This past Saturday night, I was the live painter at the wedding reception in Charlotte for two lovely people. Yes, I painted. Live. At the reception. And I have to say: it was a blast!
I've posted on here before about being a live event painter. This time, I thought I'd share some thoughts about how I go about it and what the experience is like. I was contacted a while back by the couple who had a general idea about what they wanted. We talked on the phone about some of the different options, along with the pros and cons of each, and decided that we would focus on the couple's First Dance. This is my favorite subject for an artwork as it allows for greater creativity in composition and subjects. I coordinated with their wedding planner, the venue manager, and the photographer to ensure that we were all on the same sheet of music. The venue manager had a few specific requirements that were quickly taken care of and we were ready to go.
On Thursday, I put my painting rig together and got it ready to load into the car. There's quite a bit of stuff needed, and I've made up a checklist to make sure nothing gets left behind. There's the easel, canvases (two: one with a cool tone and one with a warm tone), paints, brushes, palette, rags, medium, and solvent, of course. I need an easel-mounted LED lamp to ensure there's enough light to paint by, which also requires an extension cord, which also requires gaffer's tape (not duct tape) to prevent tripping. Then there's an industrial mat to protect the hotel's expensive carpet. I also have my camera and ancient MacBook so I can photograph important things (like the first dance) and then work from the photos later. Trash bags, baby wipes, brush soap, lots of business cards and flyers, a copy of the contract and other important details, scissors, and a few other odds and ends. All of it needs a rolling toolchest (thanks, Lowe's) to haul it around.
On Saturday afternoon, I drove down to Charlotte. I checked into my hotel, changed clothes, and headed out to the Marriott City Center. I only went to one wrong floor before finding the right location, then quickly set up my stuff. The Marriott staff was extremely helpful and went out of their way to make sure I had what I needed. They'd never worked with a live wedding painter before, so my rig and I got a lot of attention. The wedding planner, Lauren Kelley, owner of Kelley Event + Design, and her staff, had all the details well under control. The DJ was Mike with Split Second Sound, and he turned out to be an outstanding MC and DJ - he had that place moving all night long. And I enjoyed working with the photographers of Capture Me Candid - they were very creative and easy to work with.
Once we were set, I started painting. My goal was to have something on the canvas before the guests started coming into the room. That meant I had to decide on the composition and get it and the newlyweds roughed in before they even arrived. Not a problem, really: a few small sketches to try out some options and a workable composition presented itself. And I was off and running.
To say that the guests were intrigued by the idea of a live artist is an understatement. None had ever seen anything like it at a wedding, and only one had even heard of the idea. People came by the easel continually all night long, asking questions and keeping an eye on how it developed. I had a great time talking with all of them. This was a great crowd, really enthusiastic, and with some sharp questions and observations.
The painting itself developed over about five hours into a very rough first draft. I decided to put the couple over towards the right side with the crowd circling behind them and to the left. Actually, the last time I was at a reception, everybody was sitting during the first dance, and I'd planned on something similar, but this crowd was on their feet, and that necessitated a few changes! I also included the parents of the groom and the mother of the bride. My goal for the first night was to establish the lights and darks, keep the brushwork lively, and capture the spirit of the evening. Here's how the painting looked at the end of the night:
The painting is now back in the studio to be brought up to a much higher level of finish. Today I worked on correcting the perspective (it was way off, but that's to be expected when you're winging it) and developing the walls and ceiling. Then it's on to the figures: first the couple, then the parents (not to the same level of detail) and then the rest of the crowd. I estimate it will be a 2-4 week process.
So stay tuned - I'll post the finished version here as well!
I've posted on here before about being a live event painter. This time, I thought I'd share some thoughts about how I go about it and what the experience is like. I was contacted a while back by the couple who had a general idea about what they wanted. We talked on the phone about some of the different options, along with the pros and cons of each, and decided that we would focus on the couple's First Dance. This is my favorite subject for an artwork as it allows for greater creativity in composition and subjects. I coordinated with their wedding planner, the venue manager, and the photographer to ensure that we were all on the same sheet of music. The venue manager had a few specific requirements that were quickly taken care of and we were ready to go.
On Thursday, I put my painting rig together and got it ready to load into the car. There's quite a bit of stuff needed, and I've made up a checklist to make sure nothing gets left behind. There's the easel, canvases (two: one with a cool tone and one with a warm tone), paints, brushes, palette, rags, medium, and solvent, of course. I need an easel-mounted LED lamp to ensure there's enough light to paint by, which also requires an extension cord, which also requires gaffer's tape (not duct tape) to prevent tripping. Then there's an industrial mat to protect the hotel's expensive carpet. I also have my camera and ancient MacBook so I can photograph important things (like the first dance) and then work from the photos later. Trash bags, baby wipes, brush soap, lots of business cards and flyers, a copy of the contract and other important details, scissors, and a few other odds and ends. All of it needs a rolling toolchest (thanks, Lowe's) to haul it around.
On Saturday afternoon, I drove down to Charlotte. I checked into my hotel, changed clothes, and headed out to the Marriott City Center. I only went to one wrong floor before finding the right location, then quickly set up my stuff. The Marriott staff was extremely helpful and went out of their way to make sure I had what I needed. They'd never worked with a live wedding painter before, so my rig and I got a lot of attention. The wedding planner, Lauren Kelley, owner of Kelley Event + Design, and her staff, had all the details well under control. The DJ was Mike with Split Second Sound, and he turned out to be an outstanding MC and DJ - he had that place moving all night long. And I enjoyed working with the photographers of Capture Me Candid - they were very creative and easy to work with.
Once we were set, I started painting. My goal was to have something on the canvas before the guests started coming into the room. That meant I had to decide on the composition and get it and the newlyweds roughed in before they even arrived. Not a problem, really: a few small sketches to try out some options and a workable composition presented itself. And I was off and running.
To say that the guests were intrigued by the idea of a live artist is an understatement. None had ever seen anything like it at a wedding, and only one had even heard of the idea. People came by the easel continually all night long, asking questions and keeping an eye on how it developed. I had a great time talking with all of them. This was a great crowd, really enthusiastic, and with some sharp questions and observations.
The painting itself developed over about five hours into a very rough first draft. I decided to put the couple over towards the right side with the crowd circling behind them and to the left. Actually, the last time I was at a reception, everybody was sitting during the first dance, and I'd planned on something similar, but this crowd was on their feet, and that necessitated a few changes! I also included the parents of the groom and the mother of the bride. My goal for the first night was to establish the lights and darks, keep the brushwork lively, and capture the spirit of the evening. Here's how the painting looked at the end of the night:
The painting is now back in the studio to be brought up to a much higher level of finish. Today I worked on correcting the perspective (it was way off, but that's to be expected when you're winging it) and developing the walls and ceiling. Then it's on to the figures: first the couple, then the parents (not to the same level of detail) and then the rest of the crowd. I estimate it will be a 2-4 week process.
So stay tuned - I'll post the finished version here as well!
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