Frequently Asked Questions.

  • I paint with high quality oil paint on a professional-grade canvas.

  • Once we confirm that I am available for your date, I require a signed contract in addition to a nonrefundable retainer of $600 that will hold your date & go towards your total cost. I typically meet with couples or clients before the contract is signed in case there are any lingering questions or details we need to iron out prior to signing a contract. Once all the questions have been answered, the initial payment has been made and the contract is signed, you are booked!

  • Of course you can! Typically, my default for the ceremony is to focus only on the couple and their venue background. I find this makes for the most clean and romantic-looking painting. You can request that I add in detailed paintings of others and we will make sure to include that in the contract before signing.

    If this is something that interests you, we will have to discuss ahead of time who you would like to be in the painting and you will need to appoint someone during the reception to point out & bring these chosen guests to me.

  • To do my best work, I need a clear reference photo and I cannot create a full figure of a person without an image to make it look just like them. If you have a really great photo of someone who has passed away and would like to see if it is possible to add them in the painting, please reach out to check!

    There are always other options for honoring someone in your wedding painting even if their figure is not painted in. For instance, if cardinals were this person’s favorite bird and that reminds you of them, we can add that detail into your wedding painting.

  • Right now, my default plan for payment goes like this:

    • 30% deposit at the time of booking.

    • 30% payment halfway to from booking to the wedding date.

    • The rest is paid 2 weeks out.

    If you need to break up payments more than this, I am completely willing to work with you on a payment plan. Just ask and we can figure out the timing that works best for you.

  • Because of the nature of oil paints, it can take up to a few weeks for paintings to dry. Typically after the wedding, I will take the painting home with me and it will be ready to be worked on again after a few days. Depending on the size and detail left, the painting could take 4-8 weeks to complete. Once finished, dried, and varnished, I will ship or hand-deliver the painting to your home!

  • Yes, I love traveling! For traveling outside of the Phoenix Valley, there is a fee involved. Right now, I charge the Current Federal Mileage Rate, which is 67 cents per mile, for roundtrip travel from Chandler, AZ. Depending on how far your venue is, I might charge for lodging as well (or you may add me to your hotel block if that is preferred). Here are my most common travel location rates at the moment (including lodging for those applicable):

    Payson/Pine/Strawberry: $115

    Tucson Greater Area: $130

    Prescott Valley/Prescott: $300

    Sedona/Flagstaff: $400

    Lake Havasu City: $450

    Please reach out if you’d like to get a quote on travel fees if you are unsure what yours might be.

  • Of course! Because most ceremonies are shorter, it is important for me to get to the venue early so I can start painting the background beforehand and be ready for the ceremony on time. I will take reference photos during the ceremony and can use them throughout the rest of the night to finish the painting as your guests observe.

  • The clock for the live painting packages does start when I begin painting at the venue. However, even though I arrive early enough to get set up and start working on the background there is still plenty of time for your guests to come see me work walking into the ceremony, cocktail hour, and during the reception. For my smaller packages, I am usually wrapping up for the night right when the dancing starts to really get going, typically around 9pm-10pm (depending on when your ceremony starts). For my larger packages, I am there until the party ends.

    If you end up having your reception painted rather than your ceremony, I am able to get to the venue a little bit later. If me being there later is important to you, I would either recommend going with a bigger package that has more time or having your reception/first dance painted.

  • As of right now, for live oil painting, I am exclusively a wedding painter. If interested in getting a painting made after your event is over, please inquire about photo-based commissions.

    As for watercolor guest portraits, I am happy to paint at any event.