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Live Silhouette Artist · Los Angeles

Watercolor silhouettes, cut the old way.

Guests sit in profile against a lit cloth backdrop, exactly as profiles were taken in the eighteenth century, and their silhouette is painted in watercolor on the spot. It is quick, genuinely historic, and fast enough to get through a long guest list.

From $750 · 4 hours · about 14 guests an hour

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Reply within 24 hours · bilingual English and Spanish

Photo to come

Vertical hero: the silhouette station in use — guest in profile against the lit backdrop. The setup itself is the selling point, so show it whole.

The fastest way to send every guest home with something

The arithmetic is the argument. At roughly 14 guests an hour, a five-hour booking clears about 70 people — enough that a 120-guest wedding can genuinely give a keepsake to nearly everyone who wants one. A full watercolor portrait is more detailed and about 10 an hour; that is the trade.

  • About five minutes per guest, so the queue keeps moving all night.
  • The lit backdrop is a photograph in its own right — guests shoot it and post it.
  • Reads as historic and considered at a black-tie wedding, not as novelty entertainment.
  • Frames beautifully. Silhouettes end up on walls far more often than photo-booth strips.
  • Facing profiles on one sheet is the couple's version, and it is the one people keep.

The work

Profiles in ink-black watercolor.

Photo to come

A single finished silhouette, shot flat and clean. Shows the style precisely.

Photo to come

A matched pair of silhouettes side by side — the classic couple's version.

Photo to come

Wide shot of the whole station including the backdrop and the table, so planners can see the footprint.

Packages

Priced by hours on site. Includes the backdrop and lighting setup, all materials, a protective sleeve for every silhouette, and travel within 30 miles of West Los Angeles.

4 hours on site

$750

Roughly 56 guests

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Most booked

5 hours on site

$900

Roughly 70 guests

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6 hours on site

$1,050

Roughly 84 guests

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What every booking includes

  • Original 4" × 6" watercolor silhouettes on watercolor paper
  • Lit cloth backdrop and the full station setup
  • Protective sleeve for every piece
  • Facing-profile couple's silhouettes on request
  • Setup, cleanup, and all materials

Add-ons and terms

  • Additional hour on site$200
  • Second artist for large guest countsQuoted
  • 25% deposit confirms the date; balance due 14 days before.
  • Venue needs a long table, two chairs, a wall for the backdrop, and an outlet nearby.

Where we work

MalibuSanta MonicaBeverly HillsPasadenaCalabasasPalos VerdesDowntown LATopangaHollywoodLong Beach

Other ways to work with Elena

Live Guest Portraits

Full color watercolor portraits that capture the dress and the suit. Slower, more detailed, more personal.

Learn more

Live Wedding Painting

One large canvas of the ceremony or first dance, finished on site the same night.

Learn more

Illustrated Invitations

Original watercolor artwork of your venue, built into a paper suite and matching website.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

How much does a live silhouette artist cost?
Four hours is $750 and covers roughly 56 guests. Five hours is $900, six hours is $1,050. All materials, the backdrop and lighting setup, protective sleeves, and travel within 30 miles of West LA are included. Extra hours are $200.
How is this different from live guest portraits?
Speed and style. A silhouette takes about 5 minutes, so roughly 14 guests an hour get through, against about 10 for a full watercolor portrait. Silhouettes are graphic and formal; full portraits capture the dress, the suit, and the color. If your guest list is long, silhouettes clear it. If you want the outfits recorded, book portraits.
Do guests have to sit still?
Only for a moment. A guest sits in profile against the lit backdrop while a reference photo is taken, then goes back to the party. The painting happens from that reference, and they collect the finished piece later.
Why the cloth backdrop and lamp?
Because that is how profiles were actually taken in the eighteenth century — a sitter lit against a hung cloth so the shadow reads cleanly. It gives a truer silhouette than working from a snapshot, and the station itself becomes something guests want to photograph.
Can two people share one silhouette?
Yes — facing profiles on one sheet is a favorite for couples, and it is the version most people frame. It takes about twice as long as a single, so factor that into the guest count.
How big are they, and are they dry to carry?
Each is 4" × 6" on watercolor paper and goes into a protective sleeve. Watercolor at that size dries in a couple of minutes, so guests can pocket them straight away.
Does this suit a black-tie or period-themed wedding?
It suits them better than almost anything else. The form is genuinely historic, which reads as considered rather than novelty at a formal wedding — and it photographs beautifully against a black-tie crowd.
What do you need from the venue?
A long table with two chairs, a wall or corner where a cloth backdrop can hang, and a power outlet nearby for the lamp. We bring the backdrop, the lighting, the paper, and the paints.
How far in advance should we book?
Four to six months for a Saturday in peak season. A 25% deposit confirms the date, with the balance due 14 days before the event.

Check your date

Tell us the venue, the date, and your guest count. We'll come back within 24 hours with the right number of hours and a flat quote.

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Or reach out directly: hello@elenamarmol.com · (747) 329-0774

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