Painting in the Vineyard!

If you'd like to join me for this weekend - check out http://visualvoyages.net! Or call my studio: 360-721-1621 - VERY LIMITED SPACE STILL AVAILABLE!

I am so excited about this new venture! Elk Cove Vineyards has invited my plein air painting group to paint in the vineyards there during their annual "Crush" - which is vineyard speak for harvesting the grapes. Our weekend retreat is intended not only to give artists and wine lovers a chance to paint, sketch and practice our photography skills in beautiful natural surroundings, but a chance to learn something about the burgeoning viticulture of the Northwest.

Oregon's northern latitude brings long hours of summer sunshine to its vineyards producing some of the finest Pinot Noirs and Red Varietals in the country. Only a few miles from Portland, these remarkable vineyards of the Willamette Valley enjoy occasional marine breezes that breach the Coastal range, and help moderate the climate, causing the ripening process for wine grapes to be gradual. The combination of these conditions encourages complex fruit flavors, aromatics and nuances in these northern-Oregon-grown wines, complexities that allow Oregon wineries to compete well with other world-class wineries.

We will be staying in a true fairy tale cottage -- The Lake House is nestled on a five-acre parcel of land in the heart of vineyards in Yamhill County. This enchanted cottage was built by a man of Irish descent and short stature, with red hair, a beard, and a touch of magic in his soul. Legend has it that the design of his dream home was influenced by the spirit of his homeland.

After visiting the Lake house and stepping through the arched red doorway, I felt transported to another place and time. This old world style cottage with open beamed ceilings and cherry plank floors also features a breathtaking view of a large private pond. With a miniature island and footbridge, water lilies on blue water, and willow trees, this tranquil spot is reminiscent of Claude Monet’s lily ponds at Giverny. The Lake House is truly a painter's paradise – not to mention the scenic vineyards in the shadow of Mt. Hood.

My daughter, Lori, will be my able assistant during the weekend. She is a fantastic organizer and cook. (We still call her "Martha" because she insists on doing everything from scratch!) And we came up with a menu to die for!

When painters arrive, they will be greeted by Poire Champagne (Pear flavored) served with fresh Bosc Pears, and a cheese board straight from the Frommagerie. Lori has been studying up on her cheeses thanks to a new gourmet cheese bar at Fred Meyers that has $2 & $3 samples to take home to try. What a great idea to get us all to try different cheeses. So far, our favorites have been the creamy Italian Gogonzola (fantastic with pears), Tuscan Peccorino - a softer sheep's milk cheese than Roman Peccorino and great for melting over a firepit and scraping off the drips with crisp Italian bread, and Alla Pappa, a black pepper infused Chevre that holds it's own - extra creamy! Mmmm....I told you she was a Martha!

All this will be followed by Hand made Butternut Squash Ravioli with browned butter and sage, Asparagus Tips with Red Onion and Balsamic Glaze, Italian Bread....and yes, more pears for dessert. I came across a wonderful Pear Galette with Champagne Creme Anglaise recipe that will put you away!


Saturday will be the big day - we will start off painting morning light at the lily pond a la Monet and the shifting light, and about 11:00 our Limo will arrive to take us to our first vineyard. John, our driver and wine afficionado will take us to a small vineyard that is known for it's Pinot Noir and is generally not open to the public. Next we will head to Elk Cove Vineyards where Lori will meet us with a French Picnic, Lemonade, and our easels to set up in the vineyard to paint. We will stay there til around 2:00 PM and then venture to Sokol Blosser Vineyards and Tasting Rooms - a very large vineyard and one of the oldest family owned winery around. Next off to 2 more small vineyards and then home at 4:00 in time for either fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and a nap or another round of "Painting the Light" as our evening unfolds across the lily pond.

Dinner on Saturday night will be a Harvest Feast. Apple Cider will warm us up until the Roast of Pork with Fennel and Port arrives along side the Pecan/Cranberry Wild Rice, the Broccolini, and the fresh baked dinner rolls. Dessert will be Chocolate Cups and Lemoncello Sippers.

If we survive all the great food, wine, and painting of Saturday....we will be painting again Sunday morning out at the pond after a breakfast of Ham and Broccoli Quiche, fruit, yogurt, granola, coffee and tea.

Whew! What a weekend, with over 10 hours of painting instruction, two 4 course dinners, a 5 hour wine tour, and pampering beyond belief! I'm ready for that!