Live Event Painting Examples and other News

I painted this digital painting live at Jon’s 50th birthday celebration in the ChinaLive Restaurant, San Francisco. You’ll see in the time lapse progression video, shown above, that I started with a background that included some family photos; then painted the guests dining in the Gold Mountain Lounge; and, finally, guests mingling in the Cold Drinks Bar. I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. The artwork in progress was shown on a large flat panel display in the bar so guests could enjoy watching the painting evolve over time.

Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use HidNFlix to augment this artwork. You’ll be able to see the embedded video when you view the image (print or on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

This digital painting was painted live on a trade show booth at a medical conference using an iPad Pro. It was projected on a large 16′ x 20′ LED screen that could be seen from afar. The dynamic interactive “narrative virtual mural” artwork activation engaged visitors to the booth. The artwork was built up over three days during the trade show hours. The hand-written quotes you see throughout the artwork are all based on actual input provided live by attendees visiting the booth. They were invited to type into specially provided tablets the reason why they are in their chosen medical field and related special moments. I then added these quotes directly to the artwork as I simultaneously developed a collage of lifestyle vignettes. You can see in the video shown above the progress time-lapse replay compressing three days of work into less than one minute!

In addition to the live activation on the booth I also created for the same client a custom design that was used as a backdrop for a large display in another area of the conference (below).

These art notes were painted live at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco using an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and Procreate app. The event was a fascinating conversation between Craig Mundie and Sam Altman discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and it’s current and future impact on human life. The occasion was the launching of Mundie’s new book “Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope and the Human Spirit” that he co-wrote with Henry Kissinger and Eric Schmidt. Click here to listen to an audio recording of this absolutely fascinating conversation. I’m still reading the book and finding it very insightful with respect to understanding how Artificial Intelligence is a paradigm shift in the way we interact with, and use, technology. It is also addressing deep core questions relating to the understanding of the mind: what is consciousness, what is intelligence, and what is awareness of “self”. These questions, previously applied primarily to humans and organic life forms, are now being applied to machines… Other relevant references on understanding AI include Yuval Harari’s book “Nexus” on the history of information networks from stone age to AI (https://www.amazon.com/Nexus-Brief-History-Information-Networks/dp/059373422X#customerReviews); and the Computer History Museum’s new exhibit on Chatbots Decoded (https://computerhistory.org/stories/chatbots-decoded/).

I painted this live event digital painting at the Virgin Atlantic San Francisco Inaugural 30th Anniversary celebration (and 40th anniversary of the founding of Virgin Atlantic), co-organized by the Trade & Investment Department of the British Consulate General San Francisco at The Center for Architecture + Design in downtown San Fransisco. I was invited to perform at this event because of my connection to the original Virgin Atlantic San Francisco Inaugural back in 1994 on which I was participated as part of the VIP guest group. I drew a digital portrait from life of Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic, in flight using a prototype Apple PowerBook borrowed from Apple! To paint the scene and capture the energy and atmosphere this 30th anniversary celebration I used an Apple iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. An interesting reflection that I used technology from the same company thirty years later! The artwork in progress was shown on a large flat panel display so guests could enjoy watching the painting as it evolved over time (and sometimes watch themselves be depicted in the artwork!)

Here are some photos from the event:

Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use the HidNFlix app to augment this artwork. Currently HidNFlix works only on the iOS platform (iPhone, iPad, etc). You’ll be able to see the embedded video when you view the image (print or on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

Painting the Sunset at the Davis Estates, Calistoga, Napa Valley, Jeremy Sutton, 2024, 48″ x 24″, acrylic on canvas

The 24″ x 48″ acrylic paintings on canvas shown here on this page were painted live at two consecutive Wine Club dinner events at the Davis Estates winery in Napa Valley, Calistoga, California. The one at the top of this page was the Saturday night painting. You’ll see the Friday night painting further down the page (see below). The paintings were created from blank canvases. Guests enjoyed watching the process from beginning to end. I was positioned on the winery’s outdoor terrace with panoramic views. Each painting was painted from direct observation of the scene in front of me—the magnificent sunset view over the vineyards and across the valley, and then the dinner scene. At the end of each evening the painting was raffled off to one of the guests to home with them! The time lapse video I share here is of the Saturday night painting process. It was a spectacular sunset! In the space of a few minutes the skies lit up in the most amazing golden hues in the clouds set against deep azure blue skies.

The winning couple, Jim and Cecily, who won the raffle to take home the Saturday night painting, posing here with myself and the finished artwork.

The winning couple, Janet and Mike, who won the raffle to take home the Friday night painting, posing here with me on the left and Davis Estates founder Mike Davis and his son Brandon, Director of Brand Development, on the right.

Myself with Mike Davis, the founder and owner of Davis Estates, and the Friday night painting.

Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use the HidNFlix app to augment the Saturday night (October 26, 2024) artwork. Currently HidNFlix works only on the iOS platform (iPhone, iPad, etc). You’ll be able to see the embedded time-lapse video when you view the Saturday night artwork (actual artwork or it’s image on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

I painted this digital painting live at Web’s 50th birthday “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) celebration in the Cyrus Restaurant, Geyserville, California. The restaurant has floor to ceiling windows that look out over the beautiful vineyards of Alexander Valley in the heart of Sonoma County wine country. You’ll see in the time lapse progression video, shown above, that I started with a background that included some family photos; then painted the guests visiting the kitchen, then captured the view out of the dining room windows as guests mingled outside and the sun set; then the dinner; the children playing in their entertainment space; and, finally, the end-of-the-evening chocolate room! All in one painting!! I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. The artwork in progress was shown on a large flat panel display so guests could enjoy watching the painting evolve over time.

Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use HidNFlix to augment this artwork. You’ll be able to see the embedded video when you view the image (print or on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

“Roses” – final (stage 6)

The digital painting shown here, “Roses”, was created from life as a live painting demonstration over the three days of my Fall Open Studios, September 27 – 29, 2024. I used the iPad pro, Apple Pencil and Procreate app to make this sketch. The image above (with the time lapse replay video) is the final state of the artwork. Below are a couple of earlier stages as it progressed, plus a picture from the studio that weekend as I worked on the painting.

“Roses” – stage 1

“Roses” – stage 4

Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use the HidNFlix app to augment this artwork. Currently HidNFlix works only on the iOS platform (iPhone, iPad, etc). You’ll be able to see the embedded video when you view the image (actual artwork or on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

I’ll also share some of my latest plein air watercolor sketches (non-digital!).

I painted this digital painting live at a reception event in a historic building in the South of Market district of San Francisco. The event welcomed some new tenants in the building. I incorporated the building interior motif into my background pattern that you see at the beginning of the replay video.

I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. The iPad screen was projected on a large flat panel display mounted on the wall so guests could enjoy watching the painting evolve over time.

I painted this digital painting live at a corporate dinner / reception in the iconic SFMOMA Atrium. I incorporated in the artwork signature landmarks of the San Francisco cityscape, such as the Transamerica building, Coit Tower, Salesforce Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge.

I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. The iPad screen was projected on a large flat panel display so guests could enjoy watching the painting evolve over time. As you can see from the photos below guests enjoyed engaging about the artwork and painting process and enjoyed seeing themselves represented in the painting!

The fabulous event was produced and designed by Whitney Fusion. Project manager Marjolein Daas wrote in a LinkedIn post:
“One highlight of this evening was the attendance of Jeremy Sutton who captivated our guests and offered an interactive art experience that everyone loved.”