Over 500 Weddings...
To stand at an easel in the center of a celebration is a sacred task. It requires more than just technical skill; it requires the ability to translate the glow of your love onto canvas amidst a spinning room. This ability goes beyond the paint and brushes themselves and is something quite arcane and often elusive to many painters. A piece that lasts generations takes an artist that knows how to see past all of the noise and interpret your emotions onto a canvas. This skill is something that I did not realize was the heart behind live painting when I began ten years and five hundred weddings ago, but as time continues to go on I am increasingly convinced that it is the thing makes a painter a master live artist.
An Elegant Experience...
I've watched hundreds of brides pour their heart, vision and dollars into their beautiful days that speak to their taste and elegance. Over the year's I've cultivated a live painting experience that adds grace and sophistication to your event. You won't see plastic cups, paper towels or messy drop cloths; rather a carefully curated tiny studio full of antique pieces and thoughtful touches that welcomes the viewer into this artistic experience and is a graceful touch to your day.
On the subject of style...
Just as my palette probably gives away, I am not your typical formally trained studio artist. While I hold tradition and classical standards in the highest regard and go out of my way to use only the very best of all techniques and tools, I am utterly self taught. This has given me a freedom to explore and create my own style that draws inspiration from realism, impressionism and expressionism. Each wedding my work leans a little more in one direction or the other and the needle is moved by the experience of your day so that every piece in the end is a unique expression of your love while always offering a piece that is quietly romantic.
More than copy-paste...
While I sometimes get mistaken for a photographer while capturing references, your piece is a far cry from copying an image. The unfortunate truth for an artist such as myself is that I lack the incredibly gift of photographic memory. That coupled with my passion for portraiture means I would lack the ability to create the very nuanced emotions in your piece without an image that gives me that missing information my mind refuses to retain. It is exceedingly rare that your painting ever comes from a single image. In the last five hundred weddings I could maybe count on one hand the amount of times in which I have used only one photograph. Your painting composition is created from experience and my gathered references are just the background information I use to assist me. This is why you won't ever see a side by side of the reference vs the painting. Your painting is far more than shallow photo replication.
It's personal...
Live artistry is not the cold studio work you may be familiar with. Just like the great portrait artists of the past and present, much of the outcome of your piece is based on how much we get to know you and you us. While preparing for a wedding is incredibly busy with so many moving parts and demands here are some easy ways to make this part of it enjoyable and successful:
I. Let me know a little bit about your day! Do you have a Pinterest board of inspiration or a mood board you've created with your planner? I would love to see that! Or simply reach out and tell me about the things you love and the exciting details you have planned.
II. Follow me on instagram and send me a message so I can follow you too! Instagram is the best place to get to know me as an artist and a person and I love following your story and getting to know you before and after your big day.
III. Reach out any time you have any thoughts or questions. I am always available and love to hear from you. Also be ready to have a chat wedding week to discuss thoughts and hopes around your piece.
Live artistry isn't created in a sterile environment where perfect formulas and precise calculations determine the outcome, but it is one that is full of movement, varying tastes and personal connection. I look forward to getting to know you!
