capturing the craft of wine & spirits

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 wine and spirits. I am obsessed with the shapes and colors of wine and liquor bottles. 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.

My intent is to invite the viewer to find enjoyment in the interplay of light and reflection through gorgeous bottles. Bold colors and sparkling highlights allude to the riches within.