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Ben Keys Canvas Collections
an unforgettable and elevated guest experience
a live wedding painting exponentially grows in value and meaning with year after year of marriage together.
Ben Keys specializes in creating fine art heirlooms—captured live on your wedding day! Together with his wife Jen, Ben is passionate about providing clients with a seamless experience. From the initial planning of each piece, to the live interaction with guests, Ben and Jen enjoy collaborating with couples to create a custom piece of art they'll cherish forever.
Prior to your event, Studio Manager, Jen Keys, will consult with each client to discuss the subject (or moment) and wedding painting details. Couples can choose the ceremony, reception, first look, or a styled moment as the subject for the painting.
On the day of your celebration, Ben will arrive 2-3 hours before the event to begin the painting and will continue to paint throughout the event. The majority of the painting is creative live for you and your guests to enjoy!
After the event, finishing touches are made back at the studio. Once the painting is completed, approximately 8-10 weeks after the event date, you will receive a preview of the finished painting via email. At this time, Ben offers a complimentary round of revision if any changes to the painting are needed. Prints on canvas, custom stationery, or our “Parent” prints on canvas can be ordered.
Your final piece is shipped (complimentary!), delivered, or picked up locally in Charleston, SC. The painting is property wired and the edges are painted so that you can style the painting in your home right away!
"The whole experience was just magical..."
My experience working with Ben Keys and his wife Jen was one of my favorite parts of planning our wedding. They both were such a pleasure to work with, and the whole experience was just magical. The painting turned out beautifully and ended up capturing the feel of our wedding perfectly. We now have our painting hanging in our living room, and it is the first thing you see when you open the door. We plan on having this as a keepsake from our wedding that will stay with us forever.
"He truly captured the joy and the love..."
"Every bride should know about Ben Keys and his amazing talent! Ben did a live painting of my first dance under our tent, while the band was playing and our guests were celebrating! His artistry was such a unique surprise and a treat for all of our guests to witness. Everyday I will admire his work, as it takes me back to that very special moment! He truly captured the joy and the love surrounding the wedding. I feel so lucky to have found him."
framing & prints
To complement your original wedding painting, Ben Keys offers additional canvas prints, stationery, and framing options. These optional enhancements are exquisite ways to showcase your original piece.
As a professional artist, Ben ensures canvas prints and stationery are high-quality reproductions of the original work to main the artistic integrity of each piece. Frames have been carefully selected and assembled with professional framing techniques to display your artwork.
a la carte
STATIONERY
Thank you Cards with Painting Images and Envelopes | 350
TRAVEL
Please inquire for custom proposal for travel outside of Charleston
SHIPPING
Included in fees
SC Sales Tax subject to in state delivery/pickup/or shipment.
A 50% (or 33%) Booking Fee and signed agreement are required to reserve your date.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Ben studied under one of the top painting programs in the world.
Ben has painted 400+ Live Wedding Paintings over the last 11 years.
You can find Ben’s paintings in several movies, including Nicholas Sparks’ The Choice.
Studio Manager, Jen, developed an eye for design and detail while working for luxury bridal designer, Modern Trousseau.
The most common compliment: “We can’t believe how much it looks like us!”
Ben creates each live wedding painting by mixing every shade from the primary colors!
- How soon should we book our date?
Our couples book as much as 10-18 months in advance. His calendar fills quickly due to the amount of travel and limiting his weddings to one out-of-state-weddings. - How much space does Ben Require?
Ben is flexible and adaptable to work within your event floor plan. We recommend setting aside a 10x10ft area for guests to comfortably gather to view the painting throughout the night.
- Will Ben need an additional table or chair provided?
We love keeping Ben's setup minimal. Ben actually prefers to paint standing and his easel holds everything he needs to create the painting. No additional table or chair is required for a live wedding painting. - Can you travel to our wedding?
Yes! Passports and travel easel ready! For the last 10 years, the majority of our weddings have been out-of-state. True Story: Ben can breeze through TSA faster with a paint kit than Jen can with her makeup bag.
- What medium does Ben paint in?
Ben uses acrylic paint for his live wedding paintings. They are fast drying, odorless, and so vibrant in color! - Does Ben offer finishing touches?
After each wedding, Ben brings the live painting back to our studio in Charleston, SC, for finishing touches. - How is the painting shipped?
We use a local shipping company that specializes in packaging fine art for the premier Charleston art galleries. The paintings arrive to you "ready to style": stretched, wired, and ready to hang!
- Can we gift a live painting as a surprise?
Yes! Could there be a more special wedding gift for a newly married couple? We love sharing successful SURPRISE live paintings pulled off over the years! - Can we choose which guests and family are included in the painting?
Absolutely! We want to capture the most important details and people of the day whether that’s including your full wedding party, immediate family, and/or just the two of you!
- Will we need to purchase a frame?
Framing is completely optional! The painting arrives "ready to style" with the canvas edges painted and the back properly wired. Ben does offer a selection of Canvas Floater Frames that are available to purchase anytime before delivery. - When will we decide the moment to be painted?
Our Creative Call is planned about one month leading up to the wedding. We do not need to know the subject of the painting to book your date.
Paintings created for couples around the world
Years of live wedding painting experience
Press Publications featuring Ben’s work
People passionate about creating fine art heirlooms