Painted in Time
By Kristen Soles McCrackin | Photos courtesy of Alexia Nemecek
Wedding paintings have been popular since ancient times but have become more abstract and experimental in recent decades. This trend has taken the wedding industry by storm, and it’s no surprise. Live wedding painting adds a special element to the event.
A form of performance art, live painting is not just creating a painting, it is engaging with the guests and the environment. It’s a live creative experience that adds a personalized aspect and a touch of excitement and entertainment to the wedding reception.
Lexi Nemecek has always been “artsy,” though she didn’t study art professionally. Instead, she pursued a psychology degree at the University of Georgia. After graduation, she moved to Atlanta but eventually returned to Athens, where she lives now. “Everything I do revolves around art,” she says.
Explaining what prompted her to start wedding painting, she says, “I was making tea towels and so I took an art class at the Parks and Rec because I wanted to get better at making graphics. And then I realized I was really into painting with oils, especially doing portraits. And somebody asked me if I’d ever heard of doing wedding painting.”
Nemecek ended up asking a friend if she could practice at her wedding. It was much harder than she had anticipated, but she continued training because she enjoyed it. As she practiced, she got better and learned to work faster. She says being fast is key.
“It’s important to capture a pose with emotion, too. A dip kiss is always pretty and romantic, and I love the motion of a twisted dress train. Some other favorites are loving glances between the couple or a kiss on the forehead,” Nemecek shares.
“In my paintings, the couples aren’t usually facing the viewer, unless it’s a celebratory walk down the aisle after the ceremony. And then I still want to capture excitement or joy on their faces.”
Brad Wilson, a previous client of Nemecek’s, says he and his wife looked for as many opportunities as possible to make their New Year’s Eve wedding unique. “The piece Lexi did for us exceeded our expectations. Her attention to detail is really what makes our painting stand out.”
Remarking on the reception, he goes on to say, “We think Lexi’s presence was fun for the guests to watch. The final product wasn’t ready that day, but for guests to walk by and watch for a few moments, it was a tiny added bit of fun and interactivity. When it comes to a wedding reception, it’s a pretty cut-and-paste itinerary. So, we enjoyed having something slightly out of the ordinary.”
Wilson highly recommends hiring a wedding painter for the big day. He notes, “The pictures and videos are great. But there’s a reason most museums and art galleries feature paintings or drawings. There’s something about seeing a snapshot in time through the lens of an artist’s interpretation that conjures something in the soul. For us, the painting of our wedding day captures so much. The venue, the guests and how happy we are. It’s a wonderful thing to have in your home.”
Nemecek, under the business name Lexi Brite, is currently booking into spring and summer, with some fall availability. Though she does lots of weddings, she also enjoys anniversary and birthday parties, charity events and private bookings. She will travel for events including destination weddings. Live oil portrait prices start at $1,500.
For inquiries, email [email protected] or visit lexibrite.com.