Ng showing her painting of a couple bathed in the warm glow of sunset within a charming gazebo. — Photos: Sophia Ng Art Studio
Wedding paintings done live can immortalise matrimonial moments.
Sophia Ng Yi Qing, 31, who owns Sophia Ng Art Studio and resides in Kuala Lumpur, is in that unique business of live painting service – capturing newlyweds on their wedding day.
Setting up a small easel at the wedding dinner venue, she paints the bride and groom as they celebrate with their family and friends.
Ng, who has a decade of experience as an artist, said, “My passion for art began in kindergarten.
“I remember enjoying colouring sheets, and once winning a competition.
“That moment made me realise that art was my forte, a passion I have pursued ever since.”
Her journey, however, has not been smooth.
“Coming from a modest background, my family prioritised stability and discouraged me from pursuing art.
“I was torn between getting a stable career and my artistic ambitions,” she told StarMetro.
The psychology graduate felt out of place in her first job in human resources.
Ng with her artwork and the newlyweds.
“My then boyfriend (now husband) prompted me to reflect on whether my job was fulfilling my soul, and encouraged me to pursue what I truly wanted.”
With her husband’s support, Ng embraced her calling as an art teacher.
A turning point for Ng’s transition from employment to entrepreneurship occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Facing art studio closures, she sought new avenues by enrolling in the National Art Gallery’s Youth Art Entrepreneur Programme, where she learned the basics of running an art business.
She then came across a viral video of American live wedding painter @watchmaggiepaint.
“I saw the potential in the business model and made it a mission to figure out how to bring it to fruition,” Ng shared.
Recognising Malaysia’s multiculturalism, she researched diverse wedding customs and fine-tuned the painting process, compiling an equipment list and customising her portfolio to cater to local preferences.
“Every culture has its unique setup and wedding time frame.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to dedicate time to experiment with my process and practise to ensure I can complete a painting within the given time frame,” she said.
Ng also began documenting her journey on social media.
The past three years have seen her monthly bookings grow from one to 15.
Her consultation session includes finding out the couple’s hopes for their wedding and the moment they wish to be painted.
Postcard portraits as keepsakes for wedding guests.
At the wedding, Ng begins by painting the background.
This could be the actual wedding setting or an agreed-upon backdrop.
She does this before guests arrive, to ensure unobstructed views while immersing herself in her creative zone.
“It gives me a tunnel vision of the painting.
“I will remain focused on it until it is completed, despite distractions.”
Ng portrays moments such as the exchange of vows or cultural wedding rituals.
“Live paintings are a keepsake from the wedding itself, unlike regular portraits,” Ng said.
Thanks to her use of fast-drying acrylic, the painting is completed in five to six hours and is presented to the couple before the dinner event ends.
It is later brought back to the studio for final touch-ups, varnishing and wiring.
Ng said there were also clients who request to add pets or deceased family members to the artwork, creating the illusion of their presence at the ceremony.
Alongside live paintings of newlyweds, Ng offers a custom portrait service that creates precious keepsakes for guests.
This includes up to 50 postcard-sized portraits in a minimalistic style, painted live in about five minutes.
Now assisted by one full-time staff and four freelancers, Ng said she hoped to broaden opportunities for fellow self-taught artists, challenging the belief that a professional background was essential for artistic success.
“Opportunities for self-taught artists to pursue art as a career are limited.
“I have noticed a shift in people’s view when they learn I lack professional training; they often lose interest and doubt my credibility as an artist.
“Having experienced this, I aim to assist other self-taught artists who aspire to turn their passion into a career, proving that success doesn’t solely rely on gallery representation or selling artwork,” she said, adding that it would be fulfilling to help aspring artists.
For details, visit sophia.ng/
