What is Live Wedding Painting?
It is a performance really. A fine artist arrives at your event with a canvas and easel and goes about the task of painting a picture of the scene including the people. They can paint the couple in a memorable pose, or include the whole wedding party. If you want they can add missing family member from a photo, or a pet. You can ask for a theme, or a style of painting. The content of your art is limited only by your imagination. Do you want to be painted inside the space shuttle, or on stage with your favorite band? Whatever you choose, your guests will enjoy watching the process and you will have a cherished piece of art to keep forever
Live Performance Art for Corporate Events
If it’s a corporate event, they can paint the crowd, or the honorable guests. We have painted for several fund raisers with the painting being auctioned at the end of the event. Sometimes the client wants the painting for a gift to a special customer, or a patron. The art can be reproduced on things like greeting cards and coffee.
Or you may choose to have mini portraits painted of each guest, or fashion illustrations. Guest portraits are a very popular activation becoming both entertainment and custom gifting.
How much does a wedding painter cost?
Prices for live painters in the United States vary, with the average cost ranging from $1,500 to $3,000. However, experienced and professional live painters may charge as much as $10,000. The availability of performers varies depending on the location you are seeking. Some areas may have several competent performers, which could make the pricing more competitive. In contrast, some areas may require a travel premium to get an artist to the event. You may want to budget more for a live painter whose work you admire.
Hiring Experience, or a New Painter
Many people hire artists who are new to the industry because they are offering very reasonable rates, and many times they are looking to build a portfolio and will paint for free. However this does not mean that they are unskilled or inexperienced. I had been painting as a professional for over thirty years when I decided to become a live artist.
If you are considering hiring someone new to the industry, it is essential to review a portfolio of their previous work. If you like what you see great! If you don’t like their work, then don’t imagine that somehow your painting will be the exception. Also just because someone is a good painter in a studio, it doesn't guarantee they can pull off a live performance. Perhaps that painting you like took them six months. And that’s okay if you are prepared to wait.
At LWP&Co., we administer a timed paint test to our artists before adding them to our list of approved vendors. But still we generally won’t attempt to finish a painting at a live event. We all prefer to dial in our work in the quiet of our studios.
What about the artist’s style?
It's crucial to understand that live painters work quickly and typically use an impressionistic style. The beauty lies in the way they magically create a stunning representation of your day before your eyes and those of your guests. It's not like sitting for hours in a studio for a portrait that looks like a photograph. If you want to hire an artist, make sure you like their previous work. Do not expect an artist who specializes in one medium, such as watercolor, to be skilled in another medium, such as oils. Doing so may lead to disappointment.
Best Communication Practices
Everything comes out better with clear communication. You should have a in depth conversation with your artist about your wedding painting. These topics should be discussed, and included in your contract;
The content of the picture, who and what.
What size canvas
How long will they paint live
How long will it take to finish
Do they ship, and what does that cost
Do you get any re-works, and what the limit is before you pay more
Do you need approval from the venue, or an insurance cert
Do they need a vendor meal
Bad weather plans
Are there any refunds, or credits offered.
Your Painting Presentation
Make sure your artist knows how you would like to handle the final presentation of the painting. Some of our clients want the DJ to make an announcement, and we present the finished (or almost finished) painting with fanfare and a photographer. Others prefer just to wander by on occasion and “oh and ah” over the progress, and we depart quietly when our time is up. Most people do not want to take their painting home from a wedding. It’s a hassle to make sure it gets to the right place undamaged. That is why we deliver, or ship, our finished work most of the time.
Finishing and Framing Your Painting
If you're planning to display your art, it's best to frame it unless you've purchased a gallery wrap canvas. Artists generally don't include a frame with their paintings, so you have a wide variety of styles to choose from to match your preference. Often, artists will apply a glossy or matte clear seal coat to the finished painting if it's available in their studio. While some artists may make minor changes upon request, any additional details or people added later that weren't part of the original agreement will likely come at an extra cost.
Wedding Guest Portraits or Fashion Illustrations
The latest trend in live performance art at celebrations and corporate events is to have mini portraits created as gifts for the guests. These small artworks are sketched and colored quickly by the artist from a photo. Some art styles are as simple as a few lines for a faceless body and a splash of color and can be done in a few minutes. Others have more intricate details and take a little longer. Every artist has a different style, and even so these are always adorable and very appreciated by the guest.
An artist, working at a breakneck pace, with an assistant taking guest pictures and info, can produce anywhere from 4 to 10 little portraits an hour, depending on their style of work. It's challenging work for the artist, and just a few hours at the hectic pace can be exhausting.
It’s very difficult, with all hand drawn work, to make sure that everyone receives a finished piece of art. Most artists handle this by completing the balance of unfinished work after the event, and delivering the art later.
At Live Wedding Painting & Co. we have developed a software and printing system that helps us produce more than double the amount of all hand painted guest portraits. By using our software, PaintMeLive Portraits, we can print the guests’ outline on a piece of quality watercolor paper and then embellish it with watercolor or markers for a completely unique art experience at a large volume.
