The Student Activities Board hosted Canvas and Coffee on Nov. 13 in the Student Center Ballroom. 

The event invited students to grab a cup of coffee and paint with friends, offering a fun and creative break before finals season.

Before entering, SAB members handed out coffee to attendees. 

Inside the ballroom, students were provided with paint, brushes, canvases, plastic coverings to protect their clothes and paper plates to use as palettes. 

After gathering their supplies, students took their seats and waited for the painting instructor to explain the night’s project.

The painting instructor told students they would be painting a Christmas tree on their canvas. 

At the front of the room, a projector displayed a close-up view of the instructor’s hands as she demonstrated each step of creating the tree. 

The live projection helped students across the ballroom see the details clearly, from outlining the tree to adding color and highlights. 

The instructor paused between steps to make sure everyone could follow along.

As students worked, the instructor walked around the room to check on their progress and offered additional guidance over the microphone. 

Christmas music played in the background while students talked quietly with their friends, creating a relaxed and social atmosphere.

SAB President Preslee Galloway said the organization created Canvas and Coffee to give students a relaxing and enjoyable experience during a stressful time in the semester.

“We started this event, as we do with all of our other events, to bring some free fun to college students. College is hard and stressful, especially this time of year and what’s more fun than an interactive event that you can take something home to — either your home, your dorm, your apartment, wherever you stay — and have a positive memory attached to it, plus some liquid gold here, caffeine, coffee,” Galloway said.

She also said that although the event was previously held once a year, it is now offered once per semester so more students can participate. 

Many students attended to enjoy a night of painting and coffee. 

Senior Devyn Summons and junior Elliot Spann came together to explore their creativity and try out the guided painting process.

“I like to paint,” Summons said. “They [SAB] do different things [designs] every year, and I really like to get surprised or at least know more about how to paint.”

“We’re supposed to be painting a tree, but I kind of got sidetracked with all the paints, so I’m kind of just painting the sky right now,” 

Sophomore Alex Petit returned after attending the event last year.

“I get to paint, it’s fun. I like it,” Petit said. He was painting a skyline with an “Among Us” character in the center.