When planning for your wedding day, an event that will be one of life’s biggest milestones, many brides look for a unique way to commemorate their special day. Having a piece of art created for your home is a wonderful way to commemorate your wedding day with a truly unique piece of artwork.
In today’s post, I’m sharing an interview with Chloe Strickland, a graduate of SCAD who captures your special day on canvas. Before each wedding, Chloe arrives ahead of time to get a feel for the wedding venue and during the wedding itself, she becomes part of the entertainment interacting with wedding guests as she paints.
How did you first begin your career as a live wedding artist?
I started painting weddings four years ago. A friend gave me the idea as he had seen someone doing the same thing in Nashville. I reached out to a local wedding planner and she happened to be getting married that weekend and told me I could try painting her wedding. I was able to finish the painting at the wedding and everyone loved it. It was a huge success and I started booking weddings after that.
What was it like attending your first wedding as a working artist?
The first wedding I painted was in the neighborhood I grew up in, so I was very familiar with the location which helped since it was my first time working at a wedding. There was definitely a lot of pressure because I had to pretend I knew I was doing it even though I had never done it before. I had a lot of fun and knew I was on to something.
What is your preferred medium/brand of paint that you enjoy using?
I love working with oil and acrylic paint, but I only use acrylic when I’m working at weddings because it dries much quicker than oil. It takes me about 5-7 hours to finish a painting, so I need fast-drying paints. My favorite brand is Golden Artist Colors. They have been my go-to brand for a long time.
What are some of the favorite places you’ve had the opportunity to travel to for your work as a live wedding artist?
I’ve gotten asked to paint all over the world: Italy, France, Cabo San Lucas, the Bahamas, etc. But I haven’t been able to travel to those places because I was already booked. My favorite destination so far has been Maine. I’ve painted in a few different locations there during the summers and you feel like you are in a different world. It is so beautiful and the perfect backdrop for a painting and wedding!
While studying at SCAD, how did you balance school with live events?
I just graduated from SCAD in May 2019. I absolutely loved going to SCAD. It was the most difficult four years of my life, but the growth and development I gained from attending were worth it all. It was incredibly hard balancing a growing business and my schoolwork. I would work all hours of the day and night during the week on my projects so that on the weekend I could travel to weddings to paint. I’m very fortunate that after graduating I didn’t need to get a job because I had built my business to a point where I could work for myself. SCAD taught me how to be a professional independent artist.
How long does it take for you to create a larger scale painting?
I offer four sizes ranging from 24”x18” to 40”x30” for live paintings. It takes between 5-7 hours depending on the size.
Since the subjects in your work are in motion, are you able to capture a particular scene in your memory as you create the piece?
I paint Plein air so I set up and paint the scene from what I see. I like to get to the venue two to three hours before the wedding starts to set up and being painting so I can be completely focused on painting. Once the guests arrive I interact with them so I’m less focused. Depending on what scene I’m painting, I will take a few photos on my phone as a reference so I make sure I’m capturing everything correctly.
Tell me about your process.
The couple, a family member, or a friend will hire me to paint one or two of the scenes at the wedding/event. I’m in constant communication with the wedding planner about the whole wedding day. I like to get to the venue 2-3 hours before the wedding begins to set up, get everything mapped out, and start painting. As the guests arrive they see me painting and I act as an element of entertainment. They will come back to check out my progress throughout the night. I always paint the background first, then the guests, and the couple last. I finish the painting at the end of the evening and leave it with the couple to take home.
What do you enjoy the most about your work as a live wedding artist?
I love working at weddings and events because everyone is so happy! It’s one of the best days in a couple’s life and everyone there loves and supports them, so it’s a really positive environment to work in.
Website: http://www.paintbychloe.com // Instagram: @label_bychloe
All images in this post are via Chloe Strickland.
That is amazing! I’ve never heard of anyone doing that before. I would have loved to have a painting like that!