We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristiana Daly a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kristiana , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. undefined
Changing my business from event planning to live event painting!
It took the courage to adapt, change and live my dream!
Kristiana , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Timelines to Brushstrokes:
Kristiana Daly was once the woman behind the clipboard—managing timelines, calming nerves, and orchestrating picture-perfect moments as a professional wedding coordinator and event planner. With years of experience designing and directing events, she developed an extraordinary sensitivity to the details that bring celebrations to life—the way a guest laughs mid-toast, the sparkle in someone’s eyes as they see a loved one walk in, or the quiet moments that often go unnoticed.
For years, Kristiana was the one who made these moments possible. As a professional wedding coordinator and event planner, she brought hundreds of events to life with grace, precision, and heart. Her job was to know the day and make everyone happy—anticipating needs before they arose, solving problems no one ever noticed, and weaving chaos into seamless celebration.
But what most people didn’t know was that behind the scenes, Kristiana was also an artist at heart. A lifelong creative, she had quietly nurtured her love of art throughout her life—sketching in the margins of schedules, daydreaming in color palettes, and finding refuge in creative expression. And after years of helping others create beautiful moments, she found herself drawn to a new calling: capturing those moments as an artist.
Today, Kristiana has reimagined what an event career can truly look like. By intertwining her passion for events and love for art she has dove into a world of live event painting. Kristiana has been able to adapt her knowledge to help her client and expand in a form of live favors that is the inventive movement of the event world right now. As a live watercolor artist, she now attends weddings and events not to coordinate, but to observe—She now works quietly, brush in hand, creating live watercolor portraits of guests as they enjoy the event. Her work doesn’t only focus on painting the ceremony or venue itself—instead, she captures the people: their outfits, hairstyles, energy, and joy in the moment. Each guest receives a hand-painted keepsake of themselves in a whimsical, fairy-tale form—a favor so meaningful and unique, it becomes a treasured piece they’ll never throw away.
“It’s about more than what they look like,” Kristiana often says. “It’s about how they feel in that exact moment.”
But Kristiana’s path to painting professionally wasn’t linear. In fact, it was born from one of the most difficult chapters in her life.
After a series of personal traumas, she turned to art not just as a creative outlet, but as a form of emotional and spiritual recovery. Painting became her way back to herself—a quiet, steady companion in the midst of rebuilding. She describes this process simply but powerfully: “I found peace with art.”
Her healing journey took an even more unexpected turn when she developed a rare and painful shoulder condition called Multidirectional Instability (MDI). The injury not only limited her ability to paint, it nearly took it away. After 9 years of dislocations and then undergoing major shoulder surgery, Kristiana faced a long recovery process that forced her to start over—not just physically, but artistically.
Determined to restore her ability to draw and to re-train her hand, she committed to a daily discipline: drawing a person every single day for over a year. Through this deeply personal challenge, she relearned how to capture the human form—developing the expressive, intimate style she is now known for. In many ways, her signature approach to guest portraits was born during that time.
It wasn’t just muscle memory that returned—it was her belief in her own vision.
All the while, Kristiana was raising two children on her own.
Being a single mother of two while launching a coordination and creative business is no small feat. It required resilience, adaptability, and a deep well of faith in her ability to build something meaningful—not only for her clients, but for her family. Her children have watched her pursue purpose through creativity, showing them what it means to follow passion with courage.
That spirit lives in her work today.
As a live painter, Kristiana brings far more to an event than her watercolor set. She brings the intuition of a seasoned planner, the eye of a storyteller, and the steady heart of a mother who’s learned to listen closely to the moment. Her years in the event world give her a unique edge—she understands the flow of the day, when lighting will be softest, when emotions will be highest, and when guests are most naturally themselves. That insight allows her to capture the soul of the celebration in a one of kind way.
Each portrait she creates is more than a likeness—it’s a time capsule. A reminder of joy. A hand-painted memory, made with intention.
What Kristiana offers isn’t just a service—it’s an experience. Given her years with events through her own buisness, and the decade of experiance in events before that, she was able to learn what is required , when in the timeline is best and how to adapt to clients needs. She then passionately found how to approach the professional event world artistically. While some might think of favors as afterthoughts, her clients understand that these portraits are something different: artistic heirlooms, in celebration of love and community created with love and heart.
Whether it’s a bridesmaid in her emerald dress, a grandfather in his well-worn suit, or a flower girl twirling in lace, Kristiana captures the essence of who they are in that moment. Guests are left with a piece of the celebration that is deeply personal and entirely unique—something they will frame, cherish, and remember long after the music fades. As she paints quietly from her corner, Kristiana honors each of them the same way she’s honored her own journey: with care, presence, and a paintbrush full of peace.
Today, Kristiana lives and paints in California, where she continues to expand her artistic offerings and connect with couples, families, and individuals who want to remember their most meaningful moments in a one-of-a-kind way. She regularly paints live at weddings, parties, coporate and special events across the state — and is available for travel, bringing her talent to destination events and celebrations beyond California.
@paintedlovebykristiana
https://www.instagram.com/paintedlovebykristiana/
www.paintedlovebykristiana.com
www.kristianascoordinations.com
@kristianascoordinations
Proudly LGBTQIA+ and Women Owned sole proprietor businesses
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
For years, I’ve worked in the world of weddings and special events—planning, coordinating, and pouring my heart into creating unforgettable experiences for people on some of the most meaningful days of their lives. It’s work I truly love and still continue to do. But recently, something started shifting for me in the most unexpected and beautiful way.
What began as a simple side hobby—painting with my kids—has grown into something much more. I’ve always had a deep love for art, but I never imagined it could become such a central part of my career and my life. It all started one day when my daughter needed a mental health day from school. We decided to spend it painting outside. I challenged myself to try something new, and as we sketched and painted, with her laughter in the background and the sun shining down, I felt something come alive in me.
That moment was really the spark. I began volunteering at local events, bringing art to the community in fun, approachable ways. Guests see themselves as art in a one of kind, often tear jerking way. Watching their joy and love in those moments was honestly the most rewarding part. Those early experiences helped me grow in confidence and allowed me to build from one gig to the next—eventually reaching ten five-star reviews in just a year. It happened quickly, but with a lot of heart and intention.
One of the biggest learning curves for me was figuring out how to merge the structured, detail-oriented world of event planning with the playful, expressive nature of art. I’m still learning every day, but I’ve found so much joy in finding that balance. I now bring a unique blend of creativity and organization to everything I do—whether it’s a wedding or an art-centered event—and I try to create spaces where people can feel free, joyful, and seen.
This journey has been humbling, surprising, and deeply fulfilling. I feel so grateful to be able to bring my passions together in a way that feels aligned with who I truly am—and I’m excited to keep growing from here.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
When I first began incorporating art into my work, I knew I wanted to do more than just create beautiful pieces—I wanted to create meaningful experiences. Right away, I started volunteering and sponsoring popular local events. This gave me a chance to give back to my community while also learning what clients truly value when it comes to artistic experiences.
Through these early opportunities, I began to understand not only the creative needs of my audience but also the practical details that make an event or art setup seamless—like lighting, linens, equipment, and the overall flow. These experiences helped me fine-tune the balance between the artist in me and the event coordinator I had always been.
By listening closely, showing up generously, and continuing to evolve with every event, I’ve been able to grow a reputation built on trust, creativity, and attention to detail. I’m grateful for every person and event that’s helped me learn and grow—not just as an artist, but as a thoughtful collaborator in creating lasting moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paintedlovebykristiana.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintedlovebykristiana/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551986816852
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Todd Andrew