"Napa Time"

Thomas Arvid "Napa Time" Limited Edition Canvas Giclee Edition of 195 and Artist's Proof Edition of 75 - 33" x 39.25"  and 39.25" x 33" Metal Edition of 45. What do you do if you are relaxing with great friends and sipping wine in their beautiful tasting room in Napa Valley? If you are Thomas Arvid, you capture the moment with a masterpiece of oil on canvas. While showcasing the portfolio of Salvestrin wines in exquisite detail, Arvid affords us a surreptitious vista into the tasting room itself. Caught in the reflections of the bottles, we have a peek into the setting of the painting and find ourselves caught up in the architecture of the room, forgetting until we pull back that we are actually gazing at the surface of the bottle. Arvid often finds himself on “Napa Time,” and considers Napa his home away from home. Over the course of the last 25 years, he has developed friendships in the valley and formed such close relationships that they consider each other family. Not surprising given the parallels between the culture in Napa and the cultures in Maui and Georgia, his two other “homes.” All three are set in a foundation of community, hospitality, and authenticity: aloha at its finest. Thomas Arvid Preeminent Painter of Wine Thomas Arvid possesses an unerring ability to refine a moment. In doing so he captures our wonder and has become an art world phenomenon. Named one of the top "25 Artists You Should Know" by US Art magazine, Arvid receives critical acclaim for his ability to portray centuries old traditions in a startingly fresh style. His oversized still life compositions of wine and the rituals surrounding its consumption are often called "photo-realistic." Arvid's images astound viewers with their intricate details and his mastery of light, depth and reflection. Arvid's influence on the art world has been the focus of an Art Business News cover story, profiles in Wine Spectator and the Los Angeles Times, and featured on the cable program "In Wine Country." Influential collectors of his work include many important wineries. Silver Oak Cellars, Shafer Vineyards, Diamond Creek Winery and Flora Springs Winery all display Arvids prominently. The magic of his painting is in Thomas Arvid's ability to visualize and chronicle an entire scene beyond the frame - to tell a story of enjoyment and the good life - using lush color and adroit composition. he illuminates and shares that moment with viewers. The aura surrounding the work of Thomas Arvid is palpable. Arvid's international appeal has created such demand that his work is represented by over 50 elite art galleries in the US, Canada and Japan, and collectors are willing to wait years for one of his originals. In the span of ten short years, the artist has achieved spectacular success and no one has been more awed by the response than Arvid himself. "I'm so lucky that I get to make a living doing what I love. I paint because I enjoy the process and the surprise of creating something from nothing - just a vignette in my mind, a blank canvas and tubes of paint. It's amazing. Then my collectors are able to find a personal connection and fulfillment in a piece of my work. That is truly special." Thomas Arvid's natural charisma and infectious enthusiasm for art and wine guarantee his continued success and popularity. Arvid's work and philosophy is perfectly embodied in his famous phrase, "Life without art is like dinner without wine. Why bother?"