A wonderful surprise for a bride and groom in Hyères: a live painting as a wedding gift.
Manon V., the bride’s sister, contacted me because she wanted to give her sister a rather special wedding gift. She had discovered the concept of a live wedding painting and imagined her sister would be absolutely delighted by the idea.
We exchanged many messages regarding the live painting and its composition. The reception venue—Castel Bay in Hyères—inevitably shaped the choice of background for the painting: the view overlooking the Giens Peninsula and the Hyères Islands is breathtaking! The bride and groom would be positioned centrally during the secular ceremony, standing beneath a floral arch. Their witnesses would be by their side, while the couple’s parents—all four of them—would appear in the foreground.
But first, I would like to say a few words about Castel Bay.
A venue with a splendid sea view: Le Castel Bay in Hyères
Built in the early 20th century, this stately home was originally owned by an Austrian baron. Once a holiday residence, it was sold to a haute couture house in 1925.
However, in the post-war era, the villa’s purpose shifted toward the health and social care sector, and the site began accommodating people with disabilities. It was renamed the Hotel Pomponiana, operating until 2009, when it closed its doors and lay abandoned for a decade.
Extensive renovations were subsequently undertaken to transform the site into the splendid venue it is today. Here is a photo of this magnificent estate, taken by the talented photographer Gilles Perbal:
But let’s get back to the bride and groom!
Creating a live painting for a wedding in Hyères
I live in Toulon, just 20 minutes away from Hyères! While I usually travel all over France to create live wedding paintings, this time I’m working right on my “home turf”!
I always arrive well in advance to set up, find the perfect spot for my easel, and begin my sketch. Here is the first stage of this live wedding painting in Hyères:
You can see the horizon and make out the Giens Peninsula in the background. Naturally, the bride and groom are in the center, beneath the lovely floral arch. Flanking the couple are their witnesses. The bride and groom’s parents are in the foreground, watching the wedding ceremony with emotion. All the compositional elements are in place; now I can get out my watercolors and add some color!
A live painting capturing the secular wedding ceremony
While the guests enjoy the stunning view of the Hyères “Golden Islands” during the cocktail hour, I begin applying the first watercolor washes to the live wedding painting. Here is a close-up of the bride and groom:
Curious guests come over to see how the painting is progressing throughout the evening. I remember having a long conversation with one guest specifically about the painting’s composition! The discussion then drifted into other artistic topics. That’s one of the things I love about these live painting sessions—interacting with your art-loving guests, to their great delight!
And here is the finished painting:
Which moment would you choose for your live wedding painting in Hyères?!
Shall we discuss it?
