2008-01-25
Artful Living with Thomas Arvid
Capturing the Charming Essence
of Wine through Fine Art
One of Wine Country’s most admired and recognized artistic ambassadors is returning to terroir Napa. Thomas Arvid will gather with old and new friends to paint at Silver Oak Cellars’ Release Day on Saturday, February 2, as well as meet collectors and open month-long exhibitions of his work at Images Fine Art South in Yountville and Art on Main in St. Helena.
Arvid’s depictions of wine capture the essence of the unpretentious enjoyment of an elegant and charming lifestyle. His work strikes a resounding personal chord among collectors and gallery directors alike.
“Thomas Arvid is the premier photo realist painter of wine and wine culture but his paintings are much more than that,” says Nancie Brown, co-owner of Images Fine Art South and Art on Main. “They have captured our love affair with wine and the lifestyle of the 21st century. The paintings are sensory delights. One can almost taste the wine in the glass, and feel the texture of the bottle. Thomas has made his art a personal experience for each of us.”
Deborah Foster, director of sales at Images Fine Art South adds, “Thomas Arvid’s still lifes are anything but still. There is a joy and vitality to his works that one rarely sees in a still life. In each painting, he has managed to capture a moment in time – they captivate you because they are ‘perfectly imperfect.’ The foil is crumbled, the glass is filled and the light reflects the room’s window on the bottle – you find yourself longing to be part of the painting.”
Collectors agree. “Color, movement, power and design infuse Thomas’ works,” says frequent Napa visitor Mike McKean. “He paints these interesting angles that he turns into almost abstract still lifes that are overflowing with passion.”
As a self-taught painter, Arvid learned to appreciate wine and great food in a similar fashion: with time, experimentation, humor and a sense of balance between his disciplined work ethic and his role as a family guy with two young boys and a wide circle of friends. Thomas feels fortunate to make a remarkable living doing something he loves and continues to share the experience with those around him.
“It’s all about the quest for authenticity, in our often superficial lives,” Thomas said, “the heights and depths of being human, the special moments we spend with friends and a bottle of wine.”
As all who get acquainted with Arvid know, his creativity and openness is engaging – each time he steps out of his Kennesaw, Georgia studio, he connects with friends old and new. A frequent traveler, the artist finds inspiration for his work through numerous friends and relationships when he visits throughout Napa Valley and surrounding Wine Country.
“Artists should strive to look to our own lives for ideas,” Arvid reflected. “Whether you find your muse during time with family and friends or are inspired while traveling – record it, live it, be honest about it. For me, life keeps getting better and better. I think that comes out in my art.”
Arvid’s embrace of the Wine Country lifestyle and his gift for the original have translated into more than artwork. Enthusiasts have the pleasure of admiring a specially selected collection of Arvid’s work year round with the new 2008 Arvid calendar. Thomas also released the first retrospective book on his work in 2004. “Arvid: Redefining the Modern Still Life” was an instant hit. The book brought the beauty of Arvid’s work to coffee tables around the world.
Arvid’s hyper-realism meets Wine Country idealism in “Labor of Love,” shown on the cover. Balanced between two glasses, the intricate details in the bottle capture the quiet enjoyment of an indulgent afternoon. With warm colors that illuminate the reflections within, Arvid’s composition embodies a passion for painting that can rightly be called a “Labor of Love.” The contrast of metal against coarse wood with artfully arranged corks completes a vivid sensory experience of appreciating the rewards of a finely crafted wine.
With an unparalleled zest for celebrating the good things in life, Arvid recreates for us the special connection shared when friends get together: “Wine is a beautiful catalyst. If you’re open to living, the painting will present itself to you.”
Arvid’s work reflects his personal ethos based upon the simple pleasures of his life: good friends, good food, natural and beautiful surroundings. A down-to-earth wine-lover himself, Thomas Arvid articulates this confluence with one of his most quoted phrases: “Life without art is like dinner without wine. Why bother?”
For more information about Thomas Arvid and his work, visit Images Fine Art at 6505 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599 [(707) 944-0606] or Art on Main at 1359 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 [(707) 963-3350].
Visit Thomas on the web at www.thomasarvid.com.
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