Booking a live wedding painting in the UK: All you need to know!
Little did I know back in 2022 when I was asked to paint live at someones wedding, that in just a couple years, live painting would be a growing trend in the wedding industry, but I'm not surprised. There is something so romantic about having an artist set up an easel and paint the scene as it unfolds, in that traditional way.
For me, the art is not about capturing the day the way the photographer does. I'm not trying to replicate everything exactly as is, but rather capture in a more expressive way, the energy and feeling of the day. You will notice from my portfolio, that every painting comes out very unique, with it's own 'style' almost.
The beauty of the live wedding painting is that it actually delivers in two ways:
it provides entertainment on the day for the guests, who will enjoy seeing the work as it unfolds.
It is then a finished memory to hang in your home as wall art. I use professional artist quality canvas & paints, and provide the option to get the work framed, so what you recieve is a professional quality piece of fine art.
Creative license: When you book me to paint your wedding, I will ask you questions such as:
what moment are we capturing - the vows, the confetti exit, the wedding breakfast etc.
What style do you prefer? More abstract/expressive - omitting the facial features such as the image below, or keeping it more detailed.
Do you want the colour palette to match the wedding colours? We could go more vibrant, or more soft, neutrals.
Do you want to include the guests?
What's in the background?
It's good to be clear on what you would like to see in the painting if that's important to you. I will always advise you on what I recommend and whether I think the perspective or colour scheme will work well.
The process:
Painting live comes with its challenges. Super hot 30 degree weather has caused my paint to dry so fast, I barely have time to get it on the canvas. There is also the time - I am working hard to bring the work to a stage of completion in roughly 4-6 hours. Most times, I take the work home to my studio to finesse, however - I like to present something that looks almost complete before the end of the day. There is also the element of distraction! This is part of the service - guests will be interested and will want to talk which is great! But I also have to focus in order to get the work done!
Finishing touches: I love to offer and strongly recommend getting the work framed as an optional extra. It really elevates the painting, but also protects the canvas better. Framing is bespoke, and you can select different colour frames to match your home decor.
I also offer the option to get prints done for friends and family.
So if you've been wondering if a live wedding painting would be a good addition to your day, I hope this has given you some clarity! There are many talented artists out there who could bring the day to life, but if you like my style of work and would like to book me, then please get in touch to enquire about availability. You can email me sophiebridgland@gmail.com or contact me via the website. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
*All photographs are of artwork painted by Sophie Bridgland Art.
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