A wedding is a work of art. The ceremony, reception, music, flowers, and food all come together to form a masterpiece. Artist Alexis Russillo, a plein air painter, can add a layer to the day, too, offering a unique addition in the form of an on-site landscape painting – created in the moment – during the reception. “Through my art, I hope to evoke the vivid feelings that can take you back to a place or a moment that you want to last a lifetime,” Russillo said.
At its essence, painting is an expression of the present moment. Clients are attracted to this quiet source of elegant entertainment that supports an aura of romance. The live creation of a painting enhances the experience for guests who periodically view the progression of the one-of-a-kind keepsake throughout the night.
Russillo, who grew up on Martha’s Vineyard and studied figurative art at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, began live event painting five years ago. “I thought, ‘How could I create the romance of simpler times when they didn’t have a photographer, and they would hire painters to commemorate an event?’” she explained. Since then, Russillo has painted at weddings around the Island – in Menemsha, Chilmark, Aquinnah, Vineyard Haven, and Edgartown – to capture the natural environment of the day, from harbor views to rolling hills with the ocean in the background and everything in between.
Her live event painting package covers everything from the initial consultation to delivering the finished artwork. The process begins with a discussion about the location. Couples sometimes come to her with an idea of what scene they would like depicted, or the three will visit the site – either in person or via FaceTime – to determine the best view together. “Usually, they know what they want me to concentrate on and are excited to be part of the artistic piece,” she explained.
Artist Alexis Russillo painted Menemsha Harbor as seen from the reception site of Ryan Grandeau and Hayley Kanner’s wedding at the Beach Plum Inn in Chilmark.
Some couples, however, leave it entirely up to Russillo, which is what Ryan Grandeau and Hayley Kanner did for their June 2021 wedding day at the Beach Plum Inn in Chilmark. “She really took the reins and did the homework for us, scouting out what would make a great view, and she was right,” Kanner reflected. Setting up her easel just outside the tent on the patio, facing Menemsha Harbor, Russillo rendered the boats, jetties, water, buildings, and, far off, a view of Aquinnah as the sun set. “We loved that Alexis was ready to take on the creative spirit, given that we didn’t have a strong vision,” said Kanner.
On the day of a wedding that she is tasked to paint, Russillo arrives about sixty minutes before cocktail hour to set up and start her initial sketch. After the ceremony, guests mingle and come by to watch the painting’s progress. “It’s a fun and interactive way for them to be part of this living work of art,” she shared. “Typically, when the couple is done with the ceremony and photos, they, too, come over to check it. Frequently, before it gets dark, they return. That’s always an exciting moment for them.”
Russillo paints for about five hours, working until the sun sets, when she breaks down the painting station and takes the landscape back to her studio. “I have reference photos, and then I use artistic license to make sure the painting makes sense and is a dynamic composition that captures the emotion through color, atmosphere, and composition to lead to a beautiful work of art,” she said.
After the final touches, Russillo adds a protective varnish, frames the work if the couple selects that option, and delivers the painting within three months. Packages run from about $1,900 to $2,600, depending on the size of the canvas the couple selects, which can range from eight-by-thirteen inches to twelve-by-twenty-five inches.
Although she wields the paintbrush, for Russillo, the couple and guests are integral to the creation process. Recalling Kanner and Grandeau’s wedding, she said, “The guests were so interactive; a lively bunch. It was inspiring. It was like we were all making a work of art. You could feel the love everybody had for the bride and groom. It created this beautiful night of celebration.”
The couple now have a work of art to commemorate their wedding day. “We have the painting up in the entranceway, and it’s such a special reminder when we walk in and out the door,” said Kanner. “When anyone looks at it, they see this beautiful picture of Martha’s Vineyard, which itself is amazing. But the fact that it was so special to our wedding holds a special place for us.”
