"Wine, Art, and Funky Basslines: A Harmonious Trio of Senses"

Day 3/366 days of publishing articles in 2024

There's something for everyone. There's someone for everyone also. This morning I was working on this vibrant background for a painting I'm hoping to include in a series for an upcoming show at this wine shop. It's still in the early stages, so I'm not sure if it'll make the cut, but we'll see. Anyway, the idea for this painting came to me while I was jamming to some funky music. You can listen the song that inspired it all here. I don’t even know how many times I played it on repeat. I love how music inspires the most random things when I’m painting. The bassline was extra groovy, and for some inexplicable reason, it made me think about how much I absolutely despise New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wine. I mean, that stuff is funky, but not in a good way like the bassline. It's funky in a "hold your nose and run away" kind of way.

In my former life, I worked in fine dining and a wine bar for years, and let me tell you, people either love or hate New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. It’s very black or white. So, this hilarious idea for a painting popped into my head, expressing my deep-seated dislike for it. Right now, I'm just working on the background, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to capture my intense feelings about it in the final painting. But hey, I'll give it my best shot.

As I was working on the background, it got me thinking about the two groups of people who might come across this painting. First, there are those who actually like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. If they see this painting, they'd probably hate it with a passion. It might even offend their delicate wine-loving sensibilities. But then, there are people like me who can't stand that wine from that region. I immediately thought of this guy I used to work for, and I could almost hear him laughing and saying, "I have to have that!" He'd probably hang it up in his office and point at it whenever someone mentioned New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

But you know what? There's something for everyone. There's someone for everyone. It reminded me of this ridiculously funny story that always makes me laugh and keeps me going, especially when I think about people who might hate my work. So, my parents tell this story about going to back-to-school night when I was in first grade. They were talking to my teacher, introducing themselves as my parents, when this couple overheard them and came over. Turns out, they were the parents of this boy I had a crush on, Chris Miller. And boy, were they not happy. They told my parents to keep me away from their son like I was some kind of wild animal. I guess I was a bit too much for Chris in first grade. Looking back, I realize he was actually kind of timid. But at the same time, another couple came over to my parents and said, "You're Jennifer Lancaster's parents? Our son Eric just adores her. He talks about her all the time. He loves playing with her and her wild antics."

Chris and Eric, all in one moment. Dislike for me and adoring me at the same time. Two different perspectives. This story always reminds me that there are Eric people out there waiting to adore me. They're waiting to read my ridiculously entertaining articles, hang my outrageously bold, colorful artwork, laugh with me, and have great conversations filled with witty banter. And yeah, there will be Chris people too, and that's okay. Because at the end of the day, there's someone and something for everyone. You just gotta keep being yourself, you know? Keep being your wonderfully unique, hilarious, and slightly eccentric self. Keep putting YOU in the world.

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