June 2009 Update

Greetings from Quent Cordair Fine Art in bountiful Napa, California, where five out of six grapevine plantings will leaf out for even non-viticulturists such as ourselves. Our winemaking friends the Bechards gifted us some Syrah prunings last month, and we had naught to do but insert the sprigs into the ground per instruction, and a few weeks later -- voila! -- the little vines have leafed out as pretty as can be. We understand that to make great wine, all we'll need to do is to squeeze the grape juice into the bottles, cork them and wait a few years.... (that's a little humor for our highly skilled and hardworking winemakers... we bow to you, truly.)

July 1 will mark our thirteenth year in business and our first anniversary in the new Napa location. Now that our home is in the heart of the wine country, it's only proper that we add some fine wine-art to our offering. We didn't want to rush into it, so we've spent many months seeking out and pursuing the world's best wine artist for the gallery. Today, we are honored and pleased to introduce to our collectors the work of Thomas Arvid, who is well known in Napa Valley circles and the world over for his exceptional, lushly hued renderings of the wine bottle, the glass, the liquid, all brought together adroitly in intimate composition. Mr. Arvid's paintings tell a story of enjoyment and the good life, capturing on each canvas the pleasures and rewards of a life well lived. Please click through, below, to the full selection of Arvid works that we are now pleased to make available. Having such artwork on one's wall is the next best thing to sipping a glass of excellent California wine, and of course it's even better to be able to enjoy both concurrently, sating both the palette and the eye.

Don't miss the exciting gallery news beneath the new art below, and remember that you can always find the latest additions to the gallery here on our New Art page!

~ NEW ART ~

Tour de Force - Thomas Arvid Tour de Force
Thomas Arvid
18" x 31" Giclee print on canvas
Limited Edition of 325
$900

"Life without art is like dinner without wine. Why bother?" -- Thomas Arvid. We couldn't agree more!



Click to view larger images, additional information and pricing:
http://www.cordair.com/arvid/tour.php

Inspirational Living - Thomas Arvid Inspirational Living
Thomas Arvid
31" x 42" Giclee print on canvas
Limited Edition of 325
$1,250

Please click through to the selection of 15 Thomas Arvid artworks that we are now pleased to make available....



Click to view larger images, additional information and pricing:
http://www.cordair.com/arvid/inspirational.php

Hanging Lantern - Han Wu Shen Hanging Lantern
Han Wu Shen
22" x 28" Oil on canvas
$10,350

Click to view larger images, additional information and pricing:
http://www.cordair.com/shen/HangingLantern.php

Unbound - Karl JensenUnbound
Karl Jensen
45" Bronze casting
Limited edition of 50
Special Introductory Price $6,000

Click to view larger images, additional information and pricing:
http://www.cordair.com/jensen/unbound.php

Mask of Icara - Michael WilkinsonMask of Icara
Michael Wilkinson
Gold leaf bronze casting with marble base
14.5" high limited edition of 200
$4,730



Torsoscape - Michael WilkinsonTorsoscape
Michael Wilkinson
Gold leaf bronze casting with marble base
14.5" high limited edition of 200
$5,940



Click to view larger images, additional information and pricing:
http://www.cordair.com/wilkinson/

Lemons - Dale MomiiLemons
Dale Momii
12" x 9" oil on canvas
$700



Click to view larger images, additional information and pricing:
http://www.cordair.com/momii/lemons.php

Retired - Jerald Rough Retired
Jerald Rough
15" x 8" Oil on board
Custom Framed by the Artist
24.5" x 16.25"
$3,795



Click to view larger images, additional information and pricing:
http://www.cordair.com/rough/Retired.php

Life - Jerald RoughLife
Jerald Rough
14" x 11" Oil on board
Custom Framed by the Artist
23" x 20"
$3,895



Click to view larger images, additional information and pricing:
http://www.cordair.com/rough/Life.php

~ Gallery News ~

QCFA Partners with Napa Valley Festival Del Sole

QCFA has partnered with the Napa Valley Festival Del Sole which is being held July 17-25, 2009. The Festival features concerts by some of the world's most celebrated musical artists, five-star cuisine, art exhibits, and wines from Napa's top vintners, blended in a unique celebration of the art of life. Concert tickets and VIP packages are on sale now. Tickets for Festival del Sole concerts range from $35-$125. Mention Quent Cordair Fine Art and receive 15% off your tickets.

QCFA Hosts Festival Del Sole Opening Night Reception

On July 18, we're very pleased to be hosting the invitation-only, opening-night reception for the prestigious Festival del Sole in July. The Festival will be inviting select VIPs to the gallery for a reception prior to the opening-night concert at the Napa Valley Opera House, featuring violinist Sarah Chang with pianist Andrew von Oeyen, and 14-year old pianist Conrad Tao.

QCFA Partners with New Boutique Hotel in Downtown Napa

If you've been considering a visit to see us in Napa, we're pleased to entice you with a special partnership we've developed with the new AVIA Hotel--opening July 1--just 1 block from the gallery. AVIA, downtown Napa's newest retreat, is pleased to offer guests of the gallery 20-percent off their best available rates and a host of other benefits. This boutique hotel combines understated elegance with the enthusiasm of a local host -- eager to share savvy local connections and the best of Napa Valley.

Ornate, wrought-iron doors open to reveal an enchanting living room complete with knotty, blackened oak and tufted sofas with a modern flair. The overall aesthetic borrows from the winemaking tradition--it's natural and not uptight, but perfect for a sophisticated palette. Guests can sample regional fare and local vintages inside the AVIA Kitchen + Wine Bar or host a gathering amid striking and sophisticated event space. The hotel features an outdoor Terrace--an urban oasis with hardwood decking, porch swings and fire pit.

With 141 rooms + suites, AVIA provides sensuous details like hickory hardwood floors, fireplaces and soaking tubs for two. And modern amenities like generous eastern white marble bathrooms and Wi-Fi.

At AVIA Napa, you're exactly where you want to be after visiting the gallery and a full day of tasting, in the very walk-able heart of downtown Napa, steps from world-class wine tasting venues, celebrated California cuisine and the new Oxbow Public market with artisanal food and shopping. To learn more, visit www.aviahotels.com or to book our special rates, http://stay.aviahotels.com/avia.asp?id=QCD.

Now in the Artist's Studio

Now in the QCFA Artist's Studio, Step 6 of Bryan Larsen's breathtaking new work, Deliberation:

I had so much fun painting this hand. Now that the new technique is getting more familiar, I am able to concentrate less on the technical side of things, and more on the aesthetic. I have always enjoyed painting hands. I find them to be often just as expressive as faces. This one was also lit in a very beautiful way, and so gracefully draped across the foot. As with the other flesh in this painting, I started out with an under-painting which was allowed to dry, and then came back with the flesh-tones, working into a thin layer of oil and burnt umber. In between those two steps, I decided to begin dropping the background into place. Having been on a bit of a concrete bender lately, I dove right in. I was already really pleased with the floor, and was limited by the reflections as to the basic set-up of the wall behind the figure. As soon as I finished it, however, I disliked it completely. It was far too busy and flat. I would eventually paint over it. At this point I was also beginning to think about what would be outside the windows.

See images and the first five steps in the QCFA Artist's Studio.

Director's Blog

Visit the QCFA Director's Blog for the latest news, images and video from Linda Cordair, our gallery director. Recently Linda has uploaded a YouTube video of a performance by violinist Sarah Chang, who will be performing opening night of our Festival del Sole next month. Other recent blog entries feature new gallery window displays, pics of how our clients are displaying their new purchases, and even Linda's recipe for braised lamb shank (yum)!

Enjoy the Art!

Quent Cordair

p.s. Please feel free to forward this update to a friend, relative or associate who might enjoy the uplift of Romantic Realist art today. We appreciate your spreading the word about our artists and this special gallery. Thank you!

Quent Cordair Fine Art
The Finest in Romantic Realism
1301 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
toll free: (866) 267-3247   art@cordair.com
www.cordair.com

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