There it is, in front of me, reclaimed copper sheet... waiting.

There I am, standing above with hammer and handmade tools prepared to strike my first blow.

 

An image in my mind waiting to be transferred to unmarked copper. Scared to scar the piece of copper,  I walk out of the cellar/studio... Chicken.

 

A few hours later I revisited the cellar, treat myself to a taste of my 2006 Merlot,  "I made this" I whispered to the copper in effort to get the copper to cooperate with my intentions.....so with a ceremonial splash of my last artistic endeavor on the copper sheeting and a few choice words  uttered in a caveman fashion to scare the copper... I hammered.

 

Thousands of blows over several hours with different tools and techniques, and a four panel landscape emerges of deer grass, sycamore tree, and a full moon.  An image from my mind, from our home, our earth, transferred to copper. 

 

The moment of inspiration :  The night reminds me of the cover of the Eagles album "Hotel California" the sun has set and backlights the clouds, colors only mother nature could conceive, paint the sky. The sycamore tree frames the view over the lagoon with the deer grass slow dancing, swaying to the music of natures light breeze, the lagoon lit by the moon, as I sit on my chair near the waterfall, in the backyard of Heron's House. Don Henley would most certainly approve.

 

California Natives,   by Peder Norby  reclaimed copper and cherry wood

 

 

 

Putting your hands on the earth and placing in the ground a plant.  Thus begins our wine. 

 

Words are a poor choice of medium to describe to you the joy of having a vineyard, harvesting a crop, guiding the grapes into wine, and then sharing our wine with loved ones, friends gathered for a meal.  You drink of the earth and heaven, just 20 feet away from the table and a meal surrounded by love and friendship.

 

Thomas Arvid is a painter of wine.  Arvid says "Life without art is like dinner without wine. Why bother?"  

 

Julie and I have been avid Arvid fans for a decade. We share in his passion for wine and art, for occasions that bring people together. We are amazed by his talent to capture in still life the majesty of wine and relations..  We are very fortunate and blessed to have Arvid's work in our home.

 

 

Chimney Rock on Wood,  by Thomas Arvid 

If I only had a ...,  Limited edition Giclee on Canvas, by Thomas Arvid

Labor of Love,   Limited edition Giclee on Canvas, by Thomas Arvid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up and down the coast, searching, downward looking,  in estuaries and lagoons for a high perch to nest.  A home is found, an old nest of years perhaps decades, overlooking the lagoon. It will provide a good beginning…. perfect for the Herons.

 

Herons' Flight by Danny Salzhandler   reclaimed copper