It Might as Well be Spring
“I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I'd say that I had spring fever
But I know it isn't spring…”
Life has taken me on quite a journey lately, and my recent travels have filled my amphorae to overflowing. And although the hectic pace has kept me away from my easel, my love for creating art has never been stronger. It’s been quietly and steadily growing in the background- much like a grapevine in spring- waiting for the right moment for bud break. And now, that moment has finally come.
These three lovely ladies of Sauternes look like they have shared many secrets through the decades.
The New Grapevine Series in-process: "Vita Vinea"
I’m excited to share that I’m working on a new series of paintings once again inspired by grapevines.
Our relationship with the vine goes back over 8,000 years and has been a constant throughout many of the world's cultures. Winemaking is a manifestation of the earth itself giving its lifeblood to us- sustaining, nurturing, and inspiring us. It has meant everything from a simple means to purify drinking water to the holy blood of Christ. It has symbolized everything from abundance and divinity to human vulnerability and indulgence. Wine in a bottle captures a moment, a time, a season, like nothing else. It is a product of place and life and humankind's symbiotic relationship with the earth.
For me, painting grapevines is deeply personal. Grape cultivation is such a patient process- each vine tells a story of weathering storms, adapting to change, and producing fruit in its own time. Some vines produce their best fruit right away in their youth. For others, it takes decades before their very best is achieved. It’s a perfect metaphor for the creative process and for life itself. However, I see grapevines beyond this simple metaphor. I see them as individuals.
These lovely vines in Spain are actually the same vine, or at least they were at one point. This propagation process is called “Massale Selection.”
Most wine drinkers know the countries that wine comes from. Still others can tell you about individual regions and their characteristics. Many aficionados know some of the world's best-known vineyards, and can wax poetic about the traits of this particular plot versus the one next door. But what of the denizens inside the Clos? What about a single vine?
I find my best inspiration walking through a vineyard and getting to know individual inhabitants. Some shout, some whisper, but I find they all have something to say. There’s something poetic about the way they twist and climb, silently reaching for the light. They’re resilient, adaptable, and constantly growing- just like us. And they are all individuals with their own stories and quirks.
The series "Vita Vinea" will explore the themes of growth, resilience, and the quiet strength found in nature. It will also reflect on our own relationship to the earth. Each painting will celebrate the most charismatic and unique vines that I have met on my travels. As I peek inside the soul of a grapevine I want to bring you along, share my discoveries with you and reflect on different stages in the life of that vine- from the tangled roots to the flourishing fruit. I want to show you how I see them, and how they mirror the seasons we experience in our own lives.
Even in death there is beauty. These are old semillon vines from Château d’Yquem. Imagine all the beautiful wine they helped to create through the years.
What to Expect
I’ll be sharing sketches, process shots, and completed pieces as I work on this series. Expect lots of rich, earthy tones, twisting branches, and layered textures. Each painting will have its own mood and message, and I can’t wait to see how the series evolves.
I’m also planning to share some behind-the-scenes stories- what inspired each piece and the symbolism behind the vines. I want this series to feel as meaningful to you as it does to me.
Thank you for your patience, your support, and your encouragement. Here’s to an early spring: new growth, new art, and seeing beauty in the twists and turns of life. Happy 2025!
Much love, Angela