painting

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.

Gold Leaf Floral

Based right here in Birmingham, Alabama, Gold Leaf Floral is your one stop floral shop for weddings and event design. Sarah, the lead designer for Gold Leaf Floral, has spent the majority of her artistic career focusing on fine art, such as painting. However, now her passion has shifted to everything floral! Sarah's favorite thing about a flower arrangement is the elegance they bring to a space. She has an eye for colors and shapes and how to arrange them in a truly beautiful and unique way.

At Gold Leaf Floral, they believe that beautiful, fresh flowers bring happiness and elegance to any event. They design for a variety of events such as, weddings, bridal teas, baby showers, birthday parties, retirement parties, and everything in between! The team at Gold Leaf Floral has such a talent with florals, they create some of the most beautiful pieces, and their work definitely speaks for itself!

"No matter what type of event you're having, we're here to make your day a little brighter with flowers!"

Natalie Russo Art

We're so excited to feature the talented Natalie Russo! Natalie was born and raised right here in Birmingham, Alabama, and she describes herself as an "authentic Southern artist." After obtaining her degree from the University of Alabama in art and fashion merchandising, she began her business Natalie Russo Art. 

Russo find inspiration from the world around her, and she incorporates the element of water in all of her pieces. She loves the challenge of large-scale projects, and is always looking for the next big canvas to tackle! Natalie creates such fabulous artwork on the most creative of canvas, and we love all of her pieces!

Gracefully Made Art

The incredibly talented Melissa Gullatte is the creative force behind Gracefully Made Art. Creating has always been apart of her for as long as she can remember. She would always have her sketchbook nearby, and she would find inspiration from the world around her. She loved  her art classes in school, and one thing led to another and Melissa majored in Studio Art and Business at Auburn University. The courses she took at Auburn really opened her eyes to different mediums of art and different ways of creating art that she wasn't exposed to prior to attending college. 

After years of convincing from various friends and satisfied customers, Melissa took the leap and created an Etsy shop for her business. She's constantly thinking about what she will create next because creating is such a big part of her life, and it's what makes her who she is. She incorporates God's Word into most of her creations. She stated that, "getting to immerse myself in a Bible verse for a living is incredible, and I'm so thankful this is what I get to do."

All of Melissa's creations are truly spectacular works art. Her love for art and creating definitely translates to all of her pieces. We had the privilege of partnering with Melissa for Bustle's 3rd Anniversary VIP Bride giveaway. She donated the most beautiful hand painted calligraphy wedding hangers. Melissa has such a kind and joyful spirit, and we absolutely love all of her work. This chick is so talented!