A wedding dress is, arguably, one of the most memorable items of clothing a woman will ever wear, but after the wedding day, it is rarely seen again. However, one clever illustrator is creating hand-painted bridal works of art that you will want to show off to the world.
Sydney-based fashion illustrator Emma Ferguson decided to branch into wedding art after being asked by one of her friends to create a wedding-related painting.
Her business Emma Ferguson Illustration creates stunning custom watercolour paintings of brides on their wedding day – and the service has become so popular Emma is now offering gift vouchers to give as wedding presents.
“I have been illustrating for years and I have a background in fashion. Then friend got married and she asked me for a wedding illustration,” says Emma who originally studied fashion design and classical painting and drawing.
“I got other requests and the business started from there. People love it because it’s a memory from a special day but it is also art. It’s something a bit different.”
You don’t have to be based in Sydney to have one of Emma’s lovely portraits created for you. Brides usually email Emma their wedding photos after the event and she creates her work based upon them.
They are not quick to produce as her attention to detail is meticulous. Depending on the complexity of each image, the turnaround can vary from between a few hours to a few weeks.
“The bride only gets to wear her dress for one day and she has often put a lot of time and thought into it,” says Emma who also hand draws custom wedding invitations.
“This is another way to capture that memory.”
Emma says she has created artworks that include the groom but most prefer the simplicity of the bride in her gown.
“It’s quite a popular gift from a mother-in-law to her new daughter-in-law.”
The artworks range in size from A4 to A2, with Emma saying the most popular size is A3.
Due to popular demand, Emma is expanding her offerings to include on-site fashion illustrations of guests on your big day.
“It’s such a lovely – and memorable – keepsake for the guests, and such a novel form of ‘entertainment’ at your wedding.
“It’s pretty special to leave a wedding not just with wonderful memories of the couple marrying, but also with a professionally drawn illustration of yourself on the big day!”
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