Check Out Ronni Brashear’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronni Brashear.

Hi Ronni, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Raised in Mississippi, I have been painting since I was very young. I graduated from Mississippi State University in the middle of the pandemic and started looking for art-related jobs in larger cities like Atlanta, Dallas and Nashville. I trust God and his will and I did get an art job here in Atlanta, so I moved and had larger ambitions than my day job. I started blindly emailing event coordinators and venues to ask if they would be interested in my live wedding and event painting services. Opportunities did open up and I was able to paint live at events and donated my artwork in hopes the publicity was enough and to make connections. Thankfully, the ball started rolling and now I am a full-time artist!

My interest in doing live wedding paintings developed from my love of painting en plen air which means “out of doors” in French. I also took a lot of figure drawing classes in college and still today paint figures for my own studio work. Therefore, live painting at events combines both of these wonderful elements into a grand challenge!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t believe dreams just happen without obstacles! I learn something new every single day with my business. My biggest challenges have been more about the business logistic side of things: forming a contract, collecting payments, client consultations, taxes, marketing, keeping organized, etc. For example, I learned that physically attending bridal shows and paying to market my services on The Knot.com didn’t bring me many clients. And I had a bookkeeper organizing my business but then I felt separate from my own business and now manage and communicate to all my clients myself. I spent a lot of time, energy, and money on avenues that didn’t work but trial and error is really the only way to grow.

I learned that from my father who has owned his restaurant for 30 years in Ridgeland, Mississippi. He still learns new things everyday. Watching his restaurant grow before my eyes is the reason I think I became so certain I was going to make my art career happen.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in live wedding paintings! This is a new trend that I’m so fortunate is catching on. So what I do is either paint the ceremony or reception of the wedding LIVE. I show up about two hours before the event and paint in the background. I take reference photos and paint the duration of the event as another form of entertainment for the guests. I do take the painting back home for further details and ship the painting back to the bride and groom!

Why this is so unique is because I am able to combine the best elements of the wedding all into one painting. During the consultation with the clients, they share what special attributes they want in the wedding and it’s like forming a giant collage of the happiest day of their lives. I have been painting my whole life and still lacked confidence in pulling a live painting off. You have to be able to paint fast, engage with people, know perspective and how to paint well, in addition to being physically healthy and able to travel weekly. I am most proud when I am completed the painting and I also believe it’s a nice painting as well. As an artist, I am proud that I am constantly working on new projects and paint almost every day.

What’s next?
Right now, my plan is to keep growing my business. I also have studio paintings that I am trying to get into galleries around Atlanta. I now have more time on my hands to be able to push those avenues a little more.

Pricing:

• $1000 18x24in canvas
• $1250 20x24in canvas
• $1500 24x30in canvas
• $1750 24x36in canvas

Contact Info:

• Email: ronnipaints@gmail.com
• Website: ronnipaints.net
• Instagram: ronnipaintsweddings
• Facebook: ronnipaints