ThrowBack Thursday Feature
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Capturing Grandeur in a Small Frame
There’s a quiet challenge that every live painter faces—how do you tell an epic story on a modest canvas? For Shauna and Michael’s magnificent tent wedding at Deal Country Club, I was working on a 20 x 24” canvas. While that may sound like a generous size, it becomes surprisingly intimate when the scene includes grand architecture, sweeping landscapes, detailed florals, elegant lighting, and the emotional centerpiece: the couple’s first dance.
As an artist, one of the most important skills I’ve developed over the years is visual editing—choosing what to highlight and what to gently leave out. This is harder than it looks. When you’re standing in the middle of a venue as beautiful and detailed as this, your eyes want to take in everything. But a painting, unlike a photograph, must speak clearly. It must focus on emotion, atmosphere, and storytelling—not just detail for detail’s sake.
A Family Story in the Making
This painting was a special commission from the groom’s mother, who had seen me painting live at another wedding earlier that same year. I was honored to be invited to help commemorate this milestone moment for her son and daughter-in-law. What makes this even more meaningful is that I’ll be painting again for this family—this summer I’ll create another live wedding painting for Michael’s brother, Christopher, and his fiancée, Rosanna.
It’s a joy and privilege to be part of their family’s story in this way.
More Than a Moment—A Cohesive Story
As you’ll see in the video, this scene was rich with visual beauty:
- A panoramic view of the Deal Country Club, with rolling golf course greens stretching into the distance
- A tastefully styled tent glowing with soft, natural light and romantic greenery
- An elegant decal on the dance floor, lush floral arrangements, and layers of ambiance that made this wedding truly unforgettable
But not every beautiful detail can fit on a single canvas. That’s why I always bring the painting back to my studio to refine and consolidate the ideas. With the help of reference photos and videos, I thoughtfully layer in the elements that best tell the story—not just what was seen, but what was felt.
The goal is a cohesive composition that reflects the spirit of the day, not just its decorations.
Why Watch the Video
To fully appreciate the atmosphere of Shauna and Michael’s celebration—and the complexity of bringing such a rich visual experience into a single painting—I encourage you to watch the video. You’ll get a better sense of what I saw as I painted, and what decisions I had to make in real time as the day unfolded.
🎥 Watch here:
👉 Live Painting of Shauna & Michael’s First Dance – Deal Country Club
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Planning a Luxury Wedding in New Jersey?
If you’re planning an elegant tent wedding or a celebration at a New Jersey country club, and are looking for a unique and meaningful keepsake, I would be honored to create a live painting for your special day.
This is more than a painting—it’s your story told in brushstrokes.
Let’s begin that story together.
📩 Contact Me | 🌐 www.LindaMarinoArt.com
