Bad Portraits by Karlee

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Bad Portraits by Karlee I'm a live portrait artist based in Portland, Oregon. I believe in hand-drawn lines, experiences over products, and art as a medium of connection.

I draw portraits at special events, design wedding guestbooks, and take occasional commissions.

08/07/2026

Making an illustrated guestbook for Kelly and Josh ✨

Thought it could be fun to show a little more of the process and how everything comes together to make a guestbook. I’m always experimenting with different ways to design and illustrate these books. Each one is different but with the shared elements of portraits, messages and a few extra illustrations.

I really like to take my time with each one, and I have my work cut out for me in the months to come during the busiest year of weddings I’ve ever had! I feel so stoked that this is what I get to spend my time doing. 😊

Thank you to the party guests who help make these books so special!

🫶🏼

Two more weddings this year and that’s a wrap for 2023! Now the holiday parties are starting to hit my calendar and I’m ...
09/29/2023

Two more weddings this year and that’s a wrap for 2023! Now the holiday parties are starting to hit my calendar and I’m soooo excited. I don’t know how long I’ll continue this Bad Portraits project, but I’m having such a blast that I don’t want to stop anytime soon. Here’s to many more portrait sessions and the great parties that make them possible.

“If you don’t wanna fall, don’t run over pinecones.”Part 2 of portraits from A Curbside Serenade on Thursday. Thank you ...
07/15/2023

“If you don’t wanna fall, don’t run over pinecones.”

Part 2 of portraits from A Curbside Serenade on Thursday. Thank you for the invite—I had a lovely time drawing people on my first ever portrait blanket. 🙃

Sometimes I get sentimental looking through my camera roll after drawing at a party. At Sunday’s wedding there were so m...
05/10/2023

Sometimes I get sentimental looking through my camera roll after drawing at a party. At Sunday’s wedding there were so many vibrant souls, sweet convos, laughs so big they messed up the portraits, and even a hug from my last portrait subject of the night. 🥹

Andreia and Patrick know how to throw a party, that’s for sure—and at where the light and vibes are 💯✨

Special shout-out to the planner and detail queen who was so sweet so (finally!) work with and snapped a few photos of me with wedding guests.

In a few weeks I get to draw at Brittanee and Ramsey’s wedding reception. 🤗 We had our pre-wedding portrait session the ...
03/26/2023

In a few weeks I get to draw at Brittanee and Ramsey’s wedding reception. 🤗

We had our pre-wedding portrait session the other day and I learned that they are really good at staying cool in the midst of raising 5 kiddos. Parents are basically mindfulness teachers.😌🙏🏼 Show me your ways.

Shannon turned 50 and we celebrated last night at her family’s home. You know those people who create a community as the...
03/18/2023

Shannon turned 50 and we celebrated last night at her family’s home. You know those people who create a community as they move through life? That’s the vibe I got from Shannon. The kind of person who instantly makes you feel like you belong and offers a beautiful depth of attention.

The party went from quiet and calm to loud and so full of laughter that I struggled to talk with the party guests at my table. Then as the night came to a close, Shannon opened birthday cards and hugged her friends goodbye. I drew her and her husband Casey when the house was nearly quiet again. She was beaming with gratitude at feeling so loved and seeing her home full of friends. This was a couple that deeply respected each other and worked as a team as they cared for those around them. Their voices were tender as they answered my questions about their relationship and their life together.

When I finished packing my supplies and prepared to depart, Shannon was standing in the kitchen in fancy striped pajamas, debriefing about the party with her closest girlfriends who were sleeping over, which seemed to me like the best way to end such a night.

💕🍾🥳

02/18/2023

Calling all event planners and soon-to-be newlyweds. I have space in my calendar this season to draw some wedding and party guests! If you're looking for the cherry on top of your party....just saying. 😉 Send me a message www.bykarlee.com

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Portland, OR

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