Wedding Wedding Artist? Need feedback on concept!

[violet02]

My former co-worker''s/friend''s wife is a really great artist. She did a very nice wedding painting for a friend of theirs. I think it was for an anniversary gift. Anyways they were throwing around the idea of doing wedding paintings AT the wedding.

Basically based off a photograph of someone, say the bride, she would get the basic outline done ahead of time... then throughout the day she''d paint it. I''m not sure how you''d classify that, wedding entertainment? Now me personally I''m not sure how I feel about it. I probably wouldn''t do it.. and logistically there would be issues at my wedding. For example.. we''re in a tent and it will get dark, where will she paint? Well she could get lighting but would there be room? If we got married in a ballroom that might be kind of neat.

Anyways they asked if I could post about the concept to get feedback from all of you brides. I''m going to hold back on posting their website or anything so this doesn''t seem like some sort of sales pitch. I''ll post their example photo though.

So please think about the concept and give me your feedback to pass on to them. Think of it from a few points of view... say money was no object and you were getting married in a museum or an art gallery! Be creative! Don''t just shoot the idea down but think if it really would entertain anyone or would be a waste of money. I told my friend that for the tight budgeted bride just agonizing over whether to have a videographer or not would immediately rule that out. His wife does regular portrait work for people too.

Their price point (for consideration) is $2500 or thereabouts. It''s a real painting on canvas. My co-worker had a portrait done of her in Indian garb, gorgeous colors! I know that for a good amount of us this would be a very extraneous expense... that''s why I was asking to visualize if money was no object... would anyone like it or not? What would be the appeal? Etc.

Thanks for your help! If you answer the poll it would be great if you could elaborate on your answers.

 

[violet02]

My poll answers may be a bit harsh... there could be ''no I wouldn''t do it because I don''t get it'',
''I could maybe work it into my budget, I have some wiggle room, that would be unique''... etc.

If you have any questions for them I''ll pass those on as well.

 

[violet02]

Here's that pic of my co-worker i was just talking about... it's really BIG in person! Large wall hanging.

ETA: Yikes sorry for not sizing that down!

 

[mimzy]

honestly i wouldn''t do it despite money. it seems like it would be one of those things that would end up in the attic for the grandkids to find and go ''wtf?''. i mean, paintings are BIG. usually much bigger than photographs and i don''t really want a big painting of myself hanging over our fireplace. i don''t need to be any more immortalized on my wedding day than the photographer is making me/us. you know? just seems a big self indulgent. but i guess it''s no different (albeit probably more expensive than) a normal bridal portrait sitting

 

[Anastasia]

Personally, I wouldn''t do it.

However, I do think there could be a market for it. I have been to weddings where there was a large portrait (photo) of the bride as you walked into the reception. It was a formal portrait of the bride in her gown that was taken a few weeks before the wedding. I think this may be a fairly common practice, (although I think I''ve only seen it once or twice). For brides who would be into this idea, the portrait artist might be appealing. For me, it brings too much attention to me. I am a very outgoing person, but I find that type of attention unnerving.

 

[violet02]

Mimzy: Bridal portraits are... paintings of the bride or photos of the bride before the wedding? I''m not that familar with them. If that''s something people like to do maybe they can segue into that versus having it as a part of the wedding day.

Anastasia: What type of wedding where you at where they did that? Is that a cultural wedding thing?

They are really into this idea. My question to them though is when are people going to be watching her paint? Just glance as they walk by... or during the cocktail hour? During the dance part of the reception? Otherwise people are pretty occupied as it is. You have say six hours to have your wedding, there''s a lot going on in that six hours I would think... Although some folks can do all nighter weddings, so in that case the more entertainment the merrier! I would think having an artist at your wedding might be part of a theme maybe... It''s hard for me to picture it right now.

 

[luvbug]

I think that''s a really interesting idea. I love the painting with the rice being thrown, it''s totally up my alley art-wise anyway. I love the colors and the action the painting portrays.

As for having the artist at my wedding I would probably only do that if the cost wasn''t a factor in the decision. But I do really like the idea, more and more as I think about it. I don''t think I would want a huge one...maybe if she could do smaller canvases of the night in general (might be harder logistically for her). My mother is an artist and I think some people would really appreciate seeing such a personal creation over the course of the night. I know I would, and what a great different souvenir for the bride and groom to take home from their night. Beautiful and meaningful!

 

[Shoopy]

Can I be honest?

I think its a cool idea but if I were in a wedding and saw this, I would think the bride is full of herself. I''m sorry if that sounds mean.

So I voted not.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Yeah, I don''t think is idea would be for me....

First of all, if you want the picture done...great...but why does it have to be at the wedding? It''s not like you''d have the time anyway to sit and pose for it anyway. If you want it, why not give her a photo you love and have her duplicate it later? She is very talented...

However, if it were me...I would pass. I think that, like another lady pointed out, this is something you''ll appreciate...but the modern style and bold colors may have your future grandchildren laughing hysterically at it in the year 2050.

If you''re looking for beautiful wedding momentos...why not have samples of all your wedding invites (engagement party, thank you notes, bridal shower, actual wedding) matted and framed?

 

[VRBeauty]

I guess this is beyond the point at which I start thinking "enough, already"....

 

[pocahontas]

Date: 9/16/2008 8:30:50 AM
Author: mimzy
honestly i wouldn't do it despite money. it seems like it would be one of those things that would end up in the attic for the grandkids to find and go 'wtf?'.

My thoughts exactly! There's no doubt the artist is talented and I do think there are people who may really like the idea, but I'm not one of them.

 

[violet02]

Well first off, she doesn't always do HUGE painting, she does all sizes so I think that would be your choice... Secondly... the girl in the second photo, she's from India so bright and colorful kind of goes with the territory. I would probably be more worried about big hair and poofy shoulder pads (ie DATED looks) in a painting... Third, the girl in photo one did give her that photo and she duplicated it. She has never done a 'live' painting at a wedding... they are looking into doing it right now. I think they may start out by having people pay a small amount of money for paint, canvas/supplies and they will start to work out the kinks. My wedding is coming up to soon for them to try it there and honestly I didn't offer it anyways because I have no clue where I'd put them.

I'm with some of you in the thought that I have no idea where i'd hang a painting of myself... when I think of a large painting of myself I think of carmen electra and dave navarro with that horribly cheesey painting in their living room of them together. So over the top.

Some people suggested that a painting of the bride or bride/groom would make a nice gift for their parents. So the paintings aren't always for you to take home and hang in your living room. (which reminds me, my friend lives in a loft... high ceilings... she hung her wedding dress on the wall, it looks so cool!)

I can see how it might seem a bit vain, but I think my friends idea is that it would be classy and really interesting for people to see a painting in process... I'm trying to be objective here but yeah I wouldn't do it either... but I'm not a giant art lover either. So who knows. Some people really enjoy art, and enjoy the process, collecting it, buying it etc. So that may strike a chord in them more. I definitely think though that this is for big budget weddings.

 

[Sabine]

I think the idea of the painting itself is kinda neat, but I think it would be weird to have her working on it AT the wedding.

 

[oobiecoo]

I voted that I would consider it... but only if I had a really formal home and quite a bit of money. Thats the only way I''d want to have a giant picture of myself on display.

 

[mimzy]

Date: 9/16/2008 9:15:34 AM
Author: violet02
Mimzy: Bridal portraits are... paintings of the bride or photos of the bride before the wedding? I''m not that familar with them. If that''s something people like to do maybe they can segue into that versus having it as a part of the wedding day.

oops! i was referring to photographed portraits. some brides have a separate sitting with their photographer in full wedding gear before the wedding....but i''ve never heard of a bride being painted!

 

[violet02]

Date: 9/16/2008 11:07:25 PM
Author: mimzy

Date: 9/16/2008 9:15:34 AM
Author: violet02
Mimzy: Bridal portraits are... paintings of the bride or photos of the bride before the wedding? I''m not that familar with them. If that''s something people like to do maybe they can segue into that versus having it as a part of the wedding day.

oops! i was referring to photographed portraits. some brides have a separate sitting with their photographer in full wedding gear before the wedding....but i''ve never heard of a bride being painted!

Sitting for a painting might be a bit tedious...

 

[violet02]

Anastasia! I hope you can back by thise thread... I''m really curious to know where you were at that the wedding had a large portrait of the bride... and where this was common practice!


If anyone else has any suggetions or thoughts to pass on keep voting and posting! I summarized all current comments to mail to them, sans names, sans location of PS, we are all anonymous!

 

[Guilty Pleasure]

I prefer photos to paintings of real people, but that''s just my taste. It seems a bit "sideshow" to me to have an artist actually painting at your wedding, but I bet there are people out there who would like it. If I wanted a painting of my wedding day, I''d be more inclined to give the artist a collection of photos and have them either paint one or create an image based on the collection rather than being present at the wedding.


As for bridal portraits, they are very common in Texas. Most weddings I have been to have had a bridal portrait (huge photograph of the bride from a session before the wedding) placed at the entrance to the reception. They don''t put it at the church since no one has seen the bride yet. I can think of ten bridal portraits I''ve seen off the top of my head, but I know there were many more that I can''t remember. All my aunts and my mom had them as well. I am not going to get one though because I''ll want to spend the money somewhere else - hope my mom doesn''t mind! I''ll just have to make sure my photographer gets some pictures of me by myself on our wedding day before the ceremony.

 

[Nocturnius]

I don't know, I think it depends on the couple, the mood and the artist.

I, for example, would totally go for something similar to that. I've already survived my wedding, but if I did a vow renewal, I think it'd be so awesome to have a caricature artist to sketch people out. I used to be a surrealist artist, and I LOVE caricatures. They would be an awesome addition to an album. Have caricature sketches of people watching the ceremony and everything.

As for full-on painting... no, probably not. It takes too long, and it seems to formal. At least caricatures, the guests could get a good laugh at. Also, other people brought up the "bride is full of herself" point. I'd like the caricatures because those artists can usually sketch them pretty fast and get the guests down.