Live Guest Portrait Artist


Columbus, Ohio based artist, Jes McGinley, attends your wedding or event and live illustrates your guests in her signature front or back-facing brush marker style! She is currently booking events in the Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and beyond! Check two buckets off at once with one service:
 

✔ Unique guest entertainment
✔ Guest favors that won't be forgotten or thrown away

Live guest portrait illustrating is something your guests probably have never seen at a wedding before! Jes brings one assistant with her to take your guest's photo and to answer questions while she draws. This means your guests can get back on the dance floor and enjoy the night instead of standing in lines. At the end of the night, they'll have original artwork to take home! Jes is available four or five hours on-site. She can draw one person in roughly 4-6 minutes & a couple in roughly 8-11 minutes. Worried about your guest list size? Jes offers an off-site illustration package where you pay zero upfront and pay per person after the event.

TWO STYLES AVAILABLE

When Jes started her live illustration journey she was most known for her signature back-facing marker style. After introducing her new front-facing style, it has quickly become a favorite amongst couples and guests! You can't go wrong with either unique style! Jes does require one style to be selected to ensure a smooth process and guest experience. 
"Jes did live Illustrations for our wedding and she was absolutely amazing! The guests loved having it there as entertainment and having something to take home and it was a great way to capture the evening. Jes was so responsive and easy to coordinate with and even took pictures of our guests to draw during times when guests weren’t able to come to her table (during dinner and speeches). I highly highly recommend her for live illustrations in addition to all the wonderful items she offers!"
- Emily E.
Columbus, Ohio | Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book you for my wedding?

You will begin by filling out the inquiry form. If your wedding date is available on my design calendar, she will respond with a custom quote for booking. Once you are ready to proceed you will see there is a contract to sign and invoice to pay. She requires a 50% non-refundable retainer that will be due after the contract is signed. The rest would be due a month prior to your event.

What does the couple need to provide?

Jes brings her own art supplies, lights and signage. She requires you to provide a 6-8 foot table decorated as you wish with 2 chairs. Please no circular tables. If your cocktail hour is located in a separate location, she requires a table to be set up in both locations. Jes suggests being placed in a heavily visible area during cocktail hour to ensure she collects enough guest photos to continue drawing during dinner and speeches.

Do guests need to stay at your table while you draw them?

No, they do not. They are, however, welcome to hang around as she draws their portrait live! Once a guest approaches her table, her assistant will take their photo so your guests can get back out on the dance floor and enjoy the night. Guests are welcome to take their artwork once complete or pick it up at the end of the night. She will only draw people at the event and from photos that are taken during the event.

How far in advance should I book you?

Jes suggests booking 6 - 8 months before your wedding. She has limited spots open each month and once a date and/or month is booked, it is no longer available. She follows a first booked, first served basis where your contract and retainer must be completed to secure your spot.

Will you draw the couple?

As a part of booking with Jes, she gifts the couple an 8x10 inch portrait in the same front or back-facing style as booked. This drawing will be delivered after the wedding. This allows for the couple to interact and be super present on their wedding day with their guests!

How many hours should I book you for?

Jes will attend your event for 4-5 hours. Typically she will be drawing during the cocktail hour and into the reception.

How many portraits can you complete in one event?

Jes tries to limit each drawing to one or two people per drawing, but she will accept three people if time allows. All drawings will be drawn in her signature front or back-facing marker style. Jes typically can draw 1 person in 4-6 minutes and a couple in 8-11 minutes. Depending on your wedding guest list size, some guests may not get drawn, but Jes offers an off-site add-on package that will cover additional portraits to be completed after your wedding if desired. Please keep in mind, not everyone will ask for a portrait. Some simply enjoy watching! The off-site package is a way to have more guest's drawn and you can include the drawings in a thank you card after the wedding!

How do guests know what to do?

For every wedding, Jes has an assistant who joins her. This assistant is in charge of taking guest's photos for Jes to draw from, as well as answering any guest questions about process. Jes will have one small easel and table sign. Having your DJ shout out the station is always an awesome idea as well. 

Will you travel?

Jes is located in Columbus, Ohio, but is a willing to travel. Typically she serves clients in Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland. Jes travels to Pittsburgh as well, as she has family there! She has very limited spots open for travel outside of these areas due to having an almost one year old daughter. She charges a travel fee that covers time and expenses such as hotel, ground transportation, flight, and food for herself and her assistant.

What type of art medium do you use?

Jes uses professional quality ink brush tip markers. This provides a very similar look to paint without the dry time!
"When it came to our wedding we knew we wanted something very different and unique for our guest. Jes was just that. She is one of the best investments we invested in when it came to our wedding. Our guest are still raving about their custom drawings that they got to take home and keep forever. Jes was so professional! Her setup was quick and very easy to work with. If you're looking for something different to wow not only yourself, but also your guest I can't recommend her enough! She is incredible! Her talent is beautiful and hard to find! 10/10 recommend!"
- Jessica and Ty K.
Augusta, Kentucky | Soli-Tree Farms
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MEET THE ARTIST

Hi! I'm Jes, artist and owner of JesMarried. I am a marker artist focused in the wedding industry. I started my business while I was planning my own wedding. I created a back-facing portrait of all of my besties to ask them to be in my bridal party. Six years later, I am a full time artist working on portraits, invitations and signage in my studio and traveling to weddings in Columbus and beyond! I have a husband, daughter under one and two pups who I adore! I can't wait to draw your friends and family on your special day!

Jes McGinley

Owner and Artist

"Thank you so much for being there! Everyone kept telling me what a fun idea the portraits were and how awesome you were!"
- Christine N.
Fogelsville, Pennsylvania | Glasbern Inn