Lacey and Paul, Windsor Court 2/4/17

Lacey and Paul, Windsor Court 2/4/17

“Lacey and Paul” 24x30in. Wedding guests can order a print here

 

IMG_5273This is how a painting starts. At this point, I had a good feeling about this reception, but what transpired was really unexpected. Let’s start with the venue.

This was my first time to paint at the breath-takingly beautiful Windsor Court. The space is not huge. The ceilings are not soaring. It’s intimate and oozing with elegance. 

 

 

 

 

Can you believe it? Birds!

 

IMG_5265When I walked in, the first thing I noticed, of course, was the birds. I knew immediately this would be my kind of wedding. Bella Blooms Floral completely rocked the arrangements and flowers. They told me it was their first time using birds in the decor, and after they scanned my instagram, noted we were a perfect match– bird centerpieces meet bird lover/painter. I was in heaven.

Mise En Place Events coordinated the entire beautiful event. They were rockstars. And I haven’t even gotten to the couple yet. Drop dead gorgeous comes to mind. 

 If you think you’ve been to a New Orleans wedding before, I guarantee you this one will outdo it. 

 

 

 

Wedding Surprises…

 

Version 2Let’s start with surprise guest Rockin Dopsie whom the maid of honor secretly arranged to show up mid-way through the night and sing a few songs with the band. He was off the charts, leaving everyone wanting more and reassuring them that they’d meet again at Jazz Fest.

It doesn’t stop there. When all was said and done and the most energetic of guests were wiping sweat from their brows from dancing so hard, a second line began out on the street led by none other than a group of Mardi Gras Indians. 

Another wedding painting adventure in the record books. I dare you to tell me there’s better place to get married than New Orleans. Go on, I’m waiting. 

 

 

Book A Live Painting

Kaci and Dustin, Balcony Ballroom 1/28/17

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Last weekend I painted at the wedding reception of Kaci and Dustin at Balcony Ballroom in Metairie. Let me tell you, it was a total party led by the dancing queen featured below. At one point she had a crowd all around her and she, well, let’s just say, she could cut a rug. And the band, At Fault, gave her plenty of reason to keep going. They are high energy and can work the crowd.

Version 2  IMG_5205

 

 

What I like about the venue

IMG_5198I’ve both attended weddings here and painted at them. Never passed a bad time. It’s one big room, which is nice because all the guests are together in the action. The columns and the chandeliers always give me great visual interest for the painting. And, of course, there’s the balcony which didn’t make it into this painting, but provides a great spot for the photographer to get shots of the entire group of guests. Kaci and Dustin even had their first dance up there– a little different than most venues and everyone could see them (they were flawless) without having to peer over someone’s shoulder or elbow their way to a spot near dance floor. It’s almost like the ballroom was a wedding cake and they were the adorable little toppers.

I captured Kaci and Dustin when they’d made it down to the main floor and were giving it all they had on the dance floor. Seriously, the whole night was a dance party.

 

 

 

And the style award goes to…

This guy. His beard was awesome. 

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Once again, I left this reception feeling amazed that I get to go to people’s weddings and just paint. I’ll risk sounding like a teenager and just say it– it’s, like,  totally so much fun!

If you attended the wedding and are interested in a print of the painting, check out your options here

Day 47. Adventures in Wedding Painting

wedding reception painting

When bride Marianne contacted me about doing a live painting at their reception, I was thrilled. After last month’s trial run, I was eager to keep going.

This one took place at the very beautiful Maison Lafitte in old Mandeville. I started setting up at about five o’clock. A light rain was failing as I unfolded my easel inside the outdoor tent.

wedding painting

All set up and ready to go!

This was one of the most fun receptions I’ve been to, and I enjoyed every moment. But it did present a few challenges I’d never really considered.

1. It literally changed from day to night. When I started painting, everything was green and rain-kissed. By the end of the night it was quite dark.

2. Termites. Who knew. They attacked not only me but my painting as well. I had to keep pulling them out of the paint, and eventually had to turn off my spotlight to keep them from swarming. By the end of the evening, guests were coming over to look at the painting, and it became an interesting game of finding the termites. There’s even a few streaks in the painting where a few tried to escape their oily doom.

3. Rain. Oil and water don’t exactly mix. It was an interesting challenge keeping everything dry throughout set-up and tear down.

Despite these unforeseen challenges, I’m LOVING live painting and can’t wait to do more. Last night I got to chat with a teenager who is in the talented art program at my alma mater. He was so interested in what I was doing, that I gave him a brush and let him do a few strokes on the painting. The best part was being able to talk to him about art as a very real career path. I was always told art was an on-the-side gig. But the truth I have found is that when it’s on the side, it just doesn’t happen, and if it does happen, it doesn’t happen well. I was excited to talk to a young person about art in a way that was different from what I’d always heard.

Check out the live painting section of my site for more information on wedding painting. My prices are considerably lower than other live event painters since I’m just getting started. They’ll be going up soon, so now’s the time to book.