Before the invention of photography, people turned to artists to paint events as they happened. For my recent nuptials, I had local artist Tony Mraz, who can often be spotted with his easel capturing performances at area concert venues, set up in the balcony at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to paint the ceremony in the moment.
It turns out I’m not alone; according to wedding website weddingwire.com, live painting – either of the event itself or portraits of guests – is one of the top wedding trends for 2016. An artist painting live serves as entertainment for guests, in addition to producing a unique keepsake likely to be displayed forever.
Though still relatively obscure in Chattanooga, the trend is beginning to catch on here. Local wedding planner Victoria Love says she has recently been approached by an artist offering the service, and this is the first year she’s had clients hire a live painter.
A live painting differs from a photograph in that it captures not just what’s visible to the eye, but also the feel and emotion of the event. Looking at the painting of my wedding takes me back to that day in a way a photo never could, with its sense of spontaneity making the depiction of the moment feel more real.
“My aim when I make one of these paintings is to capture the energy of the event,” says Mraz. “I use an Impressionist style of painting to accomplish this because it is fast, allowing me to capture the energy while the event is in progress. I’m not certain how this occurs, whether it is a result of color psychology, instinctive visual language or some kind of metaphysical energy transference. The end result always feels like the event.”