Live Wedding Painting

Allie & Bear, Marigny Opera House, 12/28/2024

JRisbourg Art

Having a live painter at your wedding reception is becoming increasingly popular. Not only will the final painting be cherished throughout your marriage, and potentially handed down to your children and grandchildren, it adds an element of performance art to your event. From my experience as a wedding painter, I observe that guests are genuinely thrilled and captivated to see a painting of their event being created live on site. Not only can they watch the evolution of the painting, they get to interact with the artist as well, making them an active influence of the artwork itself.

The Process

Each live painting provides unique challenges.

At times, everything might align perfectly, providing ample painting time, an ideal easel spot, and few distractions. However, often adjustments and compromises are necessary to complete the painting amidst all the other activities of the big day.

For this particular wedding, having both the ceremony and reception in the same location meant I had to set up at unconventional times, dismantle my easel before the ceremony and then reassemble it before the reception. The timeline of the day (and the painting) went as follows.

The finished wedding painting, Marigny Opera House, 12/28/2024.

Painting Timeline

And so it begins.

• Noon-2:30 pm Background is painted before the ceremony

(See timelapse video of background painting here)

• 2:30 pm Break down easel

• 4-4:30 pm Ceremony

• 5-6:15 pm Set easel back up in new location and adjust background to evening lighting

New easel location and colorful evening lights.

• 6:20 pm Photograph couple's first dance

Runner-up photos taken during the First Dance. Choosing the right photo for the painting must be done quickly and carefully.

This photo was chosen for the painting because of its personality and composition.

• 6:30-9 pm Paint figures, including the couple and band

(See timelapse video of background painting here)

• 9 pm Break down easel

• 12/29/2024 Studio finishing touches

Finding the Right Live Painter for YOUR Wedding

Live Painters are as unique as the events they aim to capture. Some things to keep in mind for choosing the right painter for your special day:

Would you prefer a painting on canvas or paper?

Would you like a stylized depiction of the scene or something more representational?

Would you like a painting of the ceremony or the reception?

Are there live wedding painters available to hire in your area?

For those of you in the Greater New Orleans Area who are interested in a canvas painting of your wedding reception featuring a representational depiction of your first dance, please visit JRisbourgArt.com/portfolio for more information. You may also email me directly at JRisbourgArt@gmail.com.

Jamie Risbourg

Fine Live Art

Art is about PROCESS.

Making art is an EXPERIENCE.

Live Painting is about SHARING that EXPERIENCE.

This site is about SHARING the live painting PROCESS.