Live Painting
A piece of your wedding day, painted on site.
I set up an easel near your ceremony or reception and paint your wedding as it unfolds, started in acrylic on site, then brought back to my studio and finished in oil, the same way I paint everything I sign with a hidden butterfly.
Check My Fall AvailabilityWhat is a live wedding painting?
A live wedding painting means I'm there with you, easel and all, capturing your day in real time instead of from a photograph months later. I paint on site in acrylic because it dries fast enough to travel and hold its own in Florida humidity, and then I bring the canvas home to my studio to finish it properly in oil, the medium I've built my whole career around. What your guests watch take shape at the reception isn't quite the painting you'll hang on your wall. The one you'll hang on your wall has had my full attention, and somewhere in it, a butterfly only you will know to look for.
- I arrive 3 hours before the ceremony to block in the background, your venue, the light, the setting, so the harder work of painting you both can happen live.
- I work from either a live vantage point or a quick reference photo taken in the pose you'd like painted, your first kiss, your first dance, whatever moment you want to keep.
- Through the reception, I paint in front of your guests. Most couples find their guests love watching almost as much as they love the dancing.
- At the end of the night, I reveal the in-progress painting to the two of you before it ever leaves the room.
- I take the canvas home to finish in oil, varnish it, and tuck in your hidden butterfly, then we schedule how it gets back to you.
Live Wedding Painting Packages
Every package includes my time at your wedding, the on-site acrylic painting, and the finished oil painting delivered afterward. Larger canvases give your day more room to breathe, more of the room, more of the guests, more of the light.
- On-site acrylic painting, oil-finished in studio
- One reference pose of your choosing
- Hidden butterfly signature
- Varnished and ready to hang
- Everything in The Keepsake
- More room for venue detail and guests
- Ideal for above-mantel or entryway display
- Everything in The Heirloom
- My largest live canvas size
- A true statement piece for your home
Booking
Ready to book your live wedding painting?
I'm based in the Jacksonville area and paint weddings throughout Northeast Florida within about an hour's drive. For venues farther out, a travel fee applies, just ask when you reach out. Once you're ready, fill out my contact form to check your date. I'll send a contract and a 20% deposit link to hold your wedding day, with the remaining balance due the week before the wedding. Because your painting is finished in oil after the event, plan on 3 to 6 weeks for it to be fully dry, varnished, and delivered.Fill Out My Booking Form
Why a live painting is different
An heirloom, not a print
Original oil, textured with a palette knife, made once and never reproduced.
A moment, not a photograph
Painted in the room, in the light, an impressionistic view
while the day was actually happening.
A story, not just a scene
Every painting carries a hidden butterfly, a quiet nod to finding beauty in all circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you paint from real life, or from a photo?
A little of both. I paint the venue and setting live, and for the couple themselves, I work from a quick reference photo taken in the pose you'd like, your first kiss, your first dance, so I can capture it accurately once the moment has passed.
Why acrylic at the wedding, but oil for the final piece?
Acrylic dries fast enough to travel and hold up through a Florida reception, so I can work confidently in the room with you. But oil is how I paint everything I care about, so I bring your canvas home afterward and finish it properly, the same process behind every piece I sign with a butterfly.
How far in advance should we book?
As soon as you have a date and venue. Fall is my live painting season, and I only take a limited number of weddings, so early booking gives you the best chance at your date.
Do you travel for weddings?
Yes. I'm based near Jacksonville and paint weddings throughout Northeast Florida within about an hour's drive. For venues farther out, a travel fee applies, reach out with your location and I'll let you know what that looks like.
What's the payment schedule?
A 20% deposit holds your date once your contract is signed, with the remaining balance due the week before your wedding.
Will our guests be able to watch you paint?
Absolutely, that's part of the charm. Most couples find their guests are drawn to it throughout the reception, and it tends to become part of the evening itself.
What happens to the painting after the wedding?
I take it back to my studio to finish in oil, varnish it, and add your hidden butterfly. Once it's fully dry, we'll arrange how it gets to you, typically 3 to 6 weeks after your wedding.
Is there really a hidden butterfly in every painting?
There is, in every piece I paint, weddings included. It's a small personal signature woven into the work, and part of the fun is looking for it once the painting is home with you.
What if it rains, or our ceremony moves indoors last minute?
Not a problem. I paint wherever the day takes place, and I'll adjust my setup to your final location.
Can we choose what moment gets painted?
Yes, entirely. Some couples want the first kiss, others want their first dance or a quiet moment during the reception. Just let me know what you'd like to remember most.
I'd love to paint your day.
A limited number of fall wedding dates are available. Reach out to check mine against yours.
Fill Out My Booking Form