ERIC CHRISTENSEN
Original Paintings and Limited Edition Prints
"Life is hard enough as it is, so I try to paint the things that make me happy. Through my subject matter and all of its nuances and detail I want to convey all the complexities, colors and creativity of miracles that life gives to us on a daily basis."— Eric Christensen |
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Please call 310-823-8024 for additional Eric Christensen prints, originals and sculptures we have available!Click on pictures for larger image. |
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NEWEST RELEASE!!! ESTATE OF BLISS Limited Edition Giclée
on Canvas: A feast for the eyes and a feat of engineering describes Christensen’s first triptych, “Estate of Bliss.” A glorious late summer evening in Napa Valley is the setting for his most recent work. Fruit of the season abounds, including grapes fresh from the harvest, accompanied by robust cheeses and a loaf of warm bread. In the background, rolling vineyards prepare to give forth their bounty. According to Christensen, composing the piece so that each painting successfully carried the proper flow of motion, and then assembling the three pieces so that flow remained strong across all three was the most challenging part of this piece. Normally, he will start and finish one painting at a time. However, with this triptych it was required that he develop each piece simultaneously so that colors matched exactly and elements flowed perfectly. What is most amazing about this piece is that the three panels are designed to work side-by-side when hung horizontally, and top-to-bottom when hung vertically! Each of these wines comes from grapes grown on the estate – in combination with the abundant repast surely creates a “state of bliss”! |
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NEW RELEASE!!! ALOHA ALII Original Watercolor: Sold Since returning from his last visit to the Hawaiian Islands, Christensen has been yearning to compose a piece that captures the feeling of being in Hawaii. At last, Christensen’s stunning new watercolor with a decidedly Hawaiian theme! This amazing piece titled "Aloha Alii", features deep red and yellow orchids which represent the colors of Hawaiian Royalty, originally inspired by native island birds. Tropical mango, antherium flowers and palm leaves contribute to this composition of a relaxing Hawaiian Island setting. Sunlight gives the glasses sparkle and provides the opportunity to follow reflections in many areas of this painting. What better way to relive a visit to paradise every day! |
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NEW RELEASE!!! ELEGANT AFTERNOON Original Watercolor: Sold "Elegant Afternoon"
is a finely detailed study, embellished with rich reds for the
palate and the eye. Christensen gives wine country romance a
fresh look and a warm feeling with this watercolor painting.
He captures hundreds of red hues from the sun-dappled leaves
of a Japanese maple to the succulent bunch of grapes. The premium
wines he has chosen for this piece are among Napa’s finest,
and set the tone for a first-rate experience to follow. The
contrasting textures illuminated by the afternoon light evokes
a sense warmth. |
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NEW RELEASE!!! NAPA STYLEOriginal Watercolor: 23.5"x34.75" "Napa Style" has become
a familiar term used to denote elegance, and fine living. This
stunning composition represents Christensen's vision of a picnic
setting along Napa's famous Rt. 29. From the sunlight bouncing
off the bottles to the incredible detail of the grapes, this
is "art come to life." This painting says let's stop
and take some time to enjoy the bounty of Napa Valley. This
masterful watercolor painting depicts a day of pleasure that
has included the purchase of some premium wines, fruit and cheese,
all perfect for a picnic, Napa style. |
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NEW RELEASE!!! COLOR CONVENTIONOriginal Watercolor: Sold The "Color Convention"
adds a dramatic statement of color to any art collection, and
it is sure to become a very special piece for those who love
to collect Eric Christensen art. These colorful gerbera daisies
seem to be conversing with each other as they bend to hear what
each other have to say. Some even appear to be stretching to
make their point with their neighbors in the next container!
The original, created for Christensen's mother is proudly displayed
above the fireplace in her Utah home. The complexity and texture
of the petals on this piece are amazing and have the look and
feel of velvet. The "Color Convention" stands as another
testimony to the watercolor genius of Eric Christensen. |
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NEW RELEASE!!! THE STUDYOriginal Watercolor: Sold Eric Christensen has created
another masterful work of art, “The Study”, a hyper
realistic watercolor wine art painting. European masters created
miniaturized versions of their artwork as a preliminary to the
final work, known as a study. Now Christensen has created a
modern day study of "Back to Back". In "The Study"
Christensen enhances colors and emphasizes texture and reflections
seen in "Back to Back". Composition for this also
differs from the full size painting as it features a "cut-away"
with only a few shapes and elements. One of his most technically
challenging pieces, "The Study" represents the first
time Christensen has created such an oversized detail composition
with watercolor. This truly amazing painting glows with reflections
and subtle light. |
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NEW RELEASE!!! BACK TO BACKOriginal Watercolor: Sold Those who appreciate fine wine
will love this piece featuring two highly prized wines, Far
Niente and Cakebread. This contemporary still life features
amazing detail and reflections in the bottles, glasses, and
bowl. This is one to be studied. The sofa in the background
invites the viewer to plump up a pillow, relax and enjoy an
excellent glass of wine. |
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HIGH MARKS Original Watercolor: Sold "High Marks" gets its
name from the perfect scores received by Joseph Phelps Insignia.
It received 100 points from three different wine tastings! The
composition is about the wine glasses and the quality of light
coming into the painting. The lights and darks are very important
in creating that special mood this painting portrays. Notice
the light coming through the grapes; this is one of the most
difficult fruits to paint. |
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PROGRESSIONS Original Watercolor: Sold |
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PRIVATE RETREAT Original Watercolor: Sold |
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DARK TANNINS Original Watercolor: Sold |
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CABERNET DAY Original Watercolor: Sold |
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SOMMALIER SUITE Original Watercolor: Sold |
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TOUGH CHOICES Original Watercolor: Sold |
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CELLAR SELECTIONS Original Watercolor: Sold One of Christensen's favorite
things to paint is glass and reflections. "Cellar Selections"
overflows with this detail; just take a look at the white wine
glass in the middle of the composition, you can actually see
the entire wine cellar reflected in it. This still life was
captured in a wine cellar in the Silverado Hills above the Napa
Valley. Note the highlights on the strawberries, cherries, and
glasses; each tiny highlight must be preserved with each successive
layer of paint due to the fact that there is no white with watercolor.
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ORIGINS Original Watercolor: Sold "Origins" relates
to the grape varietals grown throughout the world that originate
from Portugal’s Douro River Valley, a UNESCO world heritage
site. The Douro River Valley has been producing wine for nearly
two thousand years. This piece pays homage to the many grape
varietals from that region. Christensen paints Porto's ancient
skyline through two glasses of wine on the varanda. |
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CHARDONNAY COAST Original Watercolor: Sold The photo inspiration for “Chardonnay
Coast’ was taken in Capitola looking south toward Monterey
Bay. The central California coast, has great influence on the
chardonnay grapes grown in this appellation. Christensen paints
the last remnants of costal fog which lingers along the coast
until it dissipates as the day warms. |
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TOAST AT SUNSET II Original Watercolor: Sold “Toast at Sunset II”
is a wine still life and mini capture of a sunset. This painting
was inspired by a party at a home in Silverado overlooking Napa
Valley. At sunset the faces of friends and family can be seen
in the reflections of the wine glasses and bottles, in one of
them is the artist! |
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AT THE WINERY Original Watercolor: Sold |
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BIG REDS Original Watercolor: Sold The title "Big Reds"
refers to the big bold red Napa Valley wines: Which include
Provenance Vineyard, Vine Cliff Winery, and Caymus Vineyard.
It also refers to the big bold reds of the fall leafs, pomegranates
and the deep rich hues in the wine. |
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RUBY HUES Original Watercolor: Sold What typifies California more
than great wine and olives? Christensen saw these olives on
the way home from a gallery show and brought them back to his
studio to compose this piece. Christensen enjoys the challenge
of painting difficult organics. These branches delivered, by
presenting him the opportunity to capture the different stages
of ripeness in the olives turning from , green and ruby to black. |
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STAG'S LEAP Original Watercolor: Sold “Stag’s Leap”
was created for a couple who live in the Napa Valley, and was
named for Stag’s Leap Mountain, which is a prominent background
feature. They requested that the bottles used in the still life
represent the wineries their close friends work for. The life-like
tree bark and cheese work especially well in this piece. |
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BLUE FIGS Original Watercolor: Sold This painting was staged in
the kitchen of Eric's Aunt overlooking the Napa Valley. The
item’s in this painting have special significance as many
were gifts for example; the imported French pitcher, antique
corkscrew, bottled cranberries and kumquats. The composition
for this painting is based on the classic cross. You can follow
the lines from the rooftop on the left down the fig branch,
pass the peach to the shadow line on the counter. Conversely
the fig branch to the right follows a line that goes over the
top of the bread. Where the lines intersect in the center is
the focal point of the painting. Colors are very soothing, harmonious
and monochromatic. People who love this painting remark about
the light in the painting and often ask why the name of the
painting is “Blue Figs”. Although the figs appear
green, Eric had to use more blue paint then green to create
them. |
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TIME TO BREATHE Original Watercolor: Sold The background in this painting
features a wooden box containing chrome plated wine accoutrements
dazzling in the sun. Both the decanter and large Bordeaux glasses
provide the perfect opportunity to give the newly opened wine
"Time To Breathe." Christensen's treatment of the
glass elements in this painting are truly remarkable. |
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FROM THE VINEYARD Original Watercolor: Sold This is the view every one of
us dreams of having, sitting in Napa Valley on a sunny autumn
afternoon with a view of the western mountains. Not only can
you see yourself sitting there sipping a glass of wine, you
can literally see the pergola overhead reflected in the bottles
and glasses. This piece speaks of autumn with persimmons and
fall colors. |
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LOS OLIVOS Original Watercolor: Sold Spanish for the olives, it is
not only like the branches we see in this painting it is a sleepy
town just outside of Santa Barbara where not only do they grow
olives but some of California’s premier wines. Does the
movie “Sideways” ring a bell? |
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FRESH POUR Original Watercolor: Sold You’re in a wine cellar
buying wine, having to decide among some very popular boutiques.
While trying to decide which to buy you ask for a fresh pour
and still end up buying a case of both! |
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GOLD MEDAL WINNER Original Watercolor: Sold The name of this painting “Gold
Medal Winner” refers to the rose variety, as well as the
medal awarded this outstanding wine. It is tradition to plant
roses at the end of each row of grape vines as a "bellwether."
It is believed that the rose bush will alert vintners to diseases
or insect infestations prior to infecting the vines. |
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FLORAL OVERTONES Original Watercolor: Sold The roses were picked from a
vineyard next door to the Wine Cellar where this painting was
composed. Traditionally, roses are planted at the end of each
row of vines. It was believed that the roses would get the diseases
first and alert the winemaker to infestations of pests or diseases
before they affected his grapevines. This painting is built
around opposite colors yellow and purple which contrasts different
sides of the painting. The name of painting relates not only
to the fragrance of the flowers but also to the bouquet of the
wine, which is Rombauer Chardonnay. |
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SONOMA KITCHEN Original Watercolor: Sold "Sonoma Kitchen" is
all about cooking, sitting down with an inspirational glass
of wine and a basket of vegetables thinking of all the possibilities.
Similar to sitting down with a blank canvas and starting to
paint. |
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TOAST AT SUNSET Original Watercolor: Sold Golden light from the setting
sun gives “Toast at Sunset” its moody feel. The
feeling you have just before guests arrive, when the house and
garden are perfect, and aromas of food linger in the evening
air in anticipation of a party. You can see the partygoers reflected
in the glasses and in the wine bottles if you look closely.
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NAPA STYLE Original Watercolor: 23.5"x34.75" "Napa Style" has become
a familiar term used to denote elegance, and fine living. This
stunning composition represents Christensen's vision of a picnic
setting along Napa's famous Rt. 29. From the sunlight bouncing
off the bottles to the incredible detail of the grapes, this
is "art come to life." This painting says let's stop
and take some time to enjoy the bounty of Napa Valley. This
masterful watercolor painting depicts a day of pleasure that
has included the purchase of some premium wines, fruit and cheese,
all perfect for a picnic, Napa style. |
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SOLO FLIGHT Original Watercolor: 24.25"x35" |
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ENLIGHTENED Original Watercolor: 27"x21.5" Christensen captures a bit of
old world romanticism with “Enlightened”. This still
life staged at a beautiful winery in California’s Cienaga
Valley was designed and built with the loving hands of its Italian
winemaker. The colorful stained glass window, authentic water
vase and brilliant red table runner provide contrasting textures
for the eyes and remind us of wine country, old world style.
The cheese plate glows in the subtle light coming from the window
where Christensen has captured every detail of the Humbolt Fog
cheese. The light from the window bounces off the olive branches
and creates a translucent quality as it travels through the
Mescal grapes. The wine glasses take center stage and hold two
tastes of a premium pinot noir sure to leave you “Enlightened.” |
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DINNER FOR TWO Original Watercolor: 23"x19.5" "Dinner for Two" is
a rare, sweetheart of a painting that showcases Christensen’s
mastery of glass and amazing skill for painting organics. This
beautiful kitchen still life, is brimming with organic vegetables
fresh from the garden, some tasty cheese, and wines that boast
a rich texture with opulent flavors. Notice the subtle purples
in the asparagus spears, the texture of the roots on the radishes
and the reflections captured in the glass. This scene coupled
with a competent Chef’s imagination, is the beginning
of a wonderful “Dinner for Two”. |
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GREAT TASTES Original Watercolor: 31.5" x 23" Christensen created this composition
primarily for its color and mood. From the warmth of the sunlight
flooding though the window to the texture of the teakwood wine
carrier; Christensen captures every detail and every reflection.
The outdoor scene, with its architectural elements and the deep
purple plum tree all speak to Christensen’s love for the
outdoors especially the garden. Light traveling through the
wine glasses and bouncing off the fruit creates a sparkle that
seems to invite you to come enjoy the “Great Tastes”. |
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NAPA ALFRESCO Original Watercolor: 29" x 31.5" Eric Christensen has created
another masterful work of art, “Napa Alfresco”,
a hyper realistic watercolor wine art painting. “Napa
Alfresco” tells a story of a warm afternoon at one of
your favorite outdoor Cafés. You can hear and see the
surrounding garden café and patrons mirrored in the wine
glasses. While contemplating your favorite wine you notice the
large umbrella reflected in the tops of the wine bottles. Lost
in anticipation of enjoying your favorite wine and food you
are interrupted by the waiter uncorking the bottle. The time
has come. Bon appétit! |
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ANGELA'S ORANGES Original Watercolor: 27"x20.25" |
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MARTHA'S VINEYARD Original Watercolor: 20.75" x 36.75" |
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FRUIT FORWARD Original Watercolor: 36.75"
x 22.5" |
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Christensen began to develop his interest in painting, as well as botany, classical music, and gourmet cooking as a child in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over time he has acquired a commanding knowledge in each of these fields, which has blended to make him the preeminent artist of today. In addition to his interests, Christensen also derives inspiration from the wine country surrounding his home which is invariably portrayed in his fine art paintings .As Christensen asserts, “it’s about the lifestyle”. Once he realized that he could concentrate his passion for painting into a career, Christensen opened his own Art Gallery in Yountville, California, a small picturesque town in the heart of the Napa Valley. This venture proved very successful netting Christensen exposure in national magazines and newspapers and a national television spot on “WINE COUNTRY LIVING”. Christensen however, decided to close his gallery in 2003, allowing him to devote his full attention to painting. Christensen continues to paint stunning images that remind us of the Wine Country lifestyle and delight those who collect his art. He now offers his extraordinary artwork in galleries throughout the US. Christensen’s “wine art”” begins where most contemporary wine artists leave off. Eric loves to capture the romance of the wine country, which he points out, , “is so much more than just the wine”. Collectors of Christensen’s art typically own several of his creations and enjoy the varied themes they portray; lifelike landscapes and intimate still life paintings that incorporate a variety of elements including food, flowers or fruit with appropriate background settings.
By “pushing” watercolor
paint to its absolute limits, Christensen has invented a new
way to paint with this traditional medium. Using non-standard
watercolor paper and employing a dry-brush technique, Eric starts
out with thin washes then builds meticulously to over 30 subsequent
layers of paint. You can actually see the build-up of the paint
layers when you look closely at his originals. Eric’s
technique allows him to achieve much stronger colors and shadows
than can be found with traditional watercolor art; his paintings
actually appear more like an oil painting on canvas. Christensen
achieves his lifelike hyper-realistic images through his genius
for understanding the technical aspects of his subjects and
his dedication to capturing an image as it truly exists. His
love of natural materials particularly flowers, fruits and vegetables
also combine to make this possible. He possesses the stunning
ability to paint the subtleties of light traveling through a
flower petal or its reflection off a wine glass. Composition
is one more factor that sets Christensen’s paintings apart.
Each painting is a study in the balance between texture, height
and shape. The placement of objects in his paintings must all
make sense and represent a scene found in real life; in a kitchen,
a wine cellar, or in the vineyard. |
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Eric
Christensen - BIO MANY MORE IMAGES OF AVAILABLE WORKS COMING SOON!!!
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8678 Melrose Ave. • West Hollywood, CA. 90069
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