What's in my Bag: Live Wedding Painter Edition

Here’s what I bring with me when painting live at a wedding or event:

Easel: https://a.co/d/9CKv1hK

I got this as a starter easel when I did my first live wedding painting and planned on upgrading by now but I have loved it enough to keep it. It takes a while to get used to how to set it up and break it down, but once you do it enough times, it’s easy. It’s portable and durable and can store paint supplies. 

Canvas: https://www.michaels.com/product/level-3-gallery-wrapped-heavy-duty-canvas-by-artists-loft-M10240777

I use the Level 3 Gallery wrapped canvases from Michaels. As a Live Wedding Painter, I prefer the thicker edge and it’s heavier so it’s more stable when I’m painting like a crazy person at a wedding. 

Shoes: https://www.on.com/en-us/products/cloud-5-59/womens/undyed-white-white-shoes-59.98373

I keep telling myself I’m going to wear nicer shoes, but you gotta be comfortable when you’re on your feet for 6 hours at a wedding. These are my go-to’s, mainly because they are all white and most of my other sneakers are more colorful. I tend to wear long dresses so you usually can’t see them. 

Portable battery: https://www.walmart.com/ip/onn-Dual-Port-Portable-Battery-10k-mAh-Black/1136791211?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=3621&adid=222222222771136791211_117755028669_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-306310554666&wl5=9010955&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=1136791211&wl13=3621&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&&adid=222222222371136791211_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-306310554666&wl5=9010955&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=1136791211&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoPOwBhAeEiwAJuXRhwv40EKHwrO0OB3lZ8TVfEM-o4fXrE7nc7bfJPh9IX9rBxzLlaK-whoCkZoQAvD_BwE

This portable battery is the best one I’ve ever used. It’s actually my boyfriend’s and I stole it lol. You have to remember to charge it overnight because it takes a while to charge but it will last you the entire night if your phone was dead at the beginning. Having my phone is necessary for the wedding because I will typically take a photo of the scene and refer back to it or zoom in if needed. A portable battery is also great for times when you need to use a light source and you are not close to an outlet. 

Phone clamp mount: https://a.co/d/cVKpdLq

I use this phone mount that can clamp on anything to make time lapse videos or me painting or a stand for my phone to look at the reference photo I am painting. I typically clamp it to the back of my easel. 

Light: https://a.co/d/cVKpdLq

I use this light with a clamp when I am in a dark space or outdoors and the sun has gone down. I clamp it on the back of my easel, but I will say I don’t LOVE this one. I’ve been on the hunt for a better one because this clamp doesn’t work as well as I’d like it to. I’ve found a few I like but they are a bit pricey so I just haven’t made the purchase yet. 

I also bring my paint and brushes, but those are miscellaneous brands and types that I have collected over the years lol and some I don’t even know where they came from. If you know you know. For the most part, I get my supplies from Michaels. It’s closest to me and they usually have some kind of sale going on.