Each year Rick and Darcey chose a
painting for the “Artist Series” label. Over the years they have found the
artists’ work in galleries, have had friends and customers suggest artists and
have had artists contact them to submit work. Katherine Ace was recommended by a
previous “Artist Series” artist. The Smalls viewed her work online and were
particularly taken with her still-lifes.
When contacted, Katherine was very interested in having her work used
for the label and a meeting was arranged in Portland. While viewing the
still-lifes at a gallery Katherine mentioned that she was creating a new series
based on Grimm’s fairy tales and offered to open her studio so that they could
be seen. “Sleeping Beauty” was captivating
as is the tale, and the Smalls ended up purchasing her as opposed to a
still-life for the 2012 "Artist Series" label. "Sleeping Beauty" is the first “Artist Series” label that depicts a figure.
In Grimm’s tale the sleeping
beauty, Briar Rose, is cursed to one hundred years of sleep when she pricks her
finger on a spindle. Thorns, depicted in the painting, grow over the castle
hiding it from view. Finally a handsome prince comes to the rescue and they
live happily ever after. The story can be found at http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm050.html.
Katherine was born in Chicago
in 1953 and received a BA from Knox College, Illinois, in 1975. She works in
alkyd/oil on canvas.
Between 1974 and 1990 she lived
on three US coasts, in two mountain ranges, in remote rural rentals, in major
cities and never in one place for long. Her continuing eclectic education
consisted of pursuing a smorgasbord of work: a street portrait artist in New
Orleans, a potter in Vermont, commissioned copyist, corporate portraitist,
advertising/ magazine/ book and textbook artist. In January 1990 Ace moved to
Oregon and established a permanent studio. She has had 32 solo shows since 1992.
Katherine will be joining us at the winery for Holiday Barrel Tasting, Dec. 5th - 7th to talk about her work and sign bottles.
