My first ever oil painting was the wine piece, first on the left, in row one. I created this painting after my dad sent me oil paints he found at a garage sale. It was the first time I ever used oils. I found out exactly why my few acrylic paintings were so terrible after using these paints. A light switch came on. It was the pigment.

I chose wine because of my dad's love for it. After I turned 21, he took me out to Oregon Wine Country on my first wine tasting tour and taught me everything about it. After that, I was in love with fine wine. The colors, the flavors, all varying based on the type of grape, soil, growing season and location.

I love how wine, and other liquor looks as its poured, how it flows, and catches the light in the open air and in the glass.