WHAT is Live Wedding Painting?

Live wedding painting is a fascinating mixture of art and entertainment. I (the artist) arrive at the wedding venue with a blank canvas and immediately set to work, creating a depiction of a scene chosen beforehand by the couple. There are many popular choices for the moment to be captured, such as ceremony scenes (exchanging vows, sharing a first kiss as newlyweds, or walking up the aisle together) or reception scenes (the couple’s first dance, toasting champagne, or cutting the wedding cake).

I bring all my supplies with me, including a canvas, easel, paints, water jar, brushes, rags, lighting, etc., and encourage the audience to approach, linger, and watch me use these materials to capture a snapshot of the event as it unfolds in real time. Typically, I work with acrylic paints, which are odorless, nontoxic, water-based, and fast-drying. I have practiced the skill of working quickly with a loose, brightly-colored, impressionistic style, while paying close attention to detail, light, and proportion in order to construct a balanced composition on the canvas.

By the end of the night, the painting is either complete or nearly complete. If no further refinement is needed, I will leave the painting at the venue under the care of a wedding coordinator or trusted guest. Sometimes, however, there may be reason to bring the painting back to my studio for touch-ups and corrections. If this is the case, the artwork is always delivered to the client within a reasonable time frame, free of charge.

The crowd loves it, and my couples do too. What could be better than treating your guests to a unique performance that you also get to keep as a commemorative work of art from your wedding day?