We love finding the most unique vendors and wedding trends so that our brides can plan the wedding of their dreams. The NK Bride team was lucky to find live wedding painters that are ready to share what they do with you. These talented artists work in the NYC area, and might be just what you’re looking for for your special day. We are so excited to get to show you the amazing work by Katherine Gressel from Event Paintings by Katherine, and Jacob James Neagle from Jacob Event Painting. Both wedding painting professionals answered some of our biggest questions about event painting.
We asked Katherine some questions to share with you that show you why she is one of the best rated Event Painters in NYC.
Q: When did you get your start in painting? Was it always a passion of yours?
Katherine: I always loved to draw and paint as long as I can remember! Luckily my parents were always supportive of this interest, and signed me up for art classes in elementary school, which I continued throughout high school including adult figure drawing/painting. I then majored in painting in college and also participated in a plein-air landscape painting program in Italy the summer before my senior year, which really helped me with the event work I do now!
Q: How would you describe your work to a non-artist? What do you feel your style is? What makes a Katherine painting unique?
Katherine: Though I wouldn’t call myself an impressionist, I do try to achieve impressionistic elements in my paintings like visible brushstrokes and a sense of movement to capture the specific light, color, essence and emotion of an event rather than photo-realistic renderings of everything. However, I usually include a fairly detailed portrait of the guests of honor (i.e. wedding couple) in the moment of their choice (i.e. doing the first dance). This helps focus the painting on the most important memory clients want to capture, while preserving a sense of looseness and freshness in the background and supporting guests.
Q: What is your favorite part about painting weddings? Is there anything that sets event painting apart from other subjects you could paint?
Katherine: I love my clients’ reactions when they see their painting for the first time! I also enjoy interacting with the other guests who come up to watch, an experience I can’t have if I’m just painting in my studio. I prefer painting from life over painting painting from photos, and it’s exhilarating being swept up in the energy of a party trying to get everything down in paint before it ends. It’s also been amazing to work with some of the world’s top event planners/designers (and some very creative couples!) in truly unique spaces -- it’s an honor to capture their work on canvas.
Q: You have a history in art education, how do you find that your background in this allows you to connect more with guests and clients who may not have the same high understanding of art?
Katherine: I’ve worked in both art education and public art and I currently curate about 2-4 contemporary art exhibitions a year for The Old Stone House & Washington Park, a nonprofit historic house and community center in Brooklyn. In all these situations I like that there’s a built in audience for my work, and that I’m not just creating art for myself or a small group of “artgoers.” I think explaining works of art and the artistic process to young people and the public has helped me talk to guests at weddings about everything from painting techniques to my artistic influences. It’s especially fun when children watch and express so much curiosity about how I paint. I also used to run an artist mentorship program teaching high school students about the different ways to actually make a living as an artist, and now I’ll take every opportunity to let emerging artists know about live event painting as a great career option!
Q: It is important for you and the client to develop a close relationship prior to the wedding. What steps do you take to make the couple, or client, feel as though they can trust you to take care of business on the day?
Katherine: I really see each painting as a collaboration with the client. My goal is to understand your vision for your event so I can turn it into art. Before every event I send out a detailed questionnaire asking everything from color preferences to which “VIP guests” to include in the painting. At the same time, I encourage my clients to trust me as the artist to determine what will ultimately work best in the painting. I think I earn some of that trust ahead of time through my extensive portfolio, 10+ years of experience, and hundreds of 5-star reviews on Weddingwire and The Knot. But I make sure to communicate every step of the way about what to expect, and also liaise with event planners/venue staff to make sure we’re all on the same page about what’s needed for a successful painting.
Q: When consulting with a client or couple what kind of information is it helpful for clients to come in with? Do you recommend they select some works from your portfolio that they like? Or can they bring in references from other sources as well?
Katherine: I always encourage clients to browse my online portfolio and instagram and let me know if there’s anything they particularly like or don’t like (i.e. in terms of color, composition, etc.) before their own event. Sometimes people also send me inspiration images before the event, or close-ups of important details they’d like me to paint, such as the wedding dress or veil.
Q: How does the live painting process work? How long can a couple expect a painting to take? How do you deal with large sized canvases when you are limited to the time of the event?
Katherine: I usually spend about 8-10 hours onsite the day of the event, as I like to come 4 or 5 hours ahead of time to set up and start the background. But I’ve also worked in plenty of situations where I can’t set up too early because of a prior event in the same room, so I’ve learned to be flexible and can usually still make the painting appear almost finished by the time guests are walking out! My most popular packages involve 4-8 hours of studio touchup work after the wedding to make sure the most important guests and details are recognizable and that clients have the opportunity to request revisions so they are 100% satisfied with the final result. This also allows me to offer larger sizes like 30 “ x 40” or 24” x 48” that would be harder to complete all in one day. Sometimes people do opt to take the painting home the same night though, which usually means there will be fewer detailed portraits of specific guests.
Q:Outside of event and wedding painting, what other subjects inspire you? Do these inspirations influence how you paint an event?
Katherine: I’ve always loved painting cityscapes and landscapes and am always inspired by light and color in my day to day life.
Q: How early should a couple reach out if they want to book you for their event?
Katherine: It depends on the day and time of year but I usually recommend reaching out as soon as you have a wedding date, even if it’s a year and a half away, because I can only paint a limited number of events a year and usually only one per day! Though I sometimes book jobs very last minute i.e. within a few months of an event, as a general rule Saturdays book up very early especially during the peak wedding months of April-November.
Q: The work you create is a true masterpiece, do you offer special prints of the painting that clients can hand out to the bridal party, or use as thank you notes?
Katherine: Yes! I can supply a free high res photo of the finished painting for clients to send to their favorite printer, or I can oversee the whole printing/card design process for a small fee. Many past clients have gotten reproductions of the painting printed on canvas, which can look very close to the original, and given them as gifts.
Q: What is it like engaging with wedding guests while you work? Is it easy to keep the process efficient and entertaining for guests who may want to watch?
Katherine: I consider this an essential part of the process and enjoy being part of the “entertainment” at an event! I enjoy discussing my process and often hear interesting stories from guests about their own experiences making/collecting art. I’ve learned to talk to people while still focusing on painting at the same time. The main thing that can be challenging is when the music is too loud for us to hear each other because everyone is having such a great time on the dance floor!
Q: What do you feel is the most unique aspect of your job? What unique opportunities does it give you?
Katherine: While I don’t consider myself an alternative to a photographer or videographer, I believe a painter has the unique ability to capture all your favorite elements of your wedding together in one picture, seen through the eyes of an artist with a distinctive style. In an age of digital photo saturation, I think this element in particular has made live event painting so popular. And for me, it’s truly inspirational to see the creativity that goes into designing these events, as well as the love between the couples and their families. I feel so lucky to be part of people’s happiest moments.
Q: What can we expect to see from you in the future? Anything exciting to watch for?
Katherine: I just launched a new and improved website that includes a handy guide to choosing the right painting size and package, and am currently working on some new packages/promotions for the rest of 2020. I’ll also be sharing images from some especially exciting events I did in 2019. Stay tuned and follow me on instagram!
If you’re interested in working with Katherine check her out at her new website! We also wanted to hear artist Jacob’s perspective on the beauty of event painting, and what makes his pieces so special that NYC couples have him travel to attend their important day.
Q: When did you know you were interested in a career in the creative world?
Jacob: My cliché answer is as soon as I could hold a pencil! When I was in elementary school, I remember having the “high” of my classmates looking over my shoulder while I drew, and thriving off their reactions. The high school I attended was a very humble place (rural Maine). I was a sophomore when we had a field trip to The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and I fell in love. That day, a seed was planted in my heart to have my own paintings hung up on another person’s wall, I spent hours gazing at the beautiful art. I grew up very poor, so the idea of being an artist was very unrealistic, but I kept that dream in my heart for years and did not forget it, I relied on God to give me hope for a future where I could use the gift, He gave me to live out my dream and bless others with it.
Q: During your education at Ringling you received your BFA in illustration. What inspired you to make the switch to painting? How do you feel that your background in illustration benefits your paintings?
Jacob: Illustration has vastly different opportunities; book illustration, comics, digital art, painting, etc. I was interested in Fine Arts, but many contemporary Fine Arts programs don’t focus on traditional means and are more post-modernized. My Illustration degree at Ringling was a great foundation because there was a lot of support for academic drawing, painting and traditional lessons, which focused more on observation than inspiration. There was a lot of discipline involved, which I thrive at. My sophomore year, I had a class that reawakened my love for traditional fine art, where I painted on the streets of Sarasota. I learned how to paint like current day artists, who make a living at this! Every painting I did that year while “plein air” painting (fancy French term for painting in “open air”), I sold to people on the street, I also got many friends out of the experience. I Realized I was doing something right, painting in places people could watch and see my craft as I was making it, I knew I wanted to do this for a living.
Q: In your opinion, what are the most important elements of your work?
Jacob: Thats hard to say, but nostalgia and uniqueness are some of them. I want my clients to look at their painting years from now the same way, if not with more affection than they did the first week having it. I want the painting to bring them back to the feelings, the thrill of their big day; that is key, providing an outstanding experience and product, that represents a special memory. These paintings are one of a kind, because what I am painting is one of a kind, what you capture has to be special, and I’m blessed to paint such special moments.
Q: What makes event painting special? Is there an energy that you are able to capture only in person that you would miss in a studio setting?
Jacob: I thrive off people watching me create art in awe, it's so dynamic and in the moment. There certainly is a particular energy at an event, that is not found in a studio setting. For me, there is a brief window of passionate energy that can only be accessed in an experience or shortly after it. That is why I tailored my “Refined” packages to be completed within only a few days after an event concludes, so I can tap into the excitement of the memory, and allow the creativity to flow onto the canvas, allowing me the same intensity, gusto and stern decision making as if I were still at the event.
Q: As a Florida based artist, how does your nationwide service work? What areas do you frequently work in, outside of Florida?
Jacob: I frequent California, New York, Massachusetts, to name a few places. I travel nationwide and worldwide if a client is willing to assist with travel costs. I state my base costs on my website, and if a client is interested in having me travel out of state, I search for the most economical way for me to do so. Within a day I present the amount that will go towards the travel stipend, and if agreed on, I add it to the total amount. In order to book all travel ahead of time the stipend must be paid in the first deposit, I take care of all the booking to make it convenient for the client, I do everything I can to make the process effortless.
Q: How would you describe your style to someone who has never seen your work?
Jacob: My art style can best be described as impressionistic-realism. It is based in representational art, being traditionally observational. You can see the brush work up close with all the minute parts, but from a distance it looks realistic. Simply put, my composition, although intricate and accurate, is an idyllic representation of a scene. I use proper perspective, vibrant color work, gorgeous lighting, contrast, and peoples likenesses to achieve my unique look. Or more simply put, my current live painting style are portraits in an ideal scene.
Q: Outside of weddings, what kind of subjects do you enjoy painting? Are you frequently drawn to portraits, or landscapes?
Jacob: I have a special place in my heart for both. My absolute favorite paintings are people in landscapes, with a naturalistic air to them. Meaning it doesn’t look posed, people are found as they would naturally be. So, an urbanscape with people walking on the street and the billowing buildings rising above a canvas edge, or a rural scene having a person working in the field and the sky presenting gorgeous clouds… I love it all. But it depends on the season, sometimes I strictly do portraiture for the challenge of getting a person’s likeness just right, other times just landscape painting or architectural painting. That is why I love wedding painting – it is everything I loved about painting, together in one scene.
Q: Are their specific locations, or venues, that you enjoy painting in more?
Jacob: NO! I love it all! Being in a rural wedding scene, where I can really grab the ambiance of nature, the sky, trees etc. or being in a wonderfully intricate venue, with all the details of the architecture – I LOVE IT ALL. I once painted the first wedding dance on the rooftop of a hotel in Gramercy Park, I LOVED it! I was able to capture the lovely couple and the night sky with some of NYC’s famous skyline structures in the distance. I love every place I go because each scene has an ideal painting just waiting to be found.
Q: Is it important that you have a good relationship with your clients? How do you work to develop these relationships so the couple is comfortable with you on the big day?
Jacob: Absolutely. Trust is everything. I take solace in being genuine and straight-forward as possible so there are no surprises. A good relationship equates to a good outcome. My clients are treated as I would treat a friend or family member; l strive to be honest, genuine and caring with them. I want to honor them, especially if they trust me to paint their special moment.
Q: When painting at receptions, do guests often interact with you while you work? How does this influence the environment of the event? Do guests often want to watch you work?
Jacob: YES! That is part of why live wedding painting is so special to me. I thrive on the “live” atmosphere of it, and that’s uncommon for artist, most creative people need solitude for their art, but somehow, I’m the opposite. while painting, I’m able to carry on delightful conversations and interact with whoever are around me, including little kids who are often mesmerized by anything colorful. The guests LOVE being able to ask questions or comment on my work while I paint. I often see the same people come back many times before the night has concluded to see the progress, I've made, its entertaining for them, it makes me feel like I’m doing a good job.
Q: How soon before an event should couples reach out to book your talent for their wedding?
Jacob: I recommend couples reach out as soon as their ready, or when they have questions, as I reserve dates up to 1-2 years out from an event. But I strongly recommend not to wait that long if they are considering me, since I reserve dates to the first client who signs the contract. Since I officially launched my company in the summer of 2019, I am not completely booked out yet for 2020, I might still be available a few weeks beforehand, but the sooner a client reaches out the bigger the chance I'll be available.
Q: What can we expect to see from you in the future? Any outside work or shows to look out for? How can we keep up with your work?
Jacob: I hope to become one of the premier representational live event painters in Florida, and in the United States. I hope that I can become as busy as some of my peers, who I respect and admire greatly. And that this may happen not because I am trendy or flashy, but because I am genuine, unique, and will create a great product that speaks for itself. I am putting gallery pursuits mostly on hold for the moment, especially because some of my bigger live event painting packages take up most of my weekdays accomplishing. This has been a conscious decision, so I may have true quality time with my wife and friends; it's all about the balance. I receive so much joy and thrill from doing live event painting, ultimately because I am serving others in their big moment. I have heard that you know you are living your best life when you don’t feel like you are working… well, live wedding painting has never felt like “work.” It feels like an honor, for which I am so thankful. You can keep up with me on Instagram and my website, as I update those regularly.
Interested in Jacob and Katherine’s work? Reach out and see if they’re available for your wedding dates.
Cover Photo credits: Event Painting by Katherine