Renowned Watercolor Artist Eric Christensen’s First Ever Original Oil!
That’s right! Renowned watercolor artist Eric Christensen is to feature his first ever, original oil and unveil his newest original watercolor at Gallery 1870 in the V Marketplace in Yountville. Eric’s first oil painting “First One’s” will be available exclusively at Gallery 1870.

Yountville-Napa Valley, CA – September 18, 2008 – Fear not Christensen followers, Eric is by no means changing mediums from watercolor to oil. Eric will be present at Gallery 1870 to discuss why he continues to challenge himself and what made him decide to master an oil painting. For Christensen collectors, there will be a drawing for a hand painted ornament by Christensen himself and a drawing for a not yet released limited edition painting “Reflections”.

Eric Christensen is a nationally acclaimed watercolor artist whose popular “wine art” has been featured in prominent magazines and newspapers and has appeared on the television program “Wine Country Living”. Christensen is the only known artist capable of hyper-realism through the use of standard watercolor paint. “To create hyper-realistic works that are even more vivid than a photograph, Christensen meticulously “builds” his colors layer by layer, often painting 30 to 40 layers before a work is deemed complete. . . With such concentrated pursuit of perfection, the result is shiny, reflective glass that begs to be enveloped by the viewer’s hand, and rich, intoxicating liquid that toys with the senses” (Wilfong, Tara, Rolls Royce Owners’ Club 2006 Desk Diary. Intoxicating Beauty – Sill-Life Artists Are Marrying the Pursuits of Fine Wine and Fine Art into One Visual Endeavor).

Christensen possesses the stunning ability to paint the subtleties of light traveling through a flower petal or its reflection off a wine glass. “His color palette is extraordinary, especially as a watercolorist,” says Paul Thoren, owner of Gallery 1870 in Yountville, California. “His approach of hyper-realism, which has been done with other mediums, is very difficult to master in watercolor, I describe it as passionate perfection.”

Christensen achieves his lifelike near photo quality 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.

Gallery 1870 is the home gallery for Eric Christensen and features the largest selection of wine and vineyard related art in the Napa Valley. Mr. Christensen will be appearing at Gallery 1870 on Saturday and Sunday, October 4th and 5th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Hors d’ oeuvres and Wine Tasting will be served on Saturday. The original unveiling of the newest watercolor will take place on Saturday at 2:30 PM; the drawing for a hand painted ornament by Christensen at 4:30 PM; and the drawing for the not yet released limited edition painting “Reflections” at 5:00 PM.

For more information, please call (707) 944-9670 or 1-(800) 322-1870 or visit www.gallery1870.com.

V Marketplace which not only offers the beautiful backdrop for this highly anticipated event, it also offers a variety of wine country dining, distinctive specialty shops and a complete wine tasting cellar among the picnic gardens, meandering cobblestone walkways and lovely water features that dot the grounds of this historic 138 year-old restored winery complex.

V Marketplace is located just 1 hour northeast of San Francisco at 6525 Washington Street in Yountville - Napa Valley. Take Hwy 29 to the Yountville/Veterans Home exit, 9 miles north of the City of Napa. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. www.vmarketplace.com

Photos available upon request.

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