What Is Live Event Painting? Here's Everything You Need to Know

What Is Live Event Painting?

Live event painters are professional artists who paint a special moment of your wedding during the actual event. A live wedding painter will bring their canvas and supplies, set up at the celebration, and paint a scene that includes the newlyweds, their guests, the venue, and the décor. The painting is then presented to the newlyweds after the big day, giving them a gorgeous keepsake that captures the magic and atmosphere of their wedding.

In addition to having a live wedding painting that you can cherish long after the big day, hiring a live wedding painter to create a work of art at your ceremony or reception is also an entertaining addition to the nuptials themselves that guests will find absolutely incredible to watch throughout the night. Tip: If the artist starts at the ceremony to paint the vow exchange, have them move to the reception space to finish the piece so loved ones can watch in awe.

Couples can visit live event painters' websites to get a sense of their style; then, we encourage them to meet with the artist to see their work up close and discuss the wedding. You may want to request certain guests and design details be included in the painting, so this can be discussed at that time.

On the day of the event, the painter will arrive a few hours early to set up their canvas and begin painting. They will continue to work on the painting throughout the wedding, in full view of guests, adding layers of detail that capture the spirit of the celebration.

Depending on the artist's process, the finished product may be ready to take home the following day or within a few weeks as the artist adds the finishing touches. Artists' prices vary, but you can expect to spend at least $1,000 per painting.

When Did the Live Painting Trend Start?

Academy-trained artist Joan Zylkin, from Philadelphia, says she believes she was the first to do live event paintings. She was painting on the street in Philadelphia years ago when a man approached her and asked her to paint at his wedding.

"At the time, I didn’t even know what to call myself or how to get people to understand what I did because it didn’t make sense to them when I told them I could capture the event in one evening," Zylkin remembers. Now she gets clients primarily through referrals and is always "the talk of the evening and beyond." She adds, "Guests are always, always gobsmacked when they see me paint."

But for newlyweds, the sweat and tears are worth it. Couples who commission a live painting are receiving something more than a photograph; after all, the image doesn't represent exactly what the eye can see, but rather the emotion of the big day.

"I am able to do something that cameras and videos can’t do. I can capture the images I want and put them together in one composition, so that they look as though they are all happening at the same time," Zylkin explains. "I want to take the client right back to how they felt that day every time they look at the painting, and to capture the most important details and planning that went into it."

See examples of live event painting below!

For more inspiration and wedding tips, find out how to be a good wedding guest, learn ways to achieve an artistic wedding video, and learn how to add artistic wedding details to your décor!

Opening photo by Simone Photography; Planning & Design by International Event Company; From Real Wedding: Gorgeous Rooftop Wedding Ceremony & Reception in West Hollywood