live event / wedding paintings
Lauren and Jeffrey
The Drover, Fort Worth
18"x24" oil on canvas
Caroline and Will
Brookhaven Country Club, Dallas
18"x24" oil on canvas
Rachel and Blake
Hotel Ella, Austin, TX
20"x24" oil on canvas
Courtney and Griffin
Sandlewood Manor, Houston
30"x30" oil on canvas
Lauren and Austin
Arlington Hall, Dallas
24"x24" oil on canvas
Trisha and Stephen
Fort Worth Club
18"x24" oil on canvas
Amanda and Matt
The Crescent Club, Dallas
22"x28" oil on canvas
Savannah and Connor
The Joule
18"x24" oil on canvas
Julia and Tucker
D'Vine Grace Vinyard
24"x24" oil on gallery wrap canvas
Sabrina and Victor
Texas Discovery Gardens
22"x28" oil on canvas
Stephanie and Brandon
Ashton Gardens
Prints from painting
Rosemary and Sri
The Olana
18"x24"
oil on canvas
Meg and Mark
Dallas Arboretum Camp House
18"x24" Oil on Canvas
Note Cards Made From Painting
Nathalie and Justin
The Corinthian, Houston
Original Painting 18"x18" oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Laura and Alex
Nasher Sculpture Center
18"x24"
oil on canvas
M. Perot's Debutante Ball
Dallas Museum of Art
20"x24" oil on canvas
Elyssa and Nick
Blithewold Mansion, Newport, RI
18"x24" oil on canvas
Canon and Tate Sawyer
The Modern, Fort Worth
18"x24" oil on canvas
Elisa Summers Birthday Party (detail)
Highland Park
Home
24"x24" oil on gallery wrap canvas
Live Event Painting, Dallas Texas
I am based in Dallas, Texas but have traveled all over, painting wedding ceremonies, receptions and other events. When I began painting ‘live events’ 14 years ago, I discovered that creating art on-site becomes a shared experience that adds to and enriches an already special celebration. I'm hopeful that live event painting becomes a tradition, interpreting scenes from the 21st century in America, similar to Degas and Manet who offered a glimpse into the lives of Parisians in the 19th century.
Europeans have been documenting important events with paintings for hundreds of years, including weddings. They call it ‘Wedding Portraiture’. Many European wedding portraits were painted on-site and finished in studios. Art historian, Amanda Severn has collected a handful of beautiful examples of early wedding paintings in Europe, here. Strangely enough, she says that tradition has gone by the wayside in Europe, while in America, ‘Live Event Wedding Painting’ or ‘Live Event Painting’, has exploded. Today, Americans can choose from a variety of artists, styles and price points, I recommend finding one that speaks to you.
Live Event Painting offers a unique and beautiful way to capture special occasions such as weddings, receptions, birthday parties and corporate events. Having an artist at your event adds an elegance to your soirée that will leave your guests swooning. I still have many people at each event say they have never heard of this idea and they LOVE it! In addition, you receive a beautiful contemporary impressionist oil painting to treasure for years to come.
What is My Process?
Before a live event painting commission, I discuss with my client the 'scene' they would like painted, as well as key people they would like to include. I arrive at the event early to set up and begin blocking in architectural and design elements, including floral. As guests begin to arrive, I start adding in figures. I paint throughout the evening and take photographs as well.
I use oil paints as opposed to acrylic or watercolor. Other than tempera or fresco, oil is the oldest, most traditional medium of painting and allows for an exquisite, textured finish. Oil paintings take several days to dry and achieve the most stunning results when applied in layers. In my studio, the first layer from your event will dry and I will add additional layers and details before it is finished. The first layer painted at your event is beautiful, loose and painterly, covering the entire canvas and could be a finished piece on its own.
I am always open to new ideas, so please don’t hesitate to talk with me about doing something different with your painting. It could be a beautiful impressionist painting of a floral installation, arrangement or bouquet, or a still-life painting of an exquisite table setting at your reception. When incorporating art into your celebration, the sky is the limit!
Live Event Painting Details and Pricing
Starts at $2650. for 18" x 24" oil painting.
Click here for additional pricing.
Please call or email to check availability.
Square shapes and gallery wrapped canvases are also available.
Includes:
- Original oil painting on linen canvas
- Pre-event meeting or phone consultation
- 5 hours attendance and live painting at your event
- Studio time for additional layers and finalization
- Travel costs within 30 miles of Dallas, Texas
- Shipping and insurance are included, if outside of D/FW area
I request a 50% deposit to book your date. The balance is due one week before the event.
I am located in Dallas, Texas however, depending on the date, I may be available to travel. Travel expenses are additional to the package price and may include round-trip airfare from Dallas/Ft. Worth, Uber, 2 night hotel accommodations and shipping.
Paintings from Photographs
If the date of your event has already passed, I can work from your photos! Click here for pricing. I'm happy to search through your photographer's link to help you find the photos that would make the best painting. Call or email me to discuss.
Notecards and Giclée's available
Once complete, you may choose to have notecards, archival quality canvas or paper prints made from your painting. Click here for pricing.
Contact me at susan@eventpaintings.com or 214 616 6804 for more information or to schedule your event.
To see more event paintings by Susan Moss Cooper, click here.
Links
Oil Painters of America
American Impressionist Society
Outdoor Painters Society
Daily Painters of Texas