How does it work?
- Painting Ahead: Natalie paints most of the artwork, leaving just one session to do LIVE at your church event
- Short Video Played at Live Event: The “ahead of time” sessions are taped and made into a short time lapse video to show to the congregation ahead of the LIVE painting (typically 2 minutes, but the custom video can be made to fit your event schedule – for example, if your choir is singing a 4 minute song and the desire is to fill the entire 4 minutes, the video would be time-lapsed for 4 minutes instead of the usual 2). The video is created WITHOUT audio unless you request otherwise, to run while your live music/singing is occurring. Natalie can add your congregation participation song lyrics or other titles to the video if desired.
- Painting LIVE! After the short time-lapse video catches the congregation or audience up to the current painting session, Natalie will finish the painting LIVE. If your worship team or choir is singing during this time, Natalie has both choir and P&W team experience if you’d like her to sing with you while she paints. From Natalie: “If I’m not mic’d, it’s fine to just let me sing along with the congregation without any chance at rehearsal. But if you’d like me to sing with you while mic’d (audible), please provide me with the chance of a rehearsal (giving me the music ahead for me to learn on my own is ok). I’m also flexible about not singing at all if you’d prefer I just paint.”
- More Details:
- How long will Natalie paint? From five minutes to thirty- it’s up to you! Don’t forget to include the opening time-lapse video. (For example: time-lapse video is played during song 1, lasting 3 minutes upon your request. Then Natalie paints live through 2 songs that you say will combined take 6 minutes. Total time then is 9 minutes, video + live while your three songs are performed). If you have a long program scheduled, Natalie can paint for up to 30 minutes while your events on the main stage unfold (for example: a special Christmas or Easter program in which a complete song service of many songs is planned). On the flip side, if you have a very short program planned, Natalie can add pre-recorded music from your own choir, or public domain or royalty free music to the time-lapse video, so it does not need inclusion in the live music portion of the event. In that case, only one long song could be enough for a short 5-minute painting session. In other words, Natalie is flexible and will plan for her live painting session to coordinate with your live music time frame. Just please give her the music ahead so she has an idea of when things are about to wrap up so that she can coordinate her final painting strokes to end on your final notes. It’s OK if your group doesn’t know precisely how long the songs will take, as long as Natalie has an idea of what the song sounds like when it’s about to wrap up. She knows from years of theater experience how to improvise!
- What is needed? Natalie brings everything (easel, paints, a small cart or stand for putting the paint supplies on). So, really nothing is needed. However, this concept works best with a camera focused on Natalie’s easel to watch on a large screen to see her paint the art up close, while also able to see her live in person. If your stage has a bump-out apron (area that extends into the audience), this may be the ideal place for the easel, out of the way of the musicians and vocalists, choir, orchestra pit, etc. Another option is to use floor space if any is available near the stage, wings, etc. The necessary footprint is about 3 ft x 3 ft of space (room for the floor easel and Natalie to stand next to it, room for a small cart/stand for supplies but that can be worked around if the space is too tight). Ideally the tech crew would have time to figure out ahead of time the best angle to film the canvas without Natalie’s body blocking the view. If your church doesn’t have a snazzy stage, tech crew with livestream, or ample space, God always makes a way. So please don’t feel that you can’t do this if you don’t have the ideal setup. Natalie can likely make it work with what you have.
- What will Natalie paint? Whatever you want her to paint, within reason. She’ll work with you to come up with a concept that fits into the theme of your songs or program. Or, you can choose something like she’s already done (browse through this site for ideas, perhaps start here with the Faith category). It will not be an exact copy of anything she’s done before, but it can be the same general design if you like something she’s already painted. Try not to make the selection of the painting a stressful exercise. This is meant to be a joyful experience.
- How much advance notice does Natalie need? If you choose a painting project that is very involved, it may take up to two months to complete (and Natalie has the right to decline a project that is too involved). A small project can be flipped in two weeks or less. So your selection may depend on how much time you have before your event. Please allow at least two week’s notice, while realizing that if you give only the minimum notice the project will need to be fairly basic (such as a candle and Bible, a cross and flower, etc., NOT Jesus at the Table, or a nativity scene).
- How much does this cost? Nothing. Natalie is doing this as a ministry. The Lord will provide. If you want to donate or to allow Natalie to sell art, books, etc. at a back table, your offer would not be turned down. But no, there’s no fee. If your event is not in the Savannah, Georgia area however, there may be travel expenses that we can’t cover and we’ll have to turn down your opportunity if the travel costs aren’t met by your organization.
- How far is Natalie willing to travel? From Natalie: “I’ll pray about your opportunity and listen to what God says.”
- What happens to the painting when it’s done? Natalie will photograph the painting and retain all rights to reproduce it in books, on gifts, as greeting cards, etc., but the original painting finished LIVE in your church will be donated to your church. There is no obligation for you to keep or display this art. You may choose to raffle it off as a fund raiser or gift it to a worthy cause. You may also decline to keep the painting (in which case, Natalie will take it home with her).
- How do I contact Natalie about her painting ministry? Please contact her through e-mail: NataliePaints@proton.me
