ABOUT ME

And my husband Mark

Alyssa

(written by Mark)

I don't think Alyssa even realizes how good she is at this. Or maybe she does but she doesn't say it, which would be like her. That's why I have to tell you.

Of course I'm talking about her artistic talent, which seems to come from beyond; some other world where light and colors and shapes all harmonize to tell stories with happy beginnings and even happier endings.

But I'm also talking about something inside that seems to motivate and organize everything she does. The best word I can think of for it is conscientious. I marvel at how she treats every bride, every wedding, every painting like it's the most important thing she's ever done. It must be exhausting, because she does a lot of weddings. But I've never seen her once "phone it in," or show up to a wedding with anything less than her best energy and attention, or stop working on a painting before she and the couple are extremely happy with it.

And when we're home and she's not painting? She's on her phone watching other painters paint. Learning. Still.

Quick Facts

From: Saugus, Massachussetts
Favorite food: The meals she makes for us
Reason for living: Her gray tabby cat, "Music"
Watches: Dateline, Married at First Sight, Love is Blind
Listens to: True crime and medical podcasts
Formerly: Occupational therapist, custom toy crafter, nanny
Favorite Comedians: The pushy Boston ones
Hell equals: any ambient temperature under 80 degrees

Mark

(written by Alyssa)

You know how there is always one person in the relationship who makes the travel plans, has the itinerary, knows where you parked the car at an airport? That's Mark. I lovingly call him my Roadie but he is a lot more than that. He makes the whole thing possible. He comes with me to every wedding, helps set me up and then stays with me, brainstorming the best approach for the painting. He allows me to free my mind of all of the logistics of the day. Getting there, where we will stay, renting a car. The list goes on. He takes all of it on and I am able to just paint.

A few years into wedding painting, we added on guest portraits to our services. Luckily Mark was already an incredible artist with a crazy talent for drawing people. He joined in on the live painting fun and now is my co-artist at every guest portrait gig. He constantly keeps us organized and is always coming up with new ways to improve our process.

Quick Facts

From: Houston, TX
Favorite food: Mint chip ice cream with a warm brownie
Reason for living: His two brilliant kids
Watches: Great British Bake Off, anything about WWII, Married at First Sight, Arrested Development
Listens to: Howard Stern, Ricky Gervais
Formerly: Furniture Maker, Minister
Favorite Comedians: Ricky Gervais, Bill Burr
Hell equals: any ambient temperature over 80 degrees