From the beginning, the Living Celebrations core team has been working toward this stage. Having developed the concept based on the celebrant’s life story, the core team now brings in the artistic team. All of the artists involved with a Living Celebrations Premier Piece are experts in their fields; many are nationally recognized masters in a variety of creative disciplines.

Writing the narrative
At the heart of every Living Celebrations Premier Piece is the text of the celebrant’s story. Living Celebrations uses professional writers from all over the country, matching each author to the appropriate project. For instance, a sports writer would be that ideal person to write the story of a celebrant with a passion for athletics.

Capturing the details
The writer and the celebrant now sit down for another series of interviews. Again, the process takes eight to twelve hours spread over three to five sessions. The purpose of these sessions is to bring out the nuances and the details of the story. The celebrant sometimes remembers things long forgotten that come back during these sessions and are essential to the tale. It is the writer’s job to pull the pieces of the story together and fashion a biography that captures the essence of the celebrant and the interest of the reader.

Creating the visuals
For the visual aspects of the masterpiece, Living Celebrations turns to painters and illustrators whose individual styles fit the design of the piece. Calligraphers are brought in to hand print the text. Bookbinders assemble the book using the highest quality papers, fabrics, and leathers. Depending on the theme of the Premier Piece, artisans of all kinds may be engaged to add their talents to the project. Sculptors, jewelry designers, leather-crafters, gold and silversmiths, artists whose particular skills add the perfect bit of flair to make each masterwork a masterpiece.

Next: The Masterpiece