Detail

The art direction asked to include a specific piece of architecture, a weathervane that hinted at the name of the winery, and a landscape of California hills and vineyards.

This was my first go at it.

First attempt

Okay, the designer liked it, the client liked it, but it wasn't quite right for the label. They wanted less texture, less brush strokes, less saturated colors, made to look a little old, more atmosphere in the distance...and while you're at it, loose the weathervane.

I started from scratch and painted this....

I am honored that Bridlewood Estate Winery has my work represent their Central Coast Syrah and Central Coast Chardonnay.

A shipment of a case of Sarah 2006...(to answer Bill's question from yesterday: I paid for it.) Cool that they have an engraved version of my illustration on the box.

How cool is that?

Ask your local wine shop to order some for you, Bridlewood describes the Syrah as opening with aromas of smoke, cedar, and chocolate leading to bright cherry fruit framed with spicy oak. As it evolves, a nose of dark fruits and violets gives way to dark chocolate. On the palate, this wine shows rich flavors of blackberry, dark cherry and sweet brown spice with a hint of mocha. Full of soft, chewy tannins, this wine has a long, clean finish.

...and you get my illustration as a bonus.

Post Wine Week Note: I'll be taking a sabbatical next week. I will resume Drawing On Observations Monday, September 21st with an all new portrait of the day doodle. Due to spam issues all comments will be held for moderation until then.

Cheers!

Other wine related musings

Wine label posts

The post Finale appeared first on Larry Roibal.

Detail

It's not every day an art director calls and asks you to paint an ethereal California landscape in a red pallet.

Detail

What could be more fun?

Finished Illustration

The post A Bottle Of Red appeared first on Larry Roibal.

detail

Life can be serendipitous. It's good to have a plan, but often what unfolds has no resemblance to your grand scheme. Continuing from yesterday, I'm going to take this short week to feature more wine label work and the serendipitous way it came to me.

detail

It wasn't by design or hard work, but had it's seeds in my seeking a little rest and relaxation.

We spent a weeks vacation in San Francisco and Napa Valley and I was floored by the beauty of the region. I had been busy with commissioned illustrations and hadn't painted a landscape in far too long.

detail

This was before I had a weblog, so I thought I would do a few quick sketches for fun, post them on my illustration site, and tell family and friends what we did on our summer vacation with an email and a link.... more travel log than portfolio piece really. Within a month I got my first call to paint a landscape for a California wine label. Gotta love Google.

finished illustration

The post Fruit Of The Vine appeared first on Larry Roibal.