing.
Everyone was wearing this suit, everyone was covered in paint, everyone was kind of in their own world. And yet, we were all there together. That feeling of just letting go, not being judged, just having fun – that’s become so rare. And that’s exactly what you get at The Action Painters.
We had a total of 2.5 hours. And I swear to you – it felt like maybe 30 minutes. The time just flew by.
And that shows just how much The Action Painters resonated with us in that moment. In the end, we stood in front of our canvas. Green. Lots of green. Different layers, textures, splashes. And you know what? I love it. Not because it’s perfect. But because it perfectly captures that evening. And that’s exactly what The Action Painters is all about. In the end, we stood in front of our canvas. Green. Lots of green. Different layers, textures, splashes.
We’re so often caught up in our daily routines. Functioning, performing, planning. And then there are evenings like this that remind you how good it feels to just do none of that. Just to be. To laugh. To make a mess. And that’s exactly what The Action Painters is all about.
my summary
– I would do it again immediately
Honestly? I’d go again in a heartbeat. Maybe on another Wednesday. Maybe with the same friend. Maybe with someone else. But definitely back to The Action Painters. Because it’s precisely this mix of chaos, creativity, lightness, and fun that we all too rarely experience. And because sometimes you just have to unleash your inner Picasso.
And perhaps that’s exactly what made this evening so special: this complete escape from everyday life. No cell phone, no pressure, no „I still have to…“ Just paint, music, and that one moment when everything else suddenly becomes irrelevant.
You leave, a little tired, completely covered in paint—but somehow also lighter. And that feeling stays with you.
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