November 2025

A purple squid-like monster wearing a black beret and holding a paintbrush that says "LET'S BE UNCOMFORTABLE TOGETHER"

What’s Inside?

It’s official. Drink and Draw is now on Tuesdays at the Portal HQ
First Friday’s theme for this month is: WORDS
Next month’s theme is Unfinished.
CoLab’s Graffiti Meetup is a great opportunity to get your rebel on legally.
Night Open Studio, and Sunday Open Studio are both great places to get together and make art, or just to sit and chat.
Sketchy Figure Drawing is going strong. Come by Lou’s studio on 1st and 3rd Saturdays to participate.
Check the CoLab Linktree and Website Calendarfor more details!
Know someone who’d love to be a part of the community? Forward them our email list signup here.

November’s Gallery Show:

WORDS

Visual art is ultimately about communication, so it’s no surprise that text has been incorporated into it throughout the ages. Sometimes using words, with their own power and nuance, is the best way to get your message across. For the month of November the CoLab is exploring art that is enhanced by script, or text that’s enhanced by visual art, in a gallery show we’re calling “Words”. Come see what our local art community has to say!

First Friday!

We Invite You To Our Studio

October First Friday opening

Join us on the First Friday of each month for:

The opening of our new art show
Collaborative painting
The $5 Sketch Wall
Cool CoLab merch
Snacks and drinks (donations appreciated)
The best of Raleigh’s art community

Our theme for December is Unfinished, so there’s really no excuse not to put a piece in the show!!

November’s First Friday Details:

🪞Opening of Words

🗓️ November 7

⌚6 pm – 11 pm

📍CoLab Studio at 14 Glenwood Ave #17, Raleigh

🔺Please note: our studio is up a flight of stairs

Upcoming Events:

Drink & Draw

The Wicked Witch may be gone but Drink and Draw will continue on! Come drink and draw with CoLab on Tuesdays at the Portal HQ!

This month’s Drink and Draw will feature all male models. We’re calling it Novembeard. Portal HQ will allow us more drawing space, better lighting, and better parking, and it’s got elevator access!

Drink & Draw Details:

🎟️$12 at the door

🚪Doors at 7 pm

🎨Figure model drawing from 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

🥳Hang out til’ 11 pm

📍The Portal HQ 3801 Hillsborough St #113, Raleigh, NC 27607

📱Follow Drink & Draw on Instagram

This month’s fabulous models are:

November 4: Ryan
November 11: Jeff
November 18: Micheal
November 25: Kellen

Sketchy Saturdays Figure Drawing

Grey paper with a nude figure model drawn on it in charcoal. Text reads "Sketchy Summer Figure Drawing, 11 am - 1 pm, 1st and 3rd Saturdays"

Join Lou every first and third Saturday for Sketchy Summer Figure Drawing in the studio next to CoLab (#16)!

Check out more, find out who is modeling, and sign up on

Instagram: @sketchy_summer_drawings

Classes, & Workshops

Have A Workshop Idea? Fill Out This Form 🙂

Every Sunday our studio is open to you, for free!

Work with others on collaborative art, or work on your own thing
Bring supplies or see what we have laying around to use
Check out our latest art show!

Collaborative Events:

Rooted Festival

On Nov. 8, 2025, the Gregg Museum of Art & Design is holding an evening-time celebration exploring the vital roles of plants in our lives through storytelling, art and community. For more info check out their insta page: @ncstategreggmuseum

Rooted:

🗓️ November 8

⌚ 4pm – 8pm

📍1903 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607 (on the lawn)

Stitch and Bitch

With Half Moon Health & Wellness

CoLab is thrilled to host Half Moon Mental Health & Wellness’ Stitch and Bitch!

Whether you’re into knitting, crochet, coloring, or any other craft, join us for a cozy evening of creativity, conversation, and community. Bring your current project, or start a new one!

Stitch & Bitch is usually held on the second Thursday of each month from 6-9 pm at CoLab.

🗓️ November 13

⌚ 6pm – 9pm

📍Colab Studio 14 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603 Suite #17 (upstairs)

Learn more on their Instagram

Paint with Us:

Mystical Mysti

Candles and Crystals Friendsgiving

November 22, we’ll be at Mystical Mysti, Candles and Crystals, a “friendsgiving” with a potluck and snacks. They’re open from noon to 7:00. We’ll be there with a live painting of course!

https://www.instagram.com/mystical_mysti_candles

Mystical Mysti:

🗓️ November 22

⌚12pm – 7pm

📍1024 S Pollock St, Selma, NC 27576

Paint with Us:

The Queer Community Meal

Durham Here & Queer will be having a community meal on Thanksgiving day (November 27) at The People’s Solidarity Hub, and CoLab will host a community painting to capture the spirit of the day.

https://www.instagram.com/durham.hq

LGBTQ+ Community Meal:

🗓️ November 27

⌚12pm – 4pm

📍1805 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707

Paint with Us:

SmashFest

SmashFest is the Scrap Exchange’s largest annual fundraising event, raising over $10,000 per year and drawing ever larger crowds (1000+ visitors annually!) Attendees buy tickets while entering the event and use them to select from thousands of chipped or damaged items donated to our thrift store which you can then smash by the method you choose. The event now features Smash Gadgets as well as the infamous Smashwall. Come paint with us while you’re smashing!

https://www.scrapexchange.org/smashfest-2025

Smash Fest

🗓️ November 28

⌚ 2pm- 6pm

📍2050 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707