Early art by Stephen Luce

EARLY ART

This page exhibits some of my early art including etchings, pencil, pen and ink. Most of this is historical but interesting in terms of my present work.

I also show wine art on this page.

I have stopped painting wine still-lifes but there are some limited edition prints available and shown below.

WINE ART

PEN AND INKS

PENCIL

EARLY OILS

ETCHINGS

WINE ART

Silk

Oil on board
45" x 32"

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ORIGINAL OIL AVAILABLE

This painting is about the wine as all of my paintings are. The scene is a study of the contrasts of the deep intense red of the wine over the pure white of silk on a background of dark oak.

The silk also has the bright light of the bottle and wine shown on its surface. The scene is in the style of John Singer Sargent, one of the great portrait artists to paint. Many of my wine scenes are painted as portraits of wine with the wine as the subject in place of the traditional human figure.

Beautiful Finish

Oil on board
(With Frame)
42" x 32"

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SOLD - This is about the contrast of deep red of a Cabernet against green marble. The colors are complementary (opposites) and the combination emphasizes the red of the wine.

I made the frame for this picture - something I rarely do but felt was important for this picture. The frame is rosewood veneer with Black walnut solids and is signed. The wood has a slight stain made from the same red pigment I used in the wine.

Afternoon Light

Oil on board
30" x 18"

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SOLD - This scene is outside and on a table that belonged to my grandmother. The wood is figured mahogany, the wine is a Merlot. The Beringer label is an amazing combination of cream white with gold which lights so beautifully in sunlight.

The gold of the label is reflected in the wine, symbolic of the value and feeling of this great wine (which I drank AFTER I completed the painting).

Age
Becomes You

Oil on board
48" x 32"

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SOLD - PRINTS AVAILABLE - This painting is done in the style of Rembrandt - the master. I used glazing and light in the same sense that he used it and, of course it works now as it did 350 years ago. Most of this painting was done in sepias (dead color) and then layers of transparent glazes were applied over the dead color to bring the colors to life. As with Rembrandt, other areas such as the wine were done as a layered glaze (about 10 layers) using color from the beginning.

Silver Afternoon

Oil on canvas
40" x 24"

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SOLD - PRINTS AVAILABLE - This painting is about the great Silver Oak wine and a warm summer afternoon. The deep red of the wine and the green of the bottle contrast with the pewter silver light of the day. The fine detail of the bottle and glass contrast with the vague shapes and shadows of the wall and marble surface.

The Best

of Times

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SOLD - PRINTS AVAILABLE I have been studying Rembrandt for some time and I am an admirer of his use of light in portraits. So with this picture, I have used the power of the great one to help me show off a fine wine. I am pleased with the results and I will investigate Rembrandt's ideas further in paintings to come.

The open book is a an old leather bound copy of Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" and the very famous opening line is the source of the title of this painting.

Silver and Gold

Oil on Canvas

24" x 36"

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SOLD - PRINTS AVAILABLE - This picture is about rich wood and great wine. The gold bowl in the picture belonged to my mother - I try to paint family objects in most of my still-lifes.

'85 CAB

Oil on Canvas

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COMMISSION We often joke about various titles for this picture and my favorite is "Basic food groups of the Napa Valley". The original oil was in a gallery for a few days and I saw one visitor look at the painting and turn to me and say, with a big smile, "That is all I need in life...right there in the painting" - such are wine lovers and much of the reason I paint wine scenes.

A Classic

Oil on canvas
30" x 24"

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SOLD - This painting is about rich wood and rich wine and the power of light.

Legends

Oil on canvas
24" x 36"

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SOLD - This is a painting about color, bottle shapes, and some of the great names in the Valley. Very few people will be able to identify the label on the far right...but I lived on that vineyard for a time and it IS a legend. The "Luce" wine is part of the R. Mondavi array of vineyards and wines - and I like the name!

Composition

Oil on canvas
24" x 36"

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SOLD - This painting is also influenced by Rembrandt. Mr. R used direct light on his primary subjects and less intense often orange light on supporting objects. I tried a similar light shift here and the result is amazing!

Transition

Oil on canvas
30" x 30"

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SOLD - This picture is about the transition from the deep blue cabernet fruit to the deep red cabernet wine. I lived on the Stag's Leap Vineyard in the 70s and was always so impressed with the conversion process - day by day, month after month and year upon year to make a great wine. This painting is my tribute to the great vintners and their art.

PEN AND INKS

Waiting