Live Wedding Painting
Inspired by the Classics, Designed for You
Your wedding is more than a day – it’s a story of love and connection, deserving to be commemorated in the most classical form of art. As a live wedding artist, I create realistic watercolor wedding portraits with a classical art approach, paying utmost attention to detail, composition, and color harmony – all designed to capture the unique atmosphere of your day.
Every couple is unique, and so is each painting. My process is collaborative; we will work together to craft a vision that reflects your personal style and preferences before your wedding day.
All my live wedding painting packages include custom museum quality framing, so your artwork will arrive fully framed and ready to hang within a few days after your wedding day!
Why Watercolor Stands Apart
Watercolor is a delicate and refined medium, one of the most challenging to master. It captures light and movement with unparalleled grace, and its transparency and soft textures lend a lighter, more graceful feel than oil or acrylic paints. That makes watercolor the perfect medium for capturing the delicate emotions of the day.
Creating Memories as They Happen
On your wedding day, I set up my easel to create a live painting, blending seamlessly into your event. Whether it’s the romantic exchange of vows or the lively atmosphere of your reception, I capture these moments in real time, creating a piece of art that you and your guests can watch come to life.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Having painted hundreds of wedding portraits over the years, I am thrilled to announce that I now offer a live wedding painting service! To celebrate this exciting addition, I have a special offer:
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20% off for 2024 weddings
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10% off for weddings from January through March 2025!
I am based in both New York City and Northern California (Bay Area, Napa, Sonoma), and I happily travel across the US and internationally.
If a live wedding painter isn’t what you’re looking for, consider ordering a custom wedding portrait from a photo instead. These unique and personal pieces make unforgettable gifts for the bride and groom or their families.
The Process
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INTRODUCTION AND COMPOSITION DESIGN. We’ll get on an introductory video or phone call to discuss the details of your event and the scene you’d like me to capture (exchanging vows, first kiss, aisle walk, romantic moment with the venue backdrop, etc.).
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DAY-OF SETUP. I’ll arrive a few hours before your event, set up my easel in an unobtrusive location, and begin sketching the background for your portrait.
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PAINT, PAINT, PAINT. I continue painting throughout your ceremony and reception! Guests are invited to watch as your painting evolves throughout the event, capturing cherished moments like your first kiss or the joy of your reception. This live element not only creates a visual memory but adds an unforgettable experience for you and your loved ones. By the end of the night your painting will be fully or mostly complete (depending on the size and amount of detail you choose).
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FRAMING AND SHIPPING. After the event, I’ll take your painting to my studio for touch-ups and add handwritten calligraphy (if requested). Before heading to you, I will frame your portrait with a museum-quality frame of your choice. The finished piece will be carefully packaged and shipped directly to you, ready to display and admire forever! Shipping is included in all packages.
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Packages
I offer the following painting sizes, all fully framed and ready to hang:
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11 x 14 in painting (17 x 20 in framed)
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12 x 16 in painting (19 x 23 in framed)
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16 x 20 in painting (24 x 28 in framed)
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18 x 24 in painting (26 x 32 in framed)
All Packages Include:
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a custom fully framed and ready to hang painting of the newlyweds in the scene of their choice (packages include a portrait of the newlyweds and up to two pets. Additional charges apply for adding more people / pets)
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museum quality frame of your choice with regular glass and a single mat
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shipping across the US
Available add-ons and upgrades:
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adding people and/or pets into the portrait
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double mat
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Anti-Reflective glass
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prints of the painting for the family
Pricing
Use the form at the bottom of the page to request pricing.
Booking Terms
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A signed contract and a 25% deposit to hold the date
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Remaining 75% and travel expenses due two weeks before the event
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Custom payment plans available
Refund policy
A full refund of the deposit is available for cancellations up to six months before the date of the event; a 50% refund of the deposit is available for cancellations up to three months before the event.
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How do I start the process for a custom watercolor painting commission?Before or after placing an order, please provide the following: • Reference photo(s) - up to 3 photos FOR HOUSE / VENUE / BUSINESS PORTRAITS • photos of the house/venue you'd like in the painting • photos of the people/pets you want to be included in the portrait. FOR PEOPLE / PET PORTRAITS • of the people/pets you want to be included in the painting. Refer to the listing details for the number of people/pets included in the portrait. Additional charges may apply for adding more people/pets. • Specific requests: please take a moment to review all the details in the reference photo(s) and check if you would like me to make any changes to: • the layout, • page orientation, • colors, • positioning, proportion, and sizes of elements. Unless you notify me otherwise, I will aim to match the layout, sizes/proportions, and positioning of elements EXACTLY the way they are shown in the photo. There are limited changes I can make after the sketch is completed, and very few things can be changed after the custom painting is completed.
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When will my portrait ship?Current estimated processing times for custom portraits are: Processing time for watercolor portraits: 4 weeks after placing an order. During the week your portrait is scheduled to be painted, you will receive an email with a pencil sketch for your approval and then photos of the completed painting within 2-4 days after the approval. I only ship if you are happy with the result. Limited rush processing is available; please contact me for availability. Processing time for pencil portraits: 7-10 business days after placing an order. During that time frame you will receive an email with a preliminary pencil sketch (outlines only) for your approval and then photos of the completed drawing within 1-2 days after the approval. I only ship if you are happy with the result. Processing time for prints: Unframed and matted prints: 2 business days Framed prints: 10 business days
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Why is the processing time for custom watercolor portraits so long?Watercolor is actually a reasonably quick medium and each custom watercolor painting takes 2-5 days to complete. The only reason for long wait times is commitment to other clients who placed their orders before yours. I paint commissions in the order I receive them and unfortunately won't have an update on your painting until the week it's been booked for, when I finally start working on it. Appreciate your understanding!
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How do I send reference photos for the custom portrait?You can send your reference photos for your custom portrait in one of the following ways: 1. upload photos on my website after placing an order: https://www.janedeart.com/account/personalization-and-photo-upload 2. Email it to me: dejanejanede@gmail.com. (If an attachment size prompt comes up when you hit Send, please select Actual Size, or if not available, the biggest available size offered to preserve the picture quality). 3. Use the Chat With Me button on any page of the website
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What kind of reference photos work best for a custom watercolor painting?The look of the portrait depends heavily on the reference photos you send, as it’s the only way for me to understand the layout, color palette, and overall look of the scene you want me to paint for you. Here are a few tips of what to look out for when choosing reference photos. ❌ TOP THINGS TO AVOID • Backlit photos where the entire façade is in shadow • Low quality or grainy / blurry photos where some or all of the details are not clear • An abundance of small details throughout the photo results in a busy-looking overdone painting (especially for small-sized paintings) • Photos with no shadows. Such photos lack contrast and result in a gray and gloomy look in the end • Photos taken on cloudy, overcast days ✔️ TOP THINGS THAT MAKE YOUR PORTRAIT BETTER • High-quality clear photos that show all the details clearly • Photos taken in daylight on a nice sunny day • Photos with long, well-defined shadows.
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What is the process for commissioning a custom portrait?• Upon placing an order, I will reserve a slot in my commissions calendar when your watercolor painting will be completed and shipped. A placed order is required to hold a calendar slot. • During the scheduled week, you will first receive a pencil sketch for your approval via email first. It is for you to let me know if you want me to make any changes before I start painting. • After approval, you’ll receive photos of the completed painting via email within 2-4 days. • I will only ship the painting it if you are happy with the final result.
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Can you make any changes to the artwork after starting work on the portrait?✔️ ACCEPTABLE CHANGES AFTER THE SKETCH HAS BEEN COMPLETED: • eliminating, resizing or moving individual elements without impact to the rest of the sketch, • (for artworks including any text) changing the font or the text. AFTER THE ENTIRE PAINTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED: As watercolor cannot be erased after it's been put on paper, there are very few changes I can make at this stage, limited to only darkening or adding more color to individual elements. ❌ CHANGES THAT CANNOT BE MADE AFTER THE SKETCH HAS BEEN COMPLETED: • zooming in/out, • page orientation, • resizing major elements involving resizing more than a quarter of other elements in the sketch, using a different reference photo, • drawing the entire subject or individual elements from a different angle. AFTER THE ENTIRE PAINTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED: In addition to the changes listed above, alterations like • eliminating elements, • changing positioning, sizes or colors of elements are NOT possible at this stage without full repaint of the artwork. Changes resulting in a full sketch re-draw or a full artwork re-paint CANNOT BE PROCESSED without delaying other clients' commissions. These cases will unfortunately result in an order cancellation and a refund. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
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Can you combine multiple photos into one portrait?In most cases I can combine multiple photos into one painting, if your reference photos to be combined meet the following criteria: • they can be combined into a collage, like two puzzle pieces. In other words, you can cut the object / area from one photo EXACTLY AS SHOWN IN THE PHOTO and paste it into the other photo resulting in a cohesive scene. ✔️ TYPICAL REQUESTS I CAN ACCOMMODATE FOR WEDDING VENUES / HOUSE PORTRAITS • Adding people pets into the portrait (reference photos need to show them exactly as you want them in the painting). • Adding foliage, flowers, landscape elements, • Combining two photos of the same view (like two puzzle pieces) that you couldn't fit in one photo because of landscape obstructions (there is a fence hedges trees that don't allow you to go far enough back to fit it in one photo). FOR PEOPLE / PET PORTRAITS • Combining photos of the same person pet to show them in a different pose (ONLY if your reference photos can literally be connected as puzzle pieces and still look natural). PLEASE NOTE: I cannot combine different elements of the same face. ❌ REQUESTS I CANNOT ACCOMMODATE Photos from different viewpoints (for example, different sides of the house/venue, venue house photos taken straight ahead with photos of pets taken from above).
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Do you offer live watercolor wedding painting services?Yes I do! I am based in NY and Northern California, but available for weddings across the US and internationally (NOTE: travel fees apply). Check my Live Wedding Painting section for details of the process or to request pricing information and availability.
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Where can I read reviews of your work?You can find reviews in the "Reviews" section of the website or under individual product listings.
TESTIMONIALS
“I had the pleasure of working with Jane on a personal and professional note for live painting. Both as a wedding planner and in this rare case- also my sister's wedding. As a planner, she was highly responsive from the very beginning, self-sufficient for a travel wedding, showed up on time and took it upon herself to make sure she was set up in the best way to make the painting a success. She worked diligently through the wedding and reception to make sure it was the best it could be and took it home for touch ups and framing. (By the way it was absolutely stunning and the details were spot on!) She was also a surprise for my for sister and family and they could not have been more overjoyed; both with her presence and her final painting which she mailed impeccably. Guests loved watching her paint and recreate the moment she captured. I would highly recommend her as a planner and as a family member to encapsulate a once in a lifetime moment. If you are thinking about hiring her, I would not think twice about it and have her be a part of your special day! ”
Aekta J, VA
Sep 19, 2024
INQUIRE ABOUT PRICING & AVAILABILITY
Fill out the form with you wedding date and location and I'll get back to you with my availability and pricing.