Live Painting with Portraits of the Guests During This Special Event
Today, I would like to tell you the story of how I arrived at a private masquerade event in Venice… during the most famous carnival in Italy!
It all started when I met Denis Durand, a French fashion designer, at a wedding fair in Grasse (South of France). As usual, I was drawing live during the event, and when Denis saw me painting, it became an obvious choice for him! He told me about a private party he was organizing during the Venice Carnival and suggested I take part in the event with my pencils and brushes… and asked if I would paint live portraits of the costumed guests! It was such an exciting opportunity!
Before the Event
I had traveled to Venice many times, but never during the carnival. This was the perfect opportunity! Once I had sorted out my travel and accommodation (which wasn’t easy during this busy period), I had one more challenge—finding a costume!
The theme of the evening was The Vampire Ball.
You might think finding a vampire costume would be easy, but we had to wear 17th- or 18th-century costumes! Fortunately, I found a beautiful vampire dress and an extravagant wig in a costume shop in Nice, France. Phew!
The Venue: Palazzo Morosini, Venezia
Behind San Tomà Church, I discovered the palace where the event would take place. A baroque palace from the 17th century, taking us back to the past with its luxurious salons, chandeliers, stucco, and frescoes in every room… The perfect setting for a Vampire Ball!
The party was about to begin. As the first guests arrived, it felt like stepping onto a movie set—that evening, a thick mist covered the streets of Venice… Brrrr…
Live Portraits During the Event
The ball started, and I was ready to sketch the vampire guests!
I must say—it was a true pleasure to paint at this event. It is rare to have the opportunity to paint live costumed guests in such a historic setting!
However, my live portraits were not the only artistic entertainment of the evening. Guests also enjoyed:
- The talented violinist Angie, performing with her electronic violin
- A burlesque striptease by the magnificent Sucre d’Orge
- The enchanting performance of opera singer Sonja Jansen
- And finally, the highly anticipated Vampire Contest, where Mr. and Mrs. Dracula were elected!
It was sometimes difficult to stay focused on my painting with all these artistic distractions, but I finally managed to capture several costumed guests on paper.
An Unforgettable Night in Venice
A special thank you to Denis Durand for organizing this fabulous event.
I felt truly lucky to be part of such a unique night. It was an absolute pleasure to paint the guests in their magnificent costumes and to relive the Venice of centuries past through my art.
Would You Like a Live Painter for Your Event?
Are you looking for a live event painter? Do you love the idea of live portraits at your event?
Contact me for more information!
