Live Painting & Live Lettering
Art made in the moment.
Your event becomes the inspiration. Your guests become part of the story. Available for weddings, brand activations, product launches, corporate events, and private celebrations.
Notable clients & events: The New Republic · Formula E · Nordstrom
What is Live Event Painting?
Live event painting is exactly what it sounds like — an artist painting your event as it unfolds. Most often, this means individual watercolor portraits: guests stop by our table and leave with a one-of-a-kind take-home piece — a favor everyone actually wants. For weddings, portraits are typically of guests themselves; for brand and press events, portraits can feature guests, product, or a branded moment — something to watch come to life in real time and keep.
For events that call for a single statement piece, Amanda also creates original large-scale paintings on canvas that capture the atmosphere of the room: the light, the florals, the architecture, the emotion of the moment. For weddings, this typically means the ceremony or reception space; for corporate events, it might be the energy of the room, a keynote moment, or a branded scene.
Watercolor guest portraits are available for immediate take-home at the event. Large canvas pieces are painted in acrylic on site and taken back to the studio for final touches before delivery.
Brand and Press Events
Where your brand becomes the story.
From product launches to milestone celebrations, live painting turns a brand event into something guests remember — and photograph. Available for flagship openings, press previews, product launches, and brand activations.
The New Republic — USA 250 Launch, New York
To celebrate the release of their USA 250 edition, The New Republic commissioned original artwork and brought Amanda to New York to live-paint at the launch event — giving guests a front-row seat to the creative process behind the work they'd just seen displayed. Held at the former carriage house of Aaron Burr (now the beautiful One if by Land, Two if by Sea restaurant), guests had the option of Amanda painting their own version of Mount Rushmore, or a custom portrait of their choosing. Additional work commissioned included a large-scale event sign, illustration for a poem written by award-winning poet Rowan Ricardo Phillips, and an interactive artwork featuring a blank Mount Rushmore with over 30 custom watercolor stickers of historic American figures to choose from to create their own unique piece.
Weddings and Parties
Your celebration, painted as it happens.
Whether it's live portraits for your guests to take home as a favor, or an original piece capturing your ceremony or reception, your day becomes a keepsake nobody else will have.
-
Amanda paints for up to 5 hours during your event, with a minimum booking of 3 hours for portrait painting. She brings a two-person team — Amanda paints while her assistant handles setup, logistics, and real-time photography of the process. We ask that you check with your venue prior to booking to confirm on-site painting is permitted. We're happy to discuss logistics, placement, and setup on a planning call.
-
For live acrylic canvas painting: we provide our own easel and director's chair, and ask that a small side table be available at the venue for supplies, along with access to water and a wash station. For watercolor guest portraits: we need a small table and two chairs. We're happy to paint outdoors (weather permitting) and recommend an indoor alternative as backup. For evening events after sundown, we'll need access to a power outlet for lighting.
-
Large canvas pieces are painted with acrylic paint. These pieces are taken back to our studio to be completed off-site and delivered after the event. Portraits are painted with watercolor on heavy-weight paper and are available for guests to take home at the end of the event.
-
All on-site live painting events require a minimum investment of $2,500, with a 50% deposit due at booking to secure your date. Watercolor guest portrait pricing varies based on the number of guests to be painted and the duration of the event (3-hour minimum). Live acrylic canvas paintings average $5,000, depending on size and complexity.
For brand activations, product launches, and press events — which often include custom commissioned artwork, travel, or extended hours — investment is scoped individually.
Reach out using the inquiry form below for a custom quote tailored to your event. Dates are limited and booked on a first-deposit basis — inquire early to secure your date.