Building on You

What’s the point of it all? Why do we do what we do?

These are some of the myriad of life’s questions. We think about this every day. Frequently, there are some glimpses that provide momentary answers, but often we are left with those thoughts lingering in the back of our minds.

While one blog post cannot do justice to these quandaries, this post is the start of a journey. A trip through some of what makes Grapes & Gallery tick, and one that might inspire you to take a closer look at your surroundings and the people that you meet.

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is, “where do the ideas for your paintings come from?”. While some of them are inspired from other pieces of art and some are original pieces by our artists, a surprising number of our paintings come from YOU. That’s right. Our friends, family, and fellow painters approach us with photographs they have taken, ideas that they have seen, and themes they have yet to explore. They put their faith in us to transform the image they have in their mind into a painting on canvas.

For example, the new painting, “Botany Bay,” we are offering this Saturday (April 5th) was inspired by a photograph. A dear friend stopped by one afternoon and, over the course of a beer, described how special Botany Bay is to her. She told us about the sunrise, the appearance of light replacing the dark, and the majesty of this particular spot. She also showed us a photograph that attempted to capture what that place represents for her with a quick caveat that the photo, while amazing, does not do the scene justice.

The sunrise floods the scene with light as the darkness escapes.

Fortunately for us, she not only allowed us to replicate her photo in a painting, but she encouraged it. She wanted to share this special place.

Life reflected in a painting.

In long response to a seemingly simple question, we get our inspiration from YOU. We build on the unique qualities, knowledge and experiences of everyone we meet.

What’s the point of it all? Why do we do what we do? While we may question our purpose, as we celebrate two years of being in business in April, we know that YOU are at the center of everything we do. Our artists, our customers, our vendors, our friends and family bring light to every day and step we take.

We will continue to explore these questions and will delve deeper into the contrasts of light and dark over the coming weeks, culminating with a Light & Dark art show and wine tasting May 1st.

In the meantime...Thank you! Paint Your Day