art

Ruth Oneya Illustrations

Ruth Oneya is a talented artist in the Birmingham area. We immediately fell in love with her beautiful work and wanted to share it with our brides. Ruth does live paintings for weddings, watercolor portraits (of people, pets and homes!) and hand-painted champagne bottles. She uses her talents to create lovely keepsakes that people can enjoy for years and years!

We conducted a Q&A with Ruth to find out all about her small business and her journey as an artist.

What made you decide to start your business?

I started Ruth Oneya Illustrations the summer before my junior year of college (2016) after I had an awesome summer internship with a Birmingham wedding photographer, Alisha Crossley. She introduced me to the wedding world and I completely fell in love with it. I couldn't help but want to be a part of it somehow. Since then I have been working toward building my brand and putting my work out there as a wedding artist.

What is your favorite medium to work with?

My favorite medium to work with is a tie between watercolor and acrylic. I don't like working with the same medium for too long because I get a little bored. So, bouncing back and forth between these is a great way to keep me motivated and excited. 

What is your favorite product/service you offer?

My favorite service is definitely my live paintings. I get to put my best dress on and attend a party... to paint! But honestly, I just love the celebration of love and truly enjoy weddings. Also, because I have a sweet tooth I enjoy getting to try (and judge) wedding cakes.

What is your most popular product/service?

My most popular product definitely depends on the season, this summer it has been my Champagne bottle and live paintings. This is actually really exciting for me because these are mostly local and I love being able to cater to my Birmingham clients and vendors. 

What do you love most about being an artist?

I love being able to use my art to make people happy and also contributing to special moments in their life such as weddings. Knowing I am creating work that will be enjoyed in a home for years to come is a very fulfilling feeling for me. I also enjoy being a small business owner and doing what I love daily. Personally, I don't know if I would still be an artist today if I didn't follow this direction.

Do you have recommendations or tips for someone wanting to book a live painting session?

When deciding the moment, you would like painted, be open to what you ultimately want the final piece to be. This allows an artist to choose a moment more candid by choose where they see the best connection between you two. Also, it's always best to book as soon as you know your wedding date (especially if its a popular date) calendars fill out quickly.

Ruth has so many helpful resources on her website to help her clients. If you are interested in booking a live painting or ordering one of Ruth’s many other beautiful creations please visit Ruth Oneya Illustrations for more details.

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Newly Scripted

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Newly Scripted is a hand lettering art company based right here in Birmingham, Alabama. It was created "to celebrate life's moments with personalized decor while you live well and travel often!" 

Amber Rosenberg created the business out of her love for hand lettering. After decided to be a stay at home mom for her son, her "creative juices just started flowing." She began fiddling with different medias and fonts, and her love for hand lettering grew. She instantly fell in love with globes and maps after she painted a globe for her son's room. Soon after, she started to create map decoupage signs and map decoupage globes.

Amber and her husband, Michael, dropped everything and began working full-time on their hand lettering business and the company grew through their Etsy shop. They began adding globe stand finish options, any continent and ocean color combinations, and quotes along with names and special dates. The customization of the globes was what really started to grow their business, and they love creating one of a kind pieces that are meaningful to their clients.

Rosegolden Flowers

Holly Carlisle is the creative mastermind behind Rosegolden Flowers. The company is based right here in Birmingham, Alabama. From a young age Holly enjoyed expressing creativity by drawing and painting. One thing led to another, and her love for art turned into pursuing a fine arts education in college and obtaining a degree in fibers and mixed media.

Holly loves the way flowers can set a mood and tell a story and brighten any environment. She explains her style to be, "uniquely expressive, romantic and natural."

Her work has been featured in various publications such as, Once Wed, Style Me Pretty, Wedding Unveiled, 100 Layer Cake, Green Wedding Shoes, and Flower Magazine. 

Images courtesy of Rylee Hitchner

Images courtesy of Ryan Ray

Image courtesy of A Bryan Photo

Images courtesy of Odalys Mendez

Lavender & Cotton

Lavender & Cotton is a watercolor business run by two sisters. The business is based right here in Birmingham, but the two love to travel, especially where there's a beach. Heather and Haley create some of the most beautiful watercolor pieces we've ever laid our eyes on. Each piece is so original and has its own personality. Their work would be the perfect addition to any home or office!

Whisk Cookie Company

Our sweet friend Sami Deshazo has such an incredible talent in all things cookies. Not too long ago she realized her love for baking custom-made cookies, so she started her company, Whisk Cookie Company. She makes cookies for anything from birthday parties and bible study groups to wedding showers and bachelorette parties. She has such a creative mind and makes the most adorable cookies. Her cookies are definitely a work of art!

Olexa's Cafe

Diane Olexa is the brilliant chef behind Olexa's Cafe, Cakes, and Catering, and from a young age she was introduced into the world of wedding cakes. She watched her mother create beautiful wedding cakes for brides on their big day. Diane, herself, created her first wedding cake in her early 20s as a gift for a college friend, and from that point on she fell in love with the creative art. That love blossomed into starting her own business in the kitchen of her alma mater, Southeastern Bible College right here in Birmingham, Alabama.

A few years later, she and her mother joined forces and expanded her business to include corporate and social event catering. Diane explains that she remembers one reception where a wedding guest approached her and complimented, "Everything is so delicious, where can we go to eat your food?" Thus, in 2004 Olexa's Cafe, Cakes, and Catering opened its doors.

Today, guests can enjoy everything from homemade quiche to panini sandwiches to their well-known buttercreme cakes all while dining in a european-style cafe setting.