We recently had the chance to connect with Natasha Rubinetti-Kul and have shared our conversation below.
Natasha, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
I would hire myself because I love when people are unapologetically themselves and show their personality! This is something I pride myself on. I am a nerd through and through. I go to Comic Con and make my own cosplays, I love playing video games and watching anime, my favorite holiday is Halloween because I love to dress up in costume and I have my own Halloween Karaoke Party every year! In each of my consultations I ask questions to get to know you. I care about each and every one of my couples that I have painted for and I like to make things personable for them. Personally, I would want vendors like that at my own wedding! I like everyone to feel like friends and family! I would want vendors who are understanding, accepting, and unapologetically themselves. I would like someone that asks the questions, shows excitement, cares about people, and understands that everyone has their own little quirks.
If I was looking for a wedding painter I would want someone that would truly understand me and the vibe that I was looking for. As well as had the portfolio to back it up!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Natasha, a live wedding painter based in Kansas City, Missouri. In June of 2022, I took a leap of faith and left my job to pursue art full-time. Later that year, I discovered the world of live wedding painting, and in May of 2023, I painted my very first wedding. Since then, I haven’t looked back. It was, without a doubt, the best decision I’ve ever made.
I now offer a range of services, including Live Wedding Paintings, Live Guest Portraits, and Commissioned Paintings.
Live Wedding Paintings are my signature service. I set up my easel on-site and spend 6 to 8 hours capturing a couple’s chosen moment. (First kiss, a dip kiss, first dance, or another special scene) Guests get to watch the painting transform from a blank canvas into a vivid, fully realized work that includes the couple, the décor, and the atmosphere of the day. One of my favorite parts is the big “reveal,” when the couple sees their finished painting for the first time. It’s always such a joyful and emotional moment.
Live Guest Portraits are a big hit at weddings, corporate events, galas, and more. I photograph guests as they arrive and create quick, 4-minute watercolor portraits on the spot. These are beautiful keepsakes that they can take home the same day. If I can’t get to everyone during the event, I offer the option to complete additional portraits in my studio afterward.
And of course, I also offer Commissioned Paintings. Whether your wedding has already happened or you’re looking for something entirely different, I can create a custom piece from your photographs! From wedding scenes to pet portraits, family portraits, or other creative ideas. I love collaborating with clients to bring their vision to life.
For me, it’s about more than creating a painting, it’s about capturing a moment in time, preserving emotion, and giving people a one-of-a-kind piece of art they’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I’d say my parents and probably many of my family and friends as well.
I’ve always been willing to try new things, but I’ve also been cautious about how I take those steps. I never could have imagined I’d be where I am today. My family may not have known exactly what path I would take, but they always believed I would find what I love and chase it wholeheartedly. They never worried about whether I’d “get there”, they just trusted that I would.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely! I’ve “given up” on art plenty of times, but never on art entirely. It’s more that I’ve stepped away from certain paths when I realized they weren’t the right fit.
I started out in school studying CGI and visual effects, then shifted into creating puppets and stop-motion animations. I even moved to New York for an apprenticeship, but I quickly realized it wasn’t a sustainable lifestyle there unless I took on other jobs, and that wasn’t the balance I wanted. So I kept making art, but more as a hobby than a career.
Then COVID hit. At the time, I was working at a sewing machine store, and when masks became essential, we were called back to work. I was making art quilts, essentially “painting” with fabric and thread on a sewing machine, but after making so many masks and seeing the shortages and stress around that time, my creative spark for sewing burned out completely.
I decided I needed a clean break, so I took a job selling jewelry. I stayed there for about two years, and then my car broke down. Friends offered to fix it for just the cost of parts, and as a thank you, I painted their cats. That small gesture changed everything. People saw those paintings, began asking for commissioned work, and suddenly my art career was back in motion in a way that felt truly right for me.
From here I will never give up. I may add different services or products here and there, but I have been confidently doing this for 2-3 years now and it just keeps getting better and better!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Authenticity, loyalty, and trust. Those three things are at the core of who I am. I value being genuine, both in how I present myself and in the relationships I build. I want the people in my life to feel they can be their true selves around me, just as I strive to be my true self with them.
Loyalty is huge for me. When I care about someone, I’m all in. I’ll show up for them in good times and bad, and I believe in supporting the people I love through whatever life throws their way.
And trust is the foundation for it all. Without trust, it’s hard for any relationship, personal or professional, to thrive. I work hard to earn and keep that trust, because I know it’s something precious and easily lost.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Absolutely!! I feel that level of excitement all the time in my work. One of the moments that gets me every single time is the big reveal with the couple at the end of their wedding night. After hours of painting, seeing their faces light up when they view their piece for the first time is pure magic for me.
I also get downright giddy during consultations. I love hearing couples talk about themselves, their story, and the little details that make their relationship unique. My friends and family could tell you all about it. They hear me bubbling over with excitement about my “super nerdy” couples and all the fun, personal touches I plan to hide in their paintings. Honestly, their excitement fuels mine, and it makes every wedding feel like its own amazing adventure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kulandkrafty.com
- Instagram: @kulandkrafty
- Facebook: @kulandkrafty
- Other: TikTok – @kulandkrafty
Image Credits
Erishyll Mae Photography
Annie Lui Photography
