Finished Live Wedding Painting: Leevon & Daniel

Yesterday I delivered the finished live wedding painting to Leevon & Daniel. After completing about 90% of the painting at the wedding, I brought it back to my studio to add more details and colors to the painting. You can see the progress that was made at the wedding by clicking here. After the wedding, I painted in the arena fence, flowers, lightened the grass and clouds, and added details to the couple.

My favorite part to paint were the beautiful clouds and Leevon's stunning dress! The lighting during their ceremony was amazing which created shadows and glowing highlights on the couple. While I was painting I thought about how perfect the day was for them! It was hard to believe that a severe thunderstorm with straightline winds had gone through just hours before.

As landscape painter, I was excited that their ceremony was outside! I created the composition to include as much of the background as possible. The clouds were perfect that day and I definitely wanted to capture them.

The most difficult part were the couple's hands and faces since they were smaller than the size of a dime! I enjoyed the challenge and worked from reference pictures I took during the ceremony to create them on such a small scale. I focused on the most important shapes to paint them in as few of strokes as possible. 

It was such a privledge to be able to attend Leevon and Daniel's wedding! I had so much fun creating their painting. I wish them many years of happiness together and I hope this painting will also remind them of their special day each time they look at it. 

Below is the final painting and Leevon's review of the experience.

Leevon & Daniel - 16" x 20" - Acrylics on Canvas by Kimberly English © 2017

"I had never been to an event where a live painting was taking place, so I was extremely excited to have this opportunity at our wedding by not only a local artist but a friend. I have known Kim for several years, working with her through various events, she has always been very professional, friendly and dependable. When Kim approached me with her new business venture, I was SO excited and knew I wanted her to be a part of our big day. Kim's artwork is always astonishing and I knew she would do an amazing job!

Kim arrived to our venue the day before the wedding, as she was already very familiar with our venue (Salem County Fairgrounds)- she wanted to meet in person to go over the details of what we'd like to see in the painting, take reference pictures and clarify where she would set up.

Her set up was discrete and clean and our guest enjoyed watching the progression and interacting with Kim through out the evening. After the wedding, Kim frequently posted clips on Instagram of parts of the painting she was working on, which was really exciting to see the progression of the painting and sneak peeks before she was finished, which was just over a week after the wedding.

We were so impressed to receive the painting hand delivered by Kim, packaged and framed beautifully in such a short amount of time. The detail of the painting was amazing and this was an overall wonderful experience that I will highly recommend to anyone looking for something unique for their guest and a painting they will forever cherish of their special day."

-Leevon Lacy Cogdill

Photos courtesy of Tina Jay Photography

The Finished Live Event Painting

I delivered the finished work of art to Tyler and Taylor last week and wanted to share it with you! After completing about 90% of the painting at their wedding, I brought it back to my studio where I reworked the beams in the ceiling, went over all of the lettering to make them more opaque, and added additional details like shadows, flowers, and of the bride and groom. 

My favorite things to paint were Taylor's gorgeous dress and the beautiful lights that hung from the ceiling and behind the couple. While at the wedding, I purposefully created my composition to include as many of the lights as I could since they provided such a soft, romantic glow. To capture the lights and chandelier, I needed the barn ceiling to constitute most of the composition. I believe the triangles and angles created by the beams and wall create a visually solid design.

The most difficult part was working on the faces of the couple since they were smaller than the size of a dime! The wedding photographer, Dana Zarin, was a huge help in providing different reference pictures of the couple's profile. The photographs were very helpful in obtaining the information I needed in order to create their faces in as a few shapes and strokes as possible due to the limited size on the canvas.

This painting was such a wonderful experience. To be able to attend Tyler and Taylor's wedding and to paint the occasion while it was happening around me was nothing short of magical. I hope they enjoy just as much as I did creating it!

Below is the final painting and Taylor's review of the experience.

"Kim came to our venue (our farm) about two weeks before to meet us and scope out the space. My husband and I decided we wanted the ceremony painted, so she decided where she would set up for the ceremony.

On the day of our wedding, Kim showed up two hours before to set up and get started. It POURED on the day so we had to move the ceremony inside at the last minute. Kim was very flexible and accommodating which put us at ease during a very stressful time. She quickly changed her game plan to paint the ceremony inside in the barn, which turned out beautiful!

Kim stayed most of the reception and was able to interact with our guests. They enjoyed watching the process and transformation of the painting. Most had never heard of live wedding painting before and loved the entertainment it provided. We received so many compliments and they could not wait to see the final product!

After the wedding, Kim took the painting back to her studio to add some final details. She delivered the finished painting, framed and all, in a little over a week. We were so impressed with how it turned out! She captured the beauty and elegance of the ceremony while keeping the rustic feel of the barn.

We could not have asked for better experience. Kim’s professionalism, combined with her talent was a wedding experience we will always remember, and painting we will always cherish."