Watercolor, Fashion & Real Weddings
Your Favorite Wedding Artist's Journal
Real weddings, behind-the-scenes studio life, and honest takes on the live art industry—by Portland wedding artist Danison. Because some of us like to read.
MY FAVORITE BLOGS
Your guide to live watercolor guest portraits.
New to live watercolor guest portraits? Start here, friend. I'll walk you through how guest portraits work, what’s included, and why they’ve become a favorite for stylish celebrations.
Guest Portrait Basics
What Is a Live Wedding Artist and How Does It Work?
A simple guide to what live wedding art is, how the experience works, and where it fits into your wedding day.
Start here
Live Art Options
Watercolor Guest Portraits vs Live Wedding Painting
Compare two popular wedding art experiences so you can choose the one that fits your celebration best.
Compare options
Investment Guide
Wedding Guest Portraits: What Your Investment Covers
Learn what goes into live watercolor guest portraits beyond the painting time, from prep to post-event delivery.
Understand the investment
Guest Experience
Wedding Guest Experiences: Favors Are Officially Out
A fresh look at why couples are choosing meaningful guest experiences over traditional wedding favors.
Rethink guest favors
What to Do with Extra Wedding Budget: Invest in Guest Experience
Okay, real talk: once the big-ticket wedding items are locked in (venue, catering, DJ, photographer, videographer, glam team, and of course—the outfit), some couples are surprised to find they have a little wiggle room left in the budget. If that’s you, first of all, YAY! But now you might be wondering... where should that extra cash go?
Orchard in Bloom Styled Shoot: Live Watercolor Guest Portraits on the Oregon Coast
This one was something special, my friends. On April 29, 2025, I packed up my brushes and joined an insanely fun styled shoot at The Venue at Pelican Brewing in Pacific City, Oregon. The theme? Orchard in Bloom. Think rainbow fruit, breezy florals, and a splash of coastal charm—all inspired by those colorful Lenox plates you might've seen on your grandma’s fancy shelf (but make it modern wedding).
A Magical Night at Epping Forest Yacht Club
March 9th was one for the books—a wedding filled with love, laughter, and live artistry as I had the absolute joy of painting live watercolor guest portraits for Julia and Jesse’s big day. Their venue? The breathtaking Epping Forest Yacht Club in Jacksonville, a place so enchanting it felt like a cross between a fairy tale castle and The Princess Diaries mansion.
LGBTQ+ Wedding at Lake Nona: Elegant Calligraphy for Amanda & Jessica
Amanda and Jessica’s wedding on November 11, 2023, at the Lake Nona Wave Hotel in Orlando was a beautiful reminder of exactly why I do what I do. It was a modern, candlelit celebration filled with intentional calligraphy touches and an energy that radiated love and trust from start to finish.
Our LGBTQ+ Love Story: From Tinder Match to COVID Wedding and a Creative Business
I’d be a really sucky gay if I wasn’t an LGBT-friendly vendor who supports my own community’s rights. I’m happily married to my husband, Josh. We’re a Tinder success story, but for the record, I swiped right first. On our first date at a Starbucks, he asked a follow up question, “What church do you go to?” That was the moment I knew he was someone special.