L'anniversaire

Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 16 x 12''

2011, #194

The bottles from this work all have special significance to a lady client who commissioned this painting as a surprise wedding anniversary gift for her husband. The husband is a scotch whiskey aficionado and the bottle was purchased on the day of their engagement. It was shared between the best man and groomsmen before the ceremony as a toast. The two other bottles were served at their wedding reception.

This 15 year old scotch whiskey - rare single barrel select is from the Glenora Distillers from Cape Breton Island. The red wine is a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon from Liberty School Winery. Last but not least is 1998 bottle of Dom Pérignon Champagne. Named after the French Benedictine monk (1638-1715) who was an important quality pioneer of champagne wine.  Dom Pérignon is a vintage champagne, meaning that it is not made in weak years, and all grapes used to make the wine were harvested in the same year. It only becomes available after spending 7 years at the Moët et Chandon wine cellar. The most recent vintage available is a 2002. It is a prestigious wine often traded at auction. A lot of two bottles of the legendary Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 1959 sold for US $84,700 in 2008.

When I did the photo study for the painting, I did some pictures resting on the April 2011 issue of American Art Collector magazine. It featured the romantic image ''Love on the road'' by Colorado artist Ron Hicks.  Keeping in context that this painting was to be a celebratory image and an ode to love.......I was happy when the client selected this image. The positioning of the bottles and the glare created by the outdoor light on the glossy magazine cover only retained the couple's embrace as the focal point. The abstract effect created on the surface of the wine is also coming from the outside light. A combination of depth of field (out of focus) and an overcast sky with the light filtering through the still bare branches of the enormous pear tree in our back yard. I borrowed the title from a Marc Chagall painting of the same name that also features a kissing couple. Click here to view.

''Love on the Road'' was part of Ron Hicks's solo show at Arcadia Fine Arts in New York City that was held from April 16 - May 7, 2011. I was elated after contacting Mr. Hicks who kindly granted me permission to use his image for my painting. His artwork blends representational and impressionist styles. They are sensual figurative period pieces set in the the first half of the 20th century. By creating romantic frozen moment in time they evoke an emotional response as part of a larger scenario that the viewer is left to pursue on their own. You can explore the artwork of Ron Hicks at this link.

-commission

Grapes & Merlot

Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 11 x 14'',

January 2011, #190

Window sill paintings are among the imagery I enjoy painting the most. It has everything to do with the quality of natural light flooding the subject from one side, and especially how it filters through glass and in this case, permeates through grapes.


The wine bottles showcased here are from left to right, two empty bottles of Merlot (red wine): Sawmill Creek Winery located in Oliver British Columbia (BC) / Niagara Falls, Ontario and Georges Duboeuf of France. Then a full bottle of Gewürztraminer Ice Wine from Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in BC, and finally to complete the lot, a full bottle of Pinot Grigio (white).

-SOLD

Wine Tasting

 Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 12 x 10''

Created January 17 - February 19, 2009, # 155

It has been a while since my last posting. After the Christmas Holiday, I did a complete make-over of our basement, which also included my studio. I am extremely pleased with the outcome. So after a one month hiatus from my brushes, this type of imagery is always intimidating when I am not painting on a daily basis. It's a process of defining, redefining and what seems like an endless series of tiny details.

In this windowsill still life, we find three completely different wines. Aufkellereien, is the German white wine as previously painted in Cheers. An Australian Shiraz, also known as Syrah. A dark skin variety of grape is used in this blend with a bouquet of ripe cherries, strawberries, spice and vanilla oak aroma. Yellow Tail Wines is bottled by Casella Wines . Completing the trio is a Gewürztraminer Ice wine. Gewürztraminer is an aromatic wine grape variety that performs best in cooler climates. This 2005 vintage was bottled by Sumac Ridge, a winery near Summerland, in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. 2005 was a very hot year with high brix levels resulting in an abundant fruit character. The grapes were picked at less than minus 8 degrees Celsius and underwent a slow cold fermentation for 45 days. The word Brix is used in the food industry for measuring the approximate amount of sugars in fruits, vegetables, juices, wine, soft drinks and in the sugar manufacturing industry.

We did a road trip of BC and Alberta in 2007 and drove through the beautiful Okanagan Valley where we visited the Burrowed Owl Estate Winery in Oliver. The wine was great, and the scenery was breathtaking.

-SOLD

Cheers

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 15 x 11''

Created July 25 - September 19, 2008, #148

This image took me the longest time to figure out. There was so much stuff going on as far as lighting and color nuances were concern. The title pretty much reflects the mood for the painting. When you have champagne on hand, it is usually an occasion to celebrate a special event or moment. In this trio we find: Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin- a premium French Champagne, Aufkellereien - a sweet German white wine and Captain Morgan Deluxe Dark Rum.

Growing up, I use to play minor hockey in Richibucto, New Brunswick. Further down the road from where the arena was located was the Morgan Distillery, then owned by the Seagram Company Ltd. Seagram was the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world with it's headquarters located in Montreal, Qc. Captain Morgan Rum was produced at this plant for the longest time. The plant closed after part of Seagram was sold to Diageo. Morgan Street in Richibucto is the only reminder of a plant that once provided many jobs for the local economy.

-private collection