Each month, Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room in Shelby Township — which has a long-term exhibit of my work in its main space — focuses on a different painting, giving guests the story behind it. The latest one is “Dancing Through the Vines.”

The story: “Celebration of life is a recurring theme in my work. When giving me advice, my wise mom, on more than one occasion, said, ‘Don’t take life, or yourself, so serious,’ and so in my typical fashion (I cant help myself), I took that seriously. Her words are something I have to work at, and remind myself of. My paintings help me do that: They are reminders to me to focus on celebration and the pure thrill of being alive.

“The title of this piece could have been many things: ‘Dancing to the Beat of My Own Drum’ or ‘Dancing Through Life’ or ‘Without a Care in the World.’ But I chose to put her in the vineyard, tying her to another theme in my work, which is wine country — another place for joyous celebration. ‘Dancing through the Vines’ is meant to remind us all of my mom’s sage advice: ‘Don’t take life or yourself, too seriously.’ Remember to take time to celebrate, to honor your own aliveness and the special people in your life.

‘She is created in acrylic, and her body has been collaged from my palette. I paint on a plastic that you can peel your paint off. The more interesting leftover paint — or acrylic skins, as they are called — end up as collage in my work, as it does here. The wine label is also a skin.

“Now that you know the story behind ‘Dancing Through the Vines,’ today I raise a glass to you, encouraging you to celebrate the small victories, and your own aliveness. Cheers!”

Size: 20″ x 20″
Medium: Acrylics
Price: $320

To purchase this painting, visit the Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room. To purchase other paintings, click here.