The Koppenhavers - Holyfield Manor

 I think I've painted more live weddings at Holyfield Manor than anywhere else. This was one of those rare live wedding paintings where the couple wanted more of the focus to be on the location/venue than them. 

Live Wedding Painting - Holyfield Manor

 This is one of the first collage paintings I did - Joe and Maxine Abretski. Maxine came to me and wanted to know if I did anything above and beyond the standard "single image" live wedding paintings. This...this is the result. The painting consists of the bouquet of flowers, them cutting the cake, the first kiss, people tearing it up on the dance floor, the vows out at Holyfield Manor (Jessica the owner is one amazing human being...just saying) and the car they rode away in. One thing I do with my live wedding paintings is, if the wedding is outside, I grind up soil from the land the couple is married on into the painting, so that the couple will always have a piece of the land they said their vows on.

Sunset Through the James River Bridge

 Sunset Through the James River Bridge

11x14

Oil 

Palette Knife

Original is $200. May 1, the price will go up. Prints available at my etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1464054337/sunset-through-the-james-river-bridge

Adeline Acres Live Wedding Painting

 

Live Wedding Painting at Pole Green

 Historic Jasmine

Live Wedding Painting

2021

What are Live Wedding Paintings?

 Since 2016 I have been painting weddings live as they happen. It's not the path that I set out on, but it's one that I kind of fell into. It was a wedding in Charlottesville and from there, I was asked from time to time to paint one. I didn't really pursue it, but in 2017, I painted a smattering of them and then a few more in 2018. 2019, I kind of put it on the backburner, but was still asked every so often to paint someone's. I don't think I did any in 2020 (for obvious reasons) and then in 2021, people began requesting them...a lot. I didn't understand why - I wasn't advertising or posting them on social media. TikTok...people were showing them all over TikTok. So, I began doing live wedding paintings almost every other weekend. 

So what is a live wedding painting? Well...it's a scene that the bride and groom (or bride and bride/groom and groom) want painted as it's happening. And not necessarily every single detail, but the ambiance of the moment...captured with an artistic feel to it. Whether it's the first dance, first kiss, walking down the aisle, saying the vows...the moment is painted as it's happening. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting some of my live wedding paintings to give you an idea of what it is. 

Each live wedding painter is different - some use oil, others paint in watercolor, but the industry standard seems to be acrylic. Some artists paint in high detail, others limit it. When you watch the TikTok videos and they show extreme close-ups of the painting, it's usually in the studio after the event (not always, but most of the time). 

On my end, I capture about 80% of the event in person and finish the remaining details in my studio. If the wedding is outside, I take soil from the area people said their vows and grind it into the paint, so that the couple always has a piece of the land they said their vows with them. Each live wedding painting will be different...some couples ask that the venue stands out, while others ask for closeups of them. If you're in the market for a live wedding painter, shoot me a message - johnpriceart@gmail.com. I'd love to set up an appointment with you and paint your wedding. 

Rainy Day on West Broad Street

 Rainy Day on West Broad Street

30x40

Oil

$3500

Original on display at Crossroads Art Center