Behind the Scenes

Artwork Title: Shades of Wine and Marble
Medium: Hybrid Fluid Realism on Canvas
Size: 30 x 40 inches

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When I started Shades of Wine and Marble, I knew I wanted to capture a moment of elegance, the kind that unfolds slowly—like a fine wine being poured into a crystal glass. This painting is a tribute to those quiet, refined moments, where a bottle of wine and a smooth marble backdrop can tell a story of luxury and tradition. Here’s a peek into the process, the challenges, and a few surprises along the way.

Step 1: The Vision

The concept was simple yet challenging. I targeted a composition where shadows, textures, and colors would work together, almost like a dance between light and dark. The marble background would set a serene stage, while the wine bottle and glass would be the stars, rich in color and shadow.

Step 2: Setting the Stage with Fluid Acrylics

I began with the wine glass and wine bottle. Using my signature fluid acrylic pouring technique, I created swirling patterns to mimic the luxurious depth of wine. I also created the shape of the wine bottle, noting where the reflections would stretch and bend. This part is always exhilarating (and slightly unpredictable). The paint flows and twists, capturing the movement and depth of a rich crimson pour of the wine, and stoic blues, whites, and greens of the bottle. There’s an energy in these early layers that I love—each swirl holds a unique pattern that you can’t quite replicate. I don’t have pictures of when I did the acrylic pouring, but other posts focus on this so here is a close up of the wine pour

Step 3: Shadows, Shapes, and Starting Over

Next, I moved on to sketching the outline of the bottle, glass, and shadows in a bold underpainting. This early stage was all about defining the forms and getting the composition just right. At times, I found myself reworking the placement of the shadows—it turns out, they’re as much a part of the story as the wine itself!

(Starting to paint the background, marble)

Step 4: Adding Depth with Oils

As started in the previous step, once the outline is set, and the acrylics are poured and settled, it’s time to focus on the oil paints. I added layers to the bottle and marble, using oil to contrast the fluidity of the wine glass. This is where the texture really started to come alive. Each brushstroke on the marble was a balance between smoothness and subtle texture, capturing the cool elegance of stone. And for the bottle, I played with layers to make it feel shadowed and mysterious, almost like it’s holding secrets within.

(Filling in a bit more)

Here you will see I brought this painting to the Palisade Wine Festival, and did some live painting.

Step 5: Embracing Imperfections

The shadow of the wine bottle stretching across the canvas was one of my favorite parts to create. It was almost like working with a new character in the painting! Shadows don’t always cooperate, though. I had to adjust, scrape off, and rework certain areas until they felt right. There’s an intimacy in getting the details just right, like tweaking the depth of a shadow or the highlight on the bottle to create that ‘aha’ moment.

Step 6: Final Details – The Art of Refinement

As the painting neared completion, it was all about refining those last little elements. I added tiny highlights on the wine and softened the marble’s edges. Each part was carefully balanced to keep the eye moving across the composition. The interplay between the dark shadow, the rich wine, and the cool marble felt like a conversation between old-world sophistication and modern luxury.

The Story in the Shadows

Shades of Wine and Marble invites viewers to step into a quiet, luxurious moment. It’s a piece about savoring life’s finer details, slowing down, and appreciating the craftsmanship in every swirl, shadow, and reflection. Whether displayed in a dining room or a private study, I hope it reminds viewers that some moments, like a glass of fine wine, deserve to be savored and remembered.

Creating this painting was an adventure filled with unexpected challenges, beautiful discoveries, and a little bit of paint magic. I hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look—and maybe even feel inspired to pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back, and enjoy the simple beauty of the moment.