What Equipment Do I Need To Become a Full Time Wedding Artist

In order to become a live wedding painter you are going to need a few things. Most of these you will already have if you are already producing artwork, but some are going to be more specialised. To help you get started we have broken this down into a short list. This list is not extensive and is designed to give you a push in the right direction. You will build up your equipment and experience the more live wedding paintings you complete.

1)Portable Easel

Easels are a platform used by artists to hold up their canvas whilst they paint. Having one that is both portable and which folds away allows it to be transported from place to place. This will also allow you to set up and move your portraits throughout the day, allowing you to be situated in the best possible position to capture all the feelings and emotions.

wedding painting canvas

2) Surface To paint On

It’s pretty self-explanatory that you are going to need something to paint on to actually give to the client, but there are a few options to choose from. Painting can be done on canvas or on artist paper of any size. Most artists use a canvas as it is easy to paint on, shows a great level of detail and is easy to transport. This surface will also depend on the clients desires but also certain surfaces may be better suited to certain situations.

3) Paint

Choosing your desired paint can affect the look of the finished painting. For live wedding paintings most use acrylic or watercolour paint as they dry quickly. Whatever type of paint you choose, be sure to bring a wide range of colours to mix and match to produce the correct contrasts.

4) Brushes

Having a wide variety of different paint brushes is crucial if you want to create a piece of art that stands out. There are many different types of brushes to choose from, each having their own unique purpose. Some brushes are better suited for thin lines or small details, whilst others are better for applying long wide strokes for background effects. Different brushes will also produce different textures throughout the art work such as smooth or rough surfaces. Your brush collection will improve along with your experience, and you will start to understand which styles of art work require which brushes.

5) Palette

Palettes are used to mix together colours when you don’t have the desired colour at hand. These are perfect for creating shading colours by adding black to an existing colour on the art. Or for adding highlighting effects to really bring depth to the painting. They are usually small enough to be transported easily, it’s just a case of learning which colours to mix together.

6) Cleaning Materials

This is an often overlooked essential of live painting. If you are painting throughout the day you will want to bring some cleaning materials and wipes. This can be to clean your equipment but also to keep any spillages from staining, resulting in charges from the wedding venue. Cleaning supplies can be as simple as a cloth and some water if your paints are water based or solvents if oil based.

7) Business Cards

Business cards can be a cheap and effective way to spread the word about your talents. Business cards should include your logo and any links to your social media or websites. You could have a stack beside your easel whilst you paint in case any of the guests want to have a look at your portfolio. 

These are the basic supplies you will need when you start out your live wedding painting career. As mentioned previously these will grow as your experience and skill level does. It will also change depending on the situation and style your painting in.

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