Woodholme Wedding in the Baltimore Sun, with Patricia Bennett

Patricia Bennett appears in the Baltimore Sun, as the painter for the Sider Wedding.

I was mentioned in Sunday's Baltimore Sun in the "Special Touch" section, regarding the Sider wedding at the Woodholme Country club and my photo is included.

Woodholme Country Club Live Event Painting complete!

Wedding and Ceremony at the Woodholme Country Club, Patricia Bennett

This painting is done, best wishes to the couple.  The couple is in the foreground, and the bridal party is on the left.

This painting is a live event painting, studio painting hybrid.

The studio portion took two or three weeks to complete, while the live portion took one day.  I was present at their Ceremony, but couldn't paint it live due to unexpected space issues.  However, I took many photographs, and used them as reference.  I added: the bridesmaids, the bride's brother, the ceremony, the bridal party, and the bride and groom, and the event planner who was definitely a big part of the event.  The bride's cute dog was added to the painting as well, even though he/she wasn't present.

Currently I am making greeting cards for the bride's mother.  These are an extra that I like to do.  I love high quality images of paintings on greeting cards.  And I will also make 8x10 prints and frame them.  Just need some more light cyan ink...

Live Event Painting at a photoshoot for Style Magazine at the Belvedere

Produced by Fashion Editor, Suzin Boddiford. Photographed by Nemo Niemann. 

Live Event Painting of Style Magazine "Superstition" photoshoot, 24x36, Patricia Bennett

For the first time Style Magazine merged fine art with fashion for the latest fashion editorial to be featured in the December2013 issue. The theme was "Superstitions" and I was asked to paint one of the shots being produced on the set at the historic Belvedere in downtown Baltimore. 

In the final painting, notice the photographer in the foreground and in the background is a vignette with the model having her hair and makeup touched up. 

Produced by Fashion Editor, Suzin Boddiford. Photographed by Nemo Niemann.

Belvedere Hotel, photoshoot for Style Magazine, Suzin Boddiford posing the model, Nemo Niemann photographer  

This was really fun, I was invited to do a painting on the 13th floor of the Belvedere Hotel of a "superstition"-themed photoshoot.

I ended up painting on the 12th floor.  There was a handler for a small black cat, who is on the right of the canvas.  The painting will be in Style Magazine, in the picture frame near the model.  It's cool.

The Belvedere is absolutely stunning.  I've never seen anything like it.

Patricia holding Valentinos at the Style Mag photoshoot, 13th floor of the Belvedere, photo by Suzin Boddiford

Painting a Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD

Painting a Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland

Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club, ©Patricia Bennett 2013

Portrait of the Bride and Groom, by Patricia Bennett

Patricia Bennett and the Bride at midnight in front of the Wedding painting at the Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD

Wedding painting at the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD

I was the Live Event Painter at a lovely wedding at the Columbia Country Club September 1, 2013.  I painted the ceremony live, and painted the Reception until after midnight.  

The events of the day are combined into one 24 by 36" painting.  The Studio portion that I will do this week is a close-up portrait of the Bride and Groom slightly left of center, for which I took reference photographs after their ceremony.  

Beginning:

Sunday September 1, 2013, I arrived at the Columbia Country Club at 1:30pm.  On the Event Planner's schedule (Sara Muchnick of Engaging Affairs), I was due to arrive at 2:30pm, but I wanted to get the lay of the land.

The Events Manager at the Columbia Country Club, Laura Gaige, and Erik, and other staff of the Columbia Country Club were very helpful.  One staff member opened the doors for me as I brought in my duffle bag, table, easel and canvas.    

The Chuppah was specially made by an artist, and depicted several historic scenes of Jerusalem.  It was set up already with the backdrop of drawn muslin curtains.  I started the painting at 2 pm, and the Country Club was in full wedding swing: laying out the chairs, prepping food.  Twenty or thirty lovely purple flower arrangements were already lined up on a long table.  

I requested that I be allowed to open the curtains to paint the greenery outside, and Sara Muchnick okayed it.  

Two stunning enormous purple flower arrangements were placed on either side of the Chuppah, then a large cloth for the center aisle was unfurled.  The lighting crew arrived, and the string quartet, and the band members.  The table was laid out for the Rabbi.  Periodically, Erik and Laura Gaige and Sara Muchnick inspected the room.  I was asked to move to the other side of the aisle to avoid guests running into my easel, which I complied with.  

The Ceremony:

The Ceremony was long enough for me to get several bridesmaids and groomsmen in the painting as well as the Rabbi and Bride and Groom and a small child.
As soon as the Ceremony ended, I moved to my second location, facing the stage.  And the entire room was rearranged very efficiently by the staff.

The Reception:
Very lovely!  I painted all night, guests ate their meals, danced.

The Chuppah Ceremony in Paint

Chuppah Ceremony at Woodholme Country Club, 11x14", Patricia Bennett

This is a preparatory painted sketch and will be added to the live event painting as part of the studio portion.
The bride lovingly gives the cup of wine to the groom to drink as the families look on in delight.  (There was enormous joy in the room.)

Red, Pink, White Roses, Patricia Bennett

Red, Pink, and White Roses, 16x20, Patricia Bennett

These are near the Carriage House at Cylburn Arboretum.

This painting will be on view at:

 My 2nd Open Studio on Sunday September 8, 2 to 5pm: 5600 Wexford Rd, Apt 1, Baltimore, MD 21209, phone: 410-243-0170.

And:

The Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum, November 1, 5 to 7pm.

Wedding Painting at the Woodholme Country Club

Wedding Reception and Ceremony at the Woodholme Country Club, by Patricia Bennett

 Painting a Wedding at the Woodholme Country Club, August, 24, 2013

Patricia Bennett beginning the wedding painting at the Woodholme Country Club, photo by Fleur de lis

Yesterday I had the privilege to paint a beautiful and joyous wedding celebration.

Chuppah before the Ceremony at Woodholme Country Club, photo by Patricia Bennett

Chuppah painting in progress, before the Ceremony, by Patricia Bennett

I began in the room with the Chuppah, and spent a few hours capturing the mood.  I saw it suffused with light.  There were candles on either side of the aisle and scattered rose petals.

Patricia Bennett in front of her started painting of the Chuppah at Woodholme Country Club, photo probably by Woodholme staff.

Due to space constraints, it wasn't possible for me to paint the ceremony.
At each event I find that unexpected things happen and flexibility is crucial to success.  I did photograph the ceremony, and found the most memorable moments to be when the bride gave the groom the wine to drink.  And when the flower girl threw the petals into the aisle.

Woodholme Wedding Painting Live, Patricia Bennett

My remaining work is to paint in the ceremony.  And add the bride and groom to the lower left, with a couple other family members...

To be continued...