From June 3th–5th, 2024, I had the honor of being part of the InnVentures Annual Conference, a multi-day event filled with creativity and recognition. As part of the entertainment and experiential offerings, I was invited to bring live watercolor and calligraphy services to two of the most high-profile moments of the conference. Spoiler: It was epic.

Here’s what you’ll find in this recap:

Behind-the-scenes of our live foiling activation at the Casino Night welcome party
Watercolor portraits created for award winners at the formal gala
Custom artwork gifted to attendees and venue leadership
Why live art was the perfect touch for this travel-based corporate celebration

About the Artist

Hey, I’m Danison—the artist behind Bowtie & Brush. I’m a Portland-based Filipino American artist, specializing in live watercolor guest portraits, calligraphy, and live engraving for luxury events across the country. Whether it’s a black-tie gala or a beachfront wedding, I’m all about fun details, authentic connection, and making people feel good—literally—with art.

Visit my about me page to get know my enneagram type!

Casino Night: Luggage Tag Foiling with Rebecca

The first night kicked off with a casino-themed welcome party full of paella, arcade games, and more. For this, I teamed up with the amazing Rebecca Nguyen of Line & Wave to offer personalized foiling on leather luggage tags—part of the attendee registration gift.

Guests filled out personalization cards, chose between gold and silver foil, and dropped their tags off. Throughout the night, we customized over 230+ luggage tags. The travel-friendly gift aligned perfectly with InnVentures’ hospitality roots, and guests were thrilled to take home something stylish and more importantly useful.

I highly recommend personalized luggage tags for most conferences as most attendees travel for these type of events.

Award Ceremony: Portraits & Recognition

While I missed Day 2—I think there was literally nothing outside of boring conference stuff,

I returned on Day 3 of the conference for the black-and-gold themed Awards Gala, where I painted live watercolor fashion portraits of award recipients.

After each winner received their award, my assistant snapped a photo and I quickly painted their portrait to be finished by the time official photos were taken after the awards wrapped up.

Guests were blown away by the surprise keepsake—especially one sweet lady who had the more gorgeous leopard print heels, who hugged me in disbelief. It was such a heartwarming reminder of how meaningful personalized art can be.

Custom Portland Art + Venue Gifts

To honor the host venue (Embassy Suites by Hilton, Portland-Tigard), I painted a large-scale venue portrait that was presented to the general manager. Smaller 8x10 canvas prints were gifted to department leads and team members.

If you have an event here, or want to gift this bad boy, you can order a print right from The Custom Shop.

That’s not all. I also created three original watercolor paintings inspired by Portland:

Hoyt Arboretum
Mount Hood from Eastbank Esplanade
Hawthorne Bridge

We turned these into 3x5 collectible postcards distributed across all three days of the conference. During my live events, several attendees told me how excited they were to collect all three and shared kind words about the artwork! I can’t say I’ve ever done this before, but I was so happy with how they turned out, and more importantly so grateful the team trusted me with this project.

Why Live Art Made a Difference

Live art activations—especially at large-scale conferences—elevate the guest experience in so many ways:

Personalization at scale: Whether it’s name foiling or a custom portrait, people remember it.
Brand immersion: Attendees walked away not only with custom gifts, but deeper brand affinity.
Entertainment meets artistry: Between the magician, aerialist, and my watercolor portraits, this wasn’t just a conference—it was an immersive event.

From needle-swallowing magic tricks to guests tearing up over their artwork, this event reminded me that art is not just decoration—it’s an experience. And for events with impact, experience matters.

FAQ: Live Event Art for Corporate Conferences

1. What services did you provide for the InnVentures Annual Conference?
I offered calligraphy foiling on luggage tags and live watercolor fashion portraits during the event. I also created three original Portland-inspired paintings that were turned into collectible prints for attendees.

2. Why choose calligraphy or live portraits for corporate events?
Live personalization adds a memorable, human touch to corporate gatherings. It increases foot traffic, sparks conversations, and gives attendees a one-of-a-kind keepsake they’ll actually keep.

3. Can you accommodate large groups for conferences?
Absolutely! For events with high guest counts, I often suggest faster activations like engraving, calligraphy, or foiling. I also have a network of artists I trust (like Rebecca from Line & Wave) who can join me for large-scale activations.

4. What kind of artwork do you create for corporate gifting?
I offer custom venue illustrations, local cityscapes, and event-inspired art. These can be printed on canvas, turned into postcards, or packaged as client gifts to reinforce brand identity.

5. Do you customize artwork based on the event theme or location?
Yes! Whether it’s a travel-based theme like InnVentures or a seasonal celebration, I tailor the artwork to reflect the vibe, values, and story of your brand or event.

Let’s Give Your Wedding That Final Bowtie Touch!

Whether it’s a luxury corporate event or an intimate wedding, my mission is to add intention and personal connection through live art. A huge thank you to InnVentures for including me in this unforgettable weekend.

If you’re planning a conference or gala and want your guests to feel seen and celebrated—let’s chat. I’d love to bring that same magic to your next big moment.

Live Art at InnVentures Annual Conference: A Luxury Experience Through Personalization