When you book a live wedding illustrator, you might imagine someone sitting with a sketchbook, surrounded by pencils and paints.
And while there are lots of incredibly talented artists who work traditionally, I work digitally.
It's something I'm often asked about, so I thought I'd explain why.
What is digital live wedding illustration?
Rather than drawing directly onto paper, I create each illustration digitally on my iPad.
I'm still drawing every person myself - it isn't an automated process or a filter. The difference is simply the medium I'm using to create the artwork.
My illustrations are drawn by hand, just digitally.
So why digital?
The biggest advantage for me is speed and flexibility.
At a wedding, things move quickly.Guests arrive at different times. Groups change. People wander off. Someone's just gone to get a drink. Another group has appeared.
Digital illustration allows me to work quickly and make adjustments as I go, which is incredibly useful when I'm working with lots of guests in a relatively short amount of time.
I also find lots of guests bickering over who gets to take home the illustration.. but being digital means I can simply print a couple of copies!
It also means I can work from photographs
If I don't manage to catch someone while they're sitting in front of me, or if I need to complete additional illustrations after the wedding, I can work from photographs. This gives me much more flexibility when it comes to larger weddings.
It also means I can make sure your artwork is completed to the same style even when it's created after the wedding itself.
Your illustration is still completely personal
One of the misconceptions about digital illustration is that it somehow makes the artwork less personal.
For me, that's not the case at all. I'm still looking at each person individually - their clothes, hair, pose, expressions and the little details that make them recognisable.
Every illustration is created specifically for the person or group I'm drawing.
There's also a practical advantage
Weddings aren't always the easiest environment for traditional artwork.
There might be drinks nearby, children running around, outdoor spaces, changing weather or a lot of people moving around the room.
Working digitally means I'm not worrying about wet paint, spilled water or transporting lots of paper and materials. It also makes the whole setup much more streamlined.
Does digital mean you don't get a physical keepsake?
Not at all.
Depending on your package, illustrations can be printed so your guests can take them home. You still get a physical piece of artwork - it has simply been created digitally first.
As the original artwork is digital, I can also create high-quality prints and additional artwork afterwards - one of my most popular add ons is my hardback coffee table book, this simply wouldn’t be the same if I was just scanning hand painted artwork!
Why I think it works particularly well for weddings
Ultimately, I chose digital illustration because it allows me to do more of what I love: creating lots of personalised artwork for your guests without compromising on the experience.
It's quick, flexible and practical, while still being completely hand illustrated.
So if you were expecting me to turn up with a giant box of paints... It's an iPad! 😂
But the illustrations are still very much drawn by me, for you and your guests.
