Art & illustration

Joan Chamberlain

My husband and I moved to Oregon in the fall of 2022. Having come from Dallas, Texas, I immediately fell in love with the moist, lush presence of nature. Although we’d vacationed in Oregon on several occasions, I really didn’t have a sense of the culture and relaxed pace of the Willamette Valley. Deep green forests and bright green pastures are everywhere you look, and there’s a deep respect for the land and the animals that inhabit it.

I retired from a 35-year career as a dentist in 2016 and began exploring still life painting - inspired by the light passing through a couple of wine bottles after an afternoon of al fresco dining on our patio. Little did I know that 7 years later, I’d find myself in the heart of Oregon wine country with limitless inspiration.

I paint contemporary still life images featuring the wine and flora that surround me. I find that those two things are frequently on the table when friends are gathered and celebrating their time together. I prefer the strong contrasts produced by the slant of light at dawn or dusk versus the subdued shades of indirect, overhead light. There’s an energy to the fringes of the day that is evoked in the character of the light.

I enjoy capturing table settings that reflect a story - the preparation and serving of food and wine - and the appreciation of the shared experiences which provide rich memories of time spent together. My intent is to invite the viewer to find their own memories in the settings of my art.