"Elevate Dancers". Live Event Painting. Watercolor. 16x20. Arches 140 lb CP Paper
I have been painting the ISES, NACE & TBA Holiday mixer for past three years now and have really enjoyed it. This event benefits Toys for Tots. I get to paint and meet my friends! That is a good change since when I paint plein air, I am mostly alone. I have done quite a few plein air paintings and sketches during past few weeks. And also some work in the studio. And while I have been busy with professional photography, I haven’t had the opportunity to photograph my very own recent work!
I chose watercolor medium for this event due to the amount of time- around 2 hours. 16×20 watercolor is a decent size for live watercolor painting, especially given just couple of hours.
This year’s event was at the Sheraton Hotel (downtown Raleigh). I started around 6 PM. When I arrived, first thing I saw were the beautiful dancers from Elevate. Mica and I have photographed Valerie Curran’s dancers at the Mitzvahs and Birthday parties. Before I even setup, I pulled out my sketchbook and attempted quick reference sketches in pencil. Of course, the dancers were moving fast! And apart from the movement, they were also contorting their bodies! Quite amazing to look at, but, hard to draw! But, thanks to my 3/o son, I have training in sketching people who move at 100 mph!
Below is my setup. Just before I started the painting. I used Cheap Joe’s easel. For my plein air paintings, I have been using Winsor & Newton’s Bristol easel due to its light weight (sitting on the ground to paint is also very userful!). I used Holbein paints, Isaby mops and Creative Mark Rhapsody Kolinsky brushes. The paper I used was Arches 140 lb CP.
Live event painting setup. Blank paper awaits. Artist - Tesh Parekh
I started with a pencil drawing. And by this time the dancers were gone. So, I used my reference sketches to complete the drawing. Rest of the painting was mostly from the memory. I worked fast and furious. My mops, sables and lovely wife Mica were huge help! Below is your truly, painting.
Tesh Parekh - Live Event Artist at work.
The finished painting was given away in the raffle. Here I am with the lucky winner Joye Speight (right) of Virtue Event Planning & Consulting, Inc.
Joye Speight (right) won live event painting in the raffle. Artist - Tesh Parekh
I am loving the painting journey. While the biggest reward is the learning and being able to create what I enjoy, I am also thankful for my live event and wedding painting commissions.
– Tesh Parekh
Artist & Photographer
Be a fan of my work: facebook.com/weddingpainter
919-622-5399
