Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo biography - (1 of 6)
Making Your Wedding Truly Artistic
Wedding paintings are a bit of a novelty, and some have suggested it is a new trend in wedding services. However, if you look into art history, it's easy to find that actually marriage paintings aren't anything new and have long been a tradition of documenting the joining of a couple. Some were painted on-site then finished in the studio, while others were painted before or after the wedding. A few examples of historical and famous wedding paintings:
- Jan van Eyck's painting commonly referred to as The Amolfini Wedding, 1434 A.D. (painted after the wedding, used as documentation of the marriage)
- Frans Hals' Marriage Portrait of Isaac Massa en Beatrix van der Laen 1622 A.D.
- Edward Blair Leighton's The Wedding March, 1919
- Vladimir Makovsky's Goodbye Papa, 1894
- Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, 1486 (not immediately recognizable as a wedding painting, but some art historians suggest it was painted to inform viewers about the proper role of love and marriage)
- Marc Chagall's Wedding Candles, 1945
Are you considering having a painting of your wedding made? This can be done in a number of ways, such as commissioning an artist to paint the image before or after the wedding or having the artist paint live on-site at your wedding ceremony or reception. This blog post will focus on the latter, detailing the steps of how it works to have an artist live at your wedding.
1. Envision the painting you want. This will be a piece of artwork you will keep for the rest of your life, and most likely your children will inherit. The imagery could be as simple as painting what's happening at the wedding, or if could be a little more imaginative by combining symbolism of your marriage, you and your partner's interests, and/or a landscape of the venue. Here are a few ideas of imagery you could have painted in your wedding art:
- Portrait of the bride and groom
- Symbols representing your interests -- (e.g. books, gardening tools, wine glasses, cooking utensils, recreational hobbies, special collector items, travel photos, etc.)
- Favorite flowers, plants or animals
- Landscape of a special vacation destination
- Wedding rings intertwined together
- Bride and groom dancing
- Wedding vows hand-scripted and embellished with symbolic accents
Now think about what style you are attracted to -- more contemporary or more traditional? Think of the art you enjoy most when visiting museums or perhaps look around your room at the art you're currently displaying in your home.
Not sure how to describe the style you like? Here are a few famous artists you may be familiar with and the art movements they are associated with to help you understand some of the popular genres of painting. (There's also quiz at the end of this post that may help you discover your artistic inclinations.)
- Surrealism -- Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Marc Chagall
- Impressionism -- Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissaro
- Expressionism -- Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Amadeo Modigliani
- Cubism -- Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp
- Pop -- Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Wayne Thiebaud
- Abstract -- Hans Hoffman, Jackson Pollock, Piet Mondrian
- Renaissance -- Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael
This list is a simplified classification of these artists, and is only meant to help you consider the styles of art that you like. You'll need to be able to explain yourself to your wedding painter when he/she asks you want you want painted.
2. Find your wedding painter. There are a number of artists who offer this service, but don't assume that every artist is willing or able to paint live at your event. Some artists feel more comfortable than others painting in front of a live audience. In fact, it is quite difficult to think and create intuitively with the pressure of others watching, so you'll certainly want to find an artist who is not only comfortable in this atmosphere, but also experienced!
3. Discuss your dream painting with the artist. You may feel intimidated by the idea of having to talk art-jargon with your potential wedding painter, but this is the best way to know if you want to work with this artist or not. If you've seen something you like, show a picture to the artist and explain what changes you'd want made to make it more personal. Also, don't be afraid to ask for the artist's opinion too -- often their creative minds will come up with something you'll really enjoy that you hadn't even thought of!
Of course, you'll also want to have a discussion regarding their rates, abilities, and services; this will help you get a feeling for their level of professionalism. As many people can vouch, artists can be a prickly bunch, so you want to find one who listens to your interests and concerns and who is capable of taking on the serious task of being on-time and prepared for your wedding day festivities.
4. Make a deposit and sign a contract to book the artist. Just like any other wedding service, an artist should require a deposit and have a contract for you to sign in order to reserve your date on their calendar. This protects you, as the deposit ensures the artist is available for your wedding and will begin work on some sketches, but it also protects the artist in the case a customer flakes on paying them for their work. Deposit fees (also called booking fees) can range anywhere from $50-500 or more depending on the vendor. Usually this fee will count towards your final payment, but is often non-refundable if you decide to cancel later. As far as the contract goes, be sure it specifies the event address and starting time, number of hours the artist will work on-site, the size of painting, the total cost, and any additional details you want to have included in the contract.
5. The artist creates a sketch based on your requested imagery. After you've submitted the deposit, the artist will create a sketch based on the ideas you presented and any requests you made. When reviewing the sketch, keep in mind that is what it is -- a sketch. A sketch will not be as detailed as your painting will be, and is basically meant to show you the overall layout of the objects in the painting. Often sketches will be drawn as outlines with little shading made with pencil on paper, but occasionally an artist may choose to use colors as well. Expect to receive your first sketch anywhere between 1 week to 2 months from the time of booking.
If you have already seen something this artist made at another wedding and you simply want a similar painting for your wedding, you may forego the sketch based on the knowledge the artist has already made something like this before.
6. You approve or disapprove the sketch. Depending on the wording in your contract, you will have the opportunity to suggest revisions to the sketch the artist presents you. Usually there is a limit to the number of revisions you can make without being charged an additional fee.
7. The artist arrives to paint at the wedding. The artist should provide all their own materials, unless you have previously discussed otherwise. That means the artist arrives with the canvas or paper, paints and brushes, easel, stool or chair (if needed), drop clothes (to protect floors at indoor events), lights (if needed), and any additional supplies he/she needs to do their work.
Important note: Before the artist arrives, you need to discuss with your event coordinator where the artist is to set-up. There is nothing worse than for the coordinator to be unaware and place the artist in a bad location. If the artist is painting the scenery of the event, they will probably need to be to the side or in the back of the room. However, if the artist is painting an image that is not based on the specific people or events in the room, then you should have the artist placed where guests can easily see what is being painted.
8. The artist paints at the ceremony or reception or both! This is something you should discuss with your wedding painter back in step 2 before you sign a contract -- which part of the wedding will the painter be working? My personal suggestion is that the reception is the most fitting part of the day to have an artist painting live. The ceremony, especially if held at a church, is often considered so sacred and special that no distractions are desired to take attention away from the moment. However, if you're having the ceremony and reception in the same room or outdoors in one place, it may be fine and, in fact, necessary to have the artist participate in both aspects of the wedding day.
Most wedding painters should be very comfortable with having your guests watch as they work -- otherwise this artist wouldn't be doing this! Guests often comment how amazing it is to watch an artist in action. While your guests, and maybe even you, will forget what food was served, what music was played, and what each person wore to your wedding, no one will forget having watched a beautiful painting come to life!
9. Display the art at the end of the event. While the artist breaks down their setup and prepares to go home, you may want to have the completed artwork displayed in some prominent location for guests to inspect. However, be sensitive to the amount of time you originally paid and agreed to have the artist stay. Don't expect an artist to work overtime to suit your bridal fancies.
10. The artist takes the painting to their studio for finishing touches. While the artist will be able to complete about 90% of the painting on-site, usually another 10% will be completed in the artist's studio. This may include adding any particular facial details, increasing the shadows and highlights, and coating the painting with a protective varnish. Depending on the kind of paint used, there may also need to be a period of drying time. Oil paints can take 2 months to 1 year to be completely dry, while acrylic and watercolor paints dry within hours.
11. You receive the final painting. This is a special day when you receive the final painting and begin its display in your home. You may even want to have an un-veiling party to announce the new artwork to your close friends and family! Bring out the champagne, this is a nice way to re-live the wedding night and invite friends over to show off the painting and your new wedding china.
About the Author
Arlissa Vaughn is a professional fine artist exhibiting in galleries nationwide. She is known for her use of rich textures, delicately layered colors, and symbolic imagery. Arlissa paints live at events worldwide including weddings, conferences, fundraisers, anniversary dinners, sporting competitions, and private parties. Arlissa also relies on The Favour Shoppe for great gift ideas and current event favor trends.
Here are a list of other products on Artist Direct Auctions, come check these out:
