We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Acacia Bailey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Acacia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

My Very First Live Wedding Painting: It was 2021, Audrey approached me in the busting lobby, she quickly asked “Is there any way you would paint my wedding… live?” I kept looking at her unsure if I understood what she was asking me. I had never heard of something like this, and she wanted me to take such a risk on the most important day of her life? Hiding my nerves, I had to say, “Yes!”The wedding day quickly approached, I needed to be ready. After several unfortunate practice paintings I pulled up to the wedding venue, took my cheap easel from a Hobby Lobby display and began to set up my space. Time seemed to move so quickly, I needed to do this well. It was Audrey’s wedding, and not to mention all of my peers, friends and community were to be here as well. The hour came and taking their seats all of these peers and friends seemed to be really excited for me, taking pictures of me and smiling big when they walked by. It was time, I began quickly swiping paint across the canvas. Then about 30 minutes into the ceremony, I stepped back and realized… I hated it. I was completely disappointed with what I had created so far. And just like that, the first kiss was over, the crowed followed the bride and groom to cocktail hour, each person peering over to see what I had accomplished. This time I feared that their smile and encouraging words were forced. I can still feel the embarrassment I felt as they looked at the what seemed to me as the most elementary painting I had ever done. I continued fighting to focus on painting despite my insecurity. My only resort was to pray and trust God with the disaster of the painting and shame alike. After everyone had cleared out, I began to pray even harder about the outcome of this painting. Soon I got lost in focus, and shaken out of it when the DJ introduced the bride and groom. Just then, I took a step back and looked at the canvas, it felt like I blinked three times and it was finished! Over the course of cocktail hour this painting completely transformed! What I used to dislike about the painting became something I was proud of! I immediately took the painting to the reception hall next door and before I could set anything up I was swarmed by friends, peers and strangers. Some were tearing up, some taking photos of the finished piece, and some were clapping. Finally Audrey and her groom came to visit me and their painting, they absolutely loved it! They cheered and jumped around. Audrey said, “See I knew it was a great idea to ask you!” And now as of 2024, I have invested in a new easel and created many many more Live Wedding Paintings, I am so thankful I took the risk.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I am Acacia! I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, in Salem, Oregon. I have been passionate about art since I could hold a pencil. Growing up you could find me hiking or serving at a local church in student ministry. When I was 18 I headed to Arizona to pursue a degree at Grand Canyon University. During my time in school, I went to Florida to do an internship through the Disney Company at Walt Disney World. After finishing my degree, I headed back to Central Florida to reconnect with the church I fell in love with the semester prior while working for the Disney Company. There I pursued an internship in student ministry and was hired as the creative director for a small business in the city. Throughout the years of pursuing ministry and business, I continued to paint in my free time; until late 2021, when I was asked to do a live painting during a Student gathering at church. Soon after that, I jumped right into the world of Live Wedding Painting. Over the past few years, I have done many live paintings at galas, churches, and of course, at weddings. I am grateful for the privilege it is to use my artistic gift and give thanks to the Lord for each opportunity I am given. I hopes to continue to use her art, enthusiasm, joy, and creativity to brighten up this dark world. Some places I am considered partnering with are places like hospitals, nursing homes and after school programs!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I have learned so much recently that I should have learned earlier. See, I went to school in Pheonix, Arizona around some of the best hiking you can find in the US and my extrovert self could never say no to an adventure. I spent many years studying in a degree I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue, thinking that full-time art was a pipe dream or something I could do on the side. My was I wrong. Because of the lies I was believing about myself, my artistic skill and the world, I never pursued classes post high school. This was a shame because there is so much to room to learn and grow no matter how much you think you already know or are naturally gifted at! There are several resources and skills I’ve learned in later years from various places, but the main thing I wish I knew earlier is that there is room and the means for me to use my talent and passion in this world as a career. As an extrovert, my favorite expression of pursuing art is Live Wedding Painting!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

In 2018 I was volunteering at an after school homework program for refugees from Syria in Pheonix, Arizona. It was the first time I had ever done something like this and I was curious as to how this would go. I followed the rest of the volunteers into the building and was paired with a small 7 year old girl. I tried to speak to her to introduce myself but she couldn’t understand even a simple introduction. The leader of the organization then told us play time was coming to a close and we could begin helping the kids with homework, I couldn’t help but hear the other kids speak to their volunteer, their english was not perfect or “good” by any means but they could still communicate, this little girl was completely lost. However, she noticed everyone else getting out their homework and followed suit. It was a math page. Through trial and error, but mostly error I realized this was not going anywhere. This little girl was getting more and more discouraged by the second. We hoped around the page, used a white board but still no luck. You did not have to share the same language to know that her and I both felt completely defeated. But then she looked at me, bright eyed and excited, she made sure to make eye contact with me to say, “look at this!” Just then she flipped over her math paper and there they were, 5 pumpkins drawn on the back of her paper. I was in awe, they were very good for her age. She now looked joyful and proud of her self. I began to tear up, watching her nod and smile at art on the back of her math homework. I will never forget this story. I was moved deeply by not only the universal language that art is, but the reality that we were made to create. This little girl was made to be creative. The light went on and the smile came about when she saw the beauty and expression of her own mind.
I believe we were all made in the image of God, the ultimate creator. He so kindly lavished us with that attribute. This is why we crave so deeply to create and come alive when we do. My little Syrian refugee friend displayed this for me that afternoon. I will never forget her face when she turned over her paper to show me pumpkins. My mission is to bring this reality to life in those who have forgotten.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.acaciabailey.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acaciabaileyart/

Image Credits
Sola Gratia Photography Sydney Morman photography Mary Fosky Photography