Tell us a little bit about your business.
I’m Tara Zalewsky, a fashion illustrator and fine artist who would love to paint bespoke watercolor portraits of you and your guests on your special day! I’ve worked with luxury brands and clients including Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstroms, Nemacolin Resort, Coach, and the Pittsburgh Opera. Delight your wedding guests, bridal party and family with mementos capturing their likeness and style in about ten minutes before their very eyes!
In addition to studying Fashion Illustration, I have a Masters of Fine Art in Painting. My paintings have been sold in galleries in Sante Fe and Taos, NM, and displayed in museum venues including Smithsonian Affiliate Heinz History Center. When you book my live portraits, you can be assured that you and your guests will take home a work of frameable fine art.
I’ll meet with you virtually or in person when booking an event, so you can share your vision. We’ll go over how live portraits can be a part of the experience of the cocktail hour and/or reception and discuss how long you would like me to paint. Some couples choose to have portraits of just their family and wedding party, and others select a package for any guest who would like one.
During the event, I take photos of guests as they arrive at my station. I use the photos as reference to paint their watercolor portrait sketches. Guests may stay and watch me paint or return later for their painting. Most paintings are of couples and take about 8 – 10 minutes each.
If you would like more portraits completed than what I can paint during the event, I’ll take photos home to finish at my studio and return them to you in a lux wedding box, filled with keepsake paintings from your special day.
My portraits provide a great personal touch when included with thank you notes, or some couples may just want to keep the special box of watercolor paintings of their wedding all to themselves!
I am all about personalization and customization. I’m always excited to meet at a coffee shop to discuss your wedding vision and share examples of my portfolio. After all, the metallic watercolor and thickness of the paper are best experienced in person! Would you like a family portrait on larger watercolor paper? Is your wedding date on your grandma’s 90th birthday, and you’d like to pose with her for a painting? How about a portrait of your bouquet or cake? A portrait of your dog? Please let me know! I would be delighted to make my paintings as personal and unique as your event!
In an age of A.I., give your guests the luxury experience of real art that is hand crafted before their eyes.
What makes your work unique?
My paintings are fashion styled portraits meant to capture the unique beauty of each subject. It is important to me to paint people’s faces, so that each portrait is of a unique individual, not just a figure in a white dress or suit. However, I’m not a caricature artist. I have a passion for painting portraits and have had several gallery exhibitions of my work. I love studying people, and my goal is to paint a bit of their personalities as well as their likeness.
All of my materials are archival and artist grade, from cold press watercolor paper to highly pigmented Russian watercolors. I love finishing the portraits with brushstrokes of metallic and iridescent watercolors. This gives an ethereal shimmer best seen in person, especially to white gowns. These are definitely frameable artworks!
What is your ideal client like?
I love painting people of all backgrounds and ages, and working with couples that not only want to give their guests a personalized keepsake, but also a unique experience. My ideal client knows that art has greater value than trends or party favors. Above all, I value the many forms that love takes, and I would be honored for my art to be a part of your special day.
