Discover Walla Walla

Sinclair Estate Vineyards recently held its grand opening for its downtown tasting room with not only a nice party and pouring of wine, but also, an art show featuring the work of Edmonds, WA artist Andy Eccleshall (Ek-ul-shail).

Eccleshall was born and raised in the U.K. before crossing the pond 16 years ago to ply his trade in the Puget Sound area. He has made a name for himself as a mural artist; you can see his work at the Sinclair's Bed & Breakfast, Vine and Roses, as he has painted beautiful tapestries in each suite.

But his true love is painting what he calls atmospherics. His definition: unusual contrasts in light created by the atmosphere. Eccleshall is particularly drawn to dramatic scenes as many of his paintings include big thunderhead clouds, but he also enjoys softer light content such as a misty morning. In both cases, he says his goal is to capture the power or softness of the natural light.

Eccleshall developed his love for portraying atmospheric light in his early teens as he soaked up the October days in England. He says that light from the England sky possesses a crispness unrivaled and that he became endeared to the light occurring just after the sun had fallen below the horizon, for it lit up the clouds with its powerful blast.

But upon arriving in the Northwest, he found a new love: thunderclouds rolling in with their fierce power. No more is this evident than in his work Storm 2. He breaks down the painting:

"I am trying to portray the power of the cloud itself. I do this by providing a minimal contrast. You have this huge, dark cloud rolling in but you see power lines in it. There are these massive, black, all enveloping thunder clouds coming in but the power lines are white and thread-like against it . . . the fineness and delicacy against the clouds . . . that amazing contrast between black and white, light and dark . . . I find that whole concept of contrast really exciting."

As we stroll by each painting in the tasting room, Eccleshall brings me to another painting, Emilya that is a switch of pace. A young woman sits on a log, gazing into a marsh with an iridescent blue sky in the back. "I had this image in my head for a long, long time", Eccleshall says. "This figure is somewhat out of place. She's at home in the painting but why is she there? She just doesn't belong there. The reason I wanted to do this is because the only source of light in the painting is the figure herself. So if you see where she's looking, she's illuminating the trees in the center of the painting. That is the only portion that is lit."

By the way, the figure in the painting is Eccleshall's wife.

Soon, Eccleshall is taken away by an adoring patron, and I recess to the pouring bar where I get a chance to sample a wide variety of reds, the first release of Sinclair. The room is filled with folks chatting, drinking, consuming the hors d'oeuvres, and buying a few paintings to boot.

The tasting room is very spacious and comfortable with a beautiful hearth along the western wall that welcomes one to sit down in the inviting upholstered arm chairs and lounge a while as you enjoy your wine. All the while, the soothing sounds of classical guitar fill the air as two musicians sit near the front window.

Just another wonderful evening in this charming hamlet we call Walla Walla.