Art Exhibit: Vineyards Plus

Sonoma County wine country artist, Donna Schaffer, presents Vineyards Plus, a collection of oil paintings combining her renowned vineyard scenes and related subjects inspired by her surroundings. Vineyards in all seasons are complemented by scenes influenced by her beloved Dry Creek Valley. “The surrounding hills and meadows of Dry Creek have nitches of wildlife and California native plants that I love to capture on canvas too,” said Schaffer. “Rub-a-Dub Scrub Jays” is a delightful peak at wildlife, showing the expressiveness of this California native corvid. “Murmuration” depicts the entrancing clouds of birds – non-native starlings – in their dance above the late fall vineyards of Dry Creek. While focusing on familiar wine country themes, this collection helps the viewer appreciate lesser-known gems of this special region. Art has been a mainstay throughout Schaffer’s life. It was an underpinning to her careers in advertising and photojournalism, moving to center stage when she came to Sonoma wine country more than thirty years ago. “How could I not be a painter,” noted Schaffer as she took in the area’s magnificent natural beauty. Schaffer has been a member of the Upstairs Art Gallery for eighteen years and exhibited throughout the region, including six years as an Art Trails artist. Meet the Artist: Come and meet Donna Schaffer at the Gallery on October 3, 9 or 12.