Creating Some of my Best Live Wedding Paintings at Palace Event Center in Iowa

I had the absolute best time working with some amazing people this past week while painting at Palace Event Center in Treynor, Iowa. This venue is one I am very eager to work with again as the staff was so warm and inviting, especially the owner of the land. Craig shared with me his impactful story about how his wife had passed away a few years back from a traumatic brain injury and how he stepped up to take over her wedding business to honor her. I could see the love in his eyes as he recounted memories with his wife, Penny, and was in awe of how devoted he was to making his couples feel valued and seen on their special day. What he is doing is truly a labor of love and I am just itching to get to work with him and his staff again soon.

To my delight, not only were the people wonderful and the venue absolutely stunning, but I was feeling speedy and creative myself! This past week, I believe I created two of my more successful paintings in my career and I couldn’t be more excited to share my experience with you.

Zach and Becca’s Wedding
This wedding was full of life and fun. The bride and groom had requested their first kiss under the gazebo outside of which they were getting married. They requested for me to capture the essence of the day as well as their first kiss at the altar. I was giddy when I showed up and saw the rainy, overcast sky in the distance and quickly got my phone out to take some reference shots. Although their ceremony ended up filled with the sun, I was able to capture some beautiful storm clouds in the sky which completely changed the mood of the painting. A mood that creates intimacy, romance, and anticipation for the road ahead. Love, love, loved this painting!!

Ben and Kristen’s Wedding
The following Friday I was back again with a plan for a whole different composition. Although rain was predicted in the forecast, the bride and groom had specifically requested a painting that felt bright and colorful, so I knew I was going to have to capture a completely different feeling in the sky. I painted some large fluffy clouds with a few hints of yellow to lean into the sunshine. The bride and groom were looking to have the barn in the background with themselves being in the foreground as the center of interest. Kristen, the bride, had on a beautifully intricate dress that allowed me to push color and create a very dramatic scene. With the bright sky, gorgeous barn, and absolutely stunning dress, I was able to create what I believe is one of my best paintings to date.

You can view these paintings in my Gallery found in the menu bar above!