Elena Valerie: Live Wedding Painting Artist

My distinction lies in my relentless pursuit of unparalleled detail and emotional depth. I go beyond mere representation, meticulously rendering textures, intricate patterns, and the subtle nuances of emotion. This ensures your painting is a truly lifelike and emotionally resonant masterpiece that captures the essence of your day like no other.

My process involves an in-depth consultation to understand your vision, followed by extensive reference gathering, including high-resolution photography. I employ a multi-layered painting technique with exceptionally fine brushwork and precise color matching. Significant time is dedicated to ensuring every minute element, from the luminous glow of your attire to the subtle nuances of a smile, is perfectly depicted with astonishing accuracy.

A live wedding painting is a unique and heartfelt way to capture the joy, emotion, and energy of your wedding day as it unfolds. While you’re celebrating, I’ll be creating a beautiful artwork in real time, which doubles as engaging entertainment for your guests. Many enjoy watching the painting take shape throughout the event. I’m always happy to interact with curious guests, answer their questions, and share a bit about the painting process. Ultimately, you’ll receive a one-of-a-kind keepsake that captures not just how your day looked, but more importantly, how it felt.

Every couple’s story is unique, and we’ll select a scene during our consultation that feels most meaningful to you. Popular moments include:

• Your ceremony and vows (often focusing on a key moment like the ring exchange or recessional)

• The emotional first kiss as newlyweds

• Your first dance together under the lights

• Joyful reception celebrations, capturing the overall atmosphere

• The unique beauty and charm of your venue

My style is realism, focusing on capturing the light, atmosphere, and emotion of your day rather than a photorealistic copy. I use expressive brushstrokes and rich oil colours to convey the feeling and energy of the moment, creating a timeless piece of fine art that evokes the joy of your celebration. While the focus is on the overall scene and the couple, we can discuss incorporating recognisable impressions of key family members if desired.

Yes! Every booking includes a pre-wedding consultation, usually scheduled about a month before your wedding day. We’ll discuss your vision, select the key moment or scene you’d love captured, decide on the composition, and I’ll offer guidance based on my experience. We'll cover logistics like timing and placement, especially if your ceremony and reception are at different locations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and stress-free for you.

Absolutely! Your painting is deeply personal. Many couples ask to include beloved pets (even if they aren't physically present), specific key family members (like parents or bridal party near the focal point), meaningful floral arrangements, or unique decor elements. The goal is to capture the essence and atmosphere featuring you, the couple, prominently. While I don't paint detailed portraits of every single guest, we can definitely discuss how to incorporate the most important people and elements during our consultation.

I’ll arrive early (usually 1-2 hours before guests) to set up my easel and materials discreetly. I typically paint live for up to 7 hours during your reception, capturing the unfolding story and atmosphere. While I focus on the painting, I blend into the background but am always happy to engage with guests who are interested in the process.

I exclusively use professional-grade, real oil paints on premium canvas for every piece. This isn't quick-drying acrylic or watercolor; I choose oils for their unparalleled richness, depth, and vibrant luminosity, which allows me to capture the scene with timeless elegance. This commitment to traditional, museum-quality materials ensures your painting is not just beautiful on your wedding day, but becomes a lasting heirloom designed to be treasured for generations.

I'm quite self-sufficient! I typically need a space of about 2m x 2m in a location with good visibility of the scene I'll be painting and where guests can also observe if they wish. Access to a power point can be helpful for my portable light in darker reception settings, but isn't always essential. I bring my own easel, paints, canvas, and a drop cloth to protect the venue's floor.

Flexibility is key! If unexpected weather changes the plan for an outdoor ceremony or moment, we adapt. I can often find a sheltered spot with a good view, paint the scene from inside looking out, or work from high-quality reference photos taken earlier (or provided by your photographer) to incorporate key outdoor elements if needed. We discuss potential weather contingencies during our consultation.

Yes, professional framing is included! Each painting comes with a beautiful floating frame, available in your choice of colours (like natural oak, white, or black) to perfectly complement your artwork and home decor. If you have a specific vision for a more ornate or classical-style frame, let me know, and I can provide a custom quote for that option.

Creating a high-quality oil painting takes time. After the live painting on your wedding day, I bring the artwork back to my Gold Coast studio for careful refinement. Depending on the package chosen, this involves an additional 20–35 hours of detailed studio work. Oil paint also requires significant drying time before it can be safely varnished and framed. You can typically expect your finished, ready-to-hang painting to be delivered within 6–8 weeks after your wedding. Complimentary insured delivery is included Australia-wide.

I absolutely love bringing live painting magic to weddings all across Australia – from Sydney and Melbourne to Perth, Adelaide, regional centres, and everywhere in between! I'm also available for international destination weddings. My home studio is on the beautiful Gold Coast, QLD, and while travel is included for local weddings (within 100km), travelling further afield is a regular and welcome part of what I do. For any location beyond this included radius, I provide a clear, all-inclusive travel quote based on distance and necessary accommodation. Just let me know your venue details!

Yes, absolutely. I hold Public Liability Insurance, and I'm happy to provide a certificate of currency to your venue if required.

The official digital proposal you receive and digitally accept outlines all specific terms for cancellation or postponement initiated by the client, based on the timing of the notice. The 30% non-refundable deposit secures your date exclusively and covers initial consultation work and administration. In the very unlikely event that I am unable to attend your wedding due to a serious illness or emergency, I will make every effort to find a suitable replacement artist from my trusted professional network, subject to your approval. If a replacement cannot be found or is not desired, a full refund (including the deposit) will be provided. These details are fully outlined in your accepted proposal, which serves as our formal client agreement, ensuring clarity and peace of mind for both parties.

Yes! Besides live wedding painting, I have a deep love for painting pets, florals, and other special events like birthdays or anniversaries. Capturing the unique personality of furry family members, the delicate beauty of flowers, or the joy of a milestone celebration brings me immense joy. You can inquire about commissions for these subjects via my website or email.

It's simple! Once you're ready to proceed after receiving my initial quote, just let me know via email.

1. I'll then prepare and send you a detailed digital proposal.

2. This official document outlines all the agreed services, package details, pricing, painting specifics, timelines, and our terms and conditions for your careful review.

3. You'll review the proposal and digitally sign or accept it online. This accepted proposal becomes our formal agreement.

4. Following acceptance, the 30% non-refundable deposit payment is required (payment details will be provided).

5. Once the deposit is received, your wedding date is officially secured in my calendar! We can then schedule our detailed pre-wedding consultation.

As I personally hand-paint every single artwork and can only attend one wedding per day, my availability is limited. Many couples book my services 12-18 months in advance, especially for popular dates during peak wedding season (typically March-May and August-November). Some book even further out, up to 2 years ahead. I highly recommend reaching out as early as possible in your planning process. However, if your wedding is sooner, please don't hesitate to inquire – if your date is available, I would love to be there!

That's fantastic news! Getting started is easy. Please use the contact form on this page to let me know you're ready to book your live painting experience. I'll then prepare and send your personalised digital proposal outlining all the details we've discussed. Once you've reviewed and accepted the proposal online and paid the deposit, your date is officially secured! I'm so excited to potentially capture your special day.