The Two Sides of Being a Working Artist: Studio Days, Wedding Weekends, and How I Make It All Work

So you found your way to my little corner of the internet — welcome! If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ve probably seen the wedding day content, the finished paintings, the happy couples. But today I want to pull back the curtain a little and talk about what life actually looks like when I’m not standing in front of a canvas at a reception venue. Because the behind-the-scenes reality of being a full-time artist and live wedding painter is a lot more interesting (and a lot more varied) than most people expect.

First, a little context

I’ve been painting weddings for six years now and as a commissioned artist for 3 years before that. And honestly? The longer I do this, the more I’ve learned that this job has two very distinct lives — the studio life and the wedding life — and figuring out how to balance both of them has been one of the most important things I’ve done for myself as an artist and as a person.

During wedding season especially, I’m painting weddings almost every weekend. Sometimes two in one weekend. That’s a lot of late nights, a lot of driving (and flying!), and a lot of packing and unpacking. It’s also incredibly beautiful and energizing work that I love deeply. But it does mean that the Monday through Friday hours are where everything else lives — the commission work, the original paintings, the emails, the calls, the admin, the creativity that keeps me growing as an artist, and normal life of course.

Here’s what that actually looks like.

A Typical Weekday (If There Is Such a Thing)

I wake up around 7:30 most mornings. My husband and I have breakfast together — it’s a sweet and relaxing way to start the day. I sometimes change out of my pjs… Then I sit down and start my work day.

Here’s the thing about being self-employed: no two days are the same. Which is something I love, but also something that requires a little intention to navigate.

I always start with emails. Always. Getting back to brides quickly matters a lot to me — when someone reaches out about their wedding, they’re trusting me with something really precious, and I never want them to feel like they’re waiting around. So emails first, every morning, no matter what.

After that? It depends entirely on what’s on my plate.

Some days I have a full schedule of commission work — studio portraits that need to be painted, finished, varnished, packaged, and/or shipped. There’s a lot of physical work in that process that people don’t always think about. Some days I have calls scheduled with brides or wedding planners — talking through their wedding day, discussing what moment they want captured, sometimes sketching ideas or sending images back and forth to get the vision just right. I genuinely love these calls. Getting to know the couples I work with is one of the best parts of this whole thing.

And then some days — the ones I treasure that don’t happen often — I get to work on original paintings or passion projects. Right now I’m actually deep into a project I haven’t told anyone about yet. It combines my love for the Lowcountry and the coast with a passion I’ve recently picked up outside of painting, and honestly, it’s one of the most exciting things I’ve worked on. More on that soon. 🤫

The Weekend Life: It Depends

My weekends are truly never the same twice. If I have a local Charleston wedding, I’ll drive over, paint all night, and be home to sleep in my own bed that night. If a wedding is a few hours away, I’ll drive there the day of and stay in a hotel after. Sometimes I’m hotel-hopping between two different weddings in the same weekend — different cities, different couples, different canvases.

And sometimes I’m on a plane the day before a wedding, painting in another state entirely, and the whole weekend is consumed by travel and the wedding itself.

Each version is its own little adventure. But it does mean that a traditional “weekend” doesn’t really exist often for me, especially in peak season. Which brings me to something I’ve learned to really embrace…

The Monday Morning Gift (And Why I Don’t Feel Guilty About It)

Because I work most weekends, and because I am — thankfully — not in a position to fire myself, I’ve given myself permission to take Monday mornings slowly when I need them. A weekend of weddings is physically and emotionally full. Coming home and immediately diving into work at 8am Monday isn’t always the right move.

So sometimes Monday morning is for sleeping in a little, getting my life back in order, catching up on emails, and easing back into the week. I think there’s something really healthy about building that kind of flexibility in, rather than forcing yourself into a rigid schedule that doesn’t actually fit the shape of your life.

And sometimes — like today — I just go to the beach. On a Tuesday. Because I can, and because working most weekends means you have to find your rest somewhere, and the ocean has a way of filling my creative tank like almost nothing else. I also always have to find time to hang out with friends and family, it’s so important to me!

The Part Nobody Talks About: Taking Care of Your Body

This might surprise you, but painting absolutely wrecks your shoulders and back if you’re not careful. Standing at a canvas for hours, holding your arm up, the tension in your neck — it adds up fast. I learned this the hard way.

Now, four days a week, I end my work day at the gym to lift weights. Weightlifting has genuinely changed how my body feels and how I can perform at weddings. It’s not just fitness for me — it’s maintenance. It’s how I make sure I can keep doing this job without burning out physically.

I also try to get a walk in every day, whether that’s outside enjoying the Charleston air or on a walking pad while I’m catching up on computer work. And eating well is something I care about a lot — it sounds basic, but when you’re running a business solo, it’s easy to let those things slip.

My husband’s normal work schedule actually helps me here too. Knowing that he’ll be home at a certain time gives my days a natural ending point. We cook dinner together most evenings, and that transition from work-mode to home-mode is something I’ve come to really value.

So What Does It All Add Up To?

Honestly? A life that I love, that I’ve worked hard to build, and that I’m still learning how to tend to.

Six years in, I’ve gotten much better at saying no to things that would stretch me too thin — jobs that require difficult travel during already-full weekends, or situations that would compromise my health or my ability to show up fully for the couples I do say yes to. That’s been a slow lesson, but an important one. Boundaries aren’t about doing less. They’re about doing what you do with your whole heart.

The variety is what keeps me going. No two days are the same. No two weddings are the same. And somewhere in between the emails and the brushstrokes and the flights and the early mornings, there’s a really full, really beautiful life.

Thanks for being here for it. 🤍

Want to see more behind the scenes? Follow along on Instagram — I share stories throughout wedding days and studio work. And if you’re dreaming of having your own wedding painted, I’d love to hear from you.