Thursday, September 9, 2010

Life Imitates Art: Harvest Time


Oscar Wilde said "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life."

That quote makes me think about the art we have surrounded ourselves with, especially in the wine country and how the inspiration for that art is surrounding us outside.
A simple basket of table grapes like this, the subject of the painting above, circa 1904.

It's harvest time, and the grapes on the vine are about to become wine! Isn't this such a beautiful site!
Grapes were one of the earliest cultivated fruits on earth, dating back to 6000 BC in Mesopotamia! I'm quite certain man has also been trying to capture the art form of the grape ever since!

Like this botanical of the Grenache grape.

Or this botanical of the Pinot Noir grape.

These botanicals are part of a series I have collected, most of them found at flea markets.
This one is the Semillon grape.

It reminds me of these grapes hanging from our arbor outside. Early in the season, they looked like Chardonnay grapes.

This pair of Italian tole grape sconces in our kitchen looks like of a cluster of Cabernet grapes.

Like these Cabernet grapes which have most likely already been harvested for the 2010 vintage!

Another "art imitating life" painting sits in the pine hutch and is one of my favorites.

This old oil in our dining room at home is a fine example of artist Irving Bacon's attempt to capture the grape harvest, circa late 1800's.

For me, just photographing the grapes, trying to capture the afternoon light on the clusters is my attempt at "art imitating life."

And to take it a step further, here I tried to capture my favorite painting at night with it's sepia tones from the candlelight. Is this "life imitating art, imitating life?"

Either way, life goes on, and so let the harvest begin! Here's hoping 2010 will be a great vintage.
After all, as Galileo said; "The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do."

I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.
There is always lots of inspiration there, so check it out.



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25 comments:

Anita@Theycallmejammi said...

I love beautiful things and you have certainly captured that here. Love the paintings and the real life grapes....so beautiful. You have such a lovely backdrop for your life.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Great photos, Delores and I love your artwork especially your favorite one.

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Delores,

What a beautiful blog with great images; especially with the one you're in. You are as bubbly looking as certain wines made from the grapes...

The sepia tone with the candle light reflecting your favorite artwork is my favorite too!

Greetings from Georgia where my true love is recovering (at home, he's a FIGHTER!) from his quadruple bypass on the 3rd last week + an angioplasty stent in his neck. I'm grateful and yes, I've toasted to my dear friends with a good wine for the good medical results. Now it's just slowly recovering and taking his opiates for suppressing the pain.

MariettesBacktoBasics

Blondie's Journal said...

Your pictures are just as pretty as your artwork, which is lovely, too. What a wonderful time of year this must be for you!

xoxo
Jane

Kathysue said...

Delores I love this post and I love seeing a pict of you, Ladies she is even cuter in person, trust me!!! All of your artwork is wonderful and the basket of real grapes is beautiful. God is the best artist of all isn't he? This is what I am talking about, Your lifestyle, it is so fun to live vicariously through Delores.By the way, I am coveting those sconces, xoxo Kathysue

jninecostumes said...

Love the paintings and the real grapes. Living in the Central Valley, we see a lot of grapes now, ready for harvest. Here's to a fine vintage.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Nothing is more beautiful than a sweet dewey bunch of grapes...unless it is the wonderful wine they produce! We enjoyed the wine country a few years ago in July. I would love to be back there during a harvest! I can imagine how wonderful it is.
Hugs,
Penny

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Wonderful photos and art work! Really do like the grape sconces. I have lots of grapes around my kitchen/dining area and think I will keep them around for a while. :D
Enjoy your weekend.

Heidi said...

Look how cute you look with that big basket of grapes. Very hip, too! I love your "grape in the sunshine photos", you could enlarge a few and frame a series of them. Or make cards for YOUR FRIENDS. Just an idea, I think they would be gorgeous! And I absolutely adore the sconce it's so unusual and just great looking.
Fantastic post as usual Delores!
xo
Heidi

Unknown said...

Oh, gorgeous! I adore botanical prints, so old-world chic! These are lovely! And so is your blog, so happy to find you and happy to be your newest follower!

maría cecilia said...

What a great time to harvest your own grapes!!! Y gues the woman in the picture is you... so much like a friend of mine!!!
Wonderful images of your grapes.
cariños
maria cecilia

Tamra said...

All I can say about that Irving Bacon oil of grapes is........sigh.

Blooming Rose Musings said...

This is an absolutely stunning post! Your orchestration of art and the harvest is a perfect melange. The picture of you is adorable and the laden basket of grapes looks like it might be quite heavy. Wonderful post!

Susan said...

I so love your beautiful paintings!! They are just absolutely awesome!!

French-Kissed said...

Looks like a great harvest and I adore all of your grape art...the paintings are gorgeous and those sconces are wonderful. And you my dear look beautiful holding that basket.

~jermaine

savvycityfarmer said...

what I love about you D. is your wild imagination to post about things within your view everyday ...
this pulled me right in and made me feel like I was on the tour with you ...
this is extra ordinary ... you are blessed with a beautiful home(s)
... you are just too cute for words ...

a name with a face!!!

Kathy said...

Well these are just incredible pictures...makes me want to pack up and move there!

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

MMMMMmmmmmmmmm my mouth is watering! I am thinking grape jam!

Smiles, Dolly

Anonymous said...

Your paintings are so lovely! And there you are, cute as can be with your harvest of grapes! Yummy!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Your images are even that much more special as I enjoy a glass of california wine!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Beautiful post Delores. You have some wonderful pieces of art. I really am loving those sconces though. So unique and so beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful weekend (I haven't opened my most recent bottle of olive oil yet - it looks so pretty all wrapped in the cute paper with the charm on it - I'll wait until I have emptied the previous bottle). thank you so much for your birthday wishes. laurie

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

D, you're living the life! Beautiful painting too.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!!!

The Tablescaper said...

WOW! I can't think of what else to say. WOW! Your grapes are amazing.

- The Tablescaper

Katy Noelle said...

They're so beautiful! Now, I know that that's what I'm supposed to say but, there's something about them. (I don't just "say things". I always mean it!=]) My sister and I were in Michael's craft store and we saw some reasonably good faux grapes. We were just drawn to them and stood there and talked about what we liked about the real ones. Like I said - they're soooooo beautiful! No wonder there are so many wonderful artistic renditions - including yours??? hee hee.

I think that I like them because they're green and purple! =]

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