Hi, I’m Carey!  I would be so honored to help you create a sentimental, meaningful, heirloom-quality keepsake of your magical day!  I specialize in portraits and figure painting in an impressionistic-realism style.  Your painting will feel like a captured memory; you will recognize yourselves, your loved ones, and the unforgettable venue you’ve chosen, while artistic color, composition, and lighting choices will immortalize the emotions of the moment as can only be done with the human eye, an open heart, and the perfect brush.

I trained in visual art as a teenager with the renowned artist Lyuba Titovets, and in the two decades since have been developing my own style of painting that feels evocative and lively, yet realistic and true-to-life.  I have created countless commissioned portraits of people’s pets and loved ones, and due to my knack for speed and love of people, live wedding painting became the perfect venture for me.  In addition to art, I also work as an actor (you might have seen me in The Handmaid’s Tale!) and I am a mom to an hilarious toddler, as well as wife to my best friend and business partner, Joseph.  Joseph will often aid in communication and logistics, and might accompany me on the wedding day to assist with documenting the painting process and transporting materials.

One of the paintings featured on our site is from our own wedding, which we planned together a few years ago (but what feels like yesterday!)   It is so important to us to take stress off of your shoulders and to add extra magic to the most special day of your life!  Here is what you might be able to expect if you invite us to be a part of your unique, enchanted event…

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY…

LIVE WEDDING PORTRAIT

Long before the day, we will chat about your expectations and your dreams for how the painting will come to life.  I will get an idea of what specific moment you want to capture, and we will discuss my setup, and how I can best blend into your ceremony and reception while providing entertainment for your lovely guests.

On the day, I will arrive an hour early to the location to either begin setup, take photos of the painting location, or in some cases, begin painting the background of your moment.  Then I will fade into the background while your ceremony takes place.  If possible, and if not already done, my easel and materials will move to their final location for the night in the reception area.  When the moment you have chosen to capture arrives, (usually either the first look or during photos,) I will take a few shots of my own alongside the photographer to use as my references moving forward.

During the reception, I will work away at the painting in full view of guests, aiming to present a beautiful, complete-looking rendering of your moment by the end of the night.  Then, I will take the painting back to my studio for final touches, and to ensure that the painting is of the very highest quality to have in your home.  In most cases, an un-varnished painting can be completed within one week.  For a varnished painting, additional time will be included so that the paints can cure, which in some cases can take up to a month.  We will discuss which option works best for you!

I traditionally work with acrylic paint on gesso-board to achieve the smooth, detailed quality I aim for in the allotted time, while preserving painterly elements such as texture and brush strokes.  Special requests, however, can always be discussed!

Live Wedding painting is special because guests are able to witness the creation of a piece of art that will surely become a cherished family heirloom.  It is so fun to see a detailed painting come to life!

LIVE GUEST SKETCHES

For the live guest drawing package, I will arrive half an hour prior to the reception if possible to set up in one spot for the remainder of the evening.  I will sit at a table where guests may visit, have their photo taken, and then return later in the evening for their finished sketch.  I can provide either charcoal portraits of guests' faces, or gouache paintings of the guest in their wedding attire, both on 8x10 watercolor paper.  As I work, finished portraits will be put on display on the table until guests retrieve them, so that they can be enjoyed by everyone

The Live Guest Drawing option is special because guests can leave with unique, memorable souvenirs of your unforgettable wedding.  It is also a wonderful opportunity for new acquaintances to mingle and bond as they laugh about each other’s poses and chit chat with the artist!