UPPER LAKE >> For once, what’s on the outside of a wine glass almost matters as much as the wine inside.
That was the consensus among the dozen artists — some budding, others in full bloom — who sipped wine while painting watercolor designs on wine glasses that they got to take home.
Sunday’s event at the Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake was taught by Michelle Price of Lucerne who had only one rule for participants: “They can do whatever they want as long as they have fun.”
There did not seem to be a shortage of fun or wine among the artists.
Asked which was more fun, the art or the wine, Lower Lake resident Linda Peterson spoke for her table of four when she answered, “Are you crazy? The wine, of course. What planet are you from?”
Nancy Tolk of Lower Lake brought Peterson to the event to celebrate her friend’s birthday. “I thought it would be fun to paint wine glasses,” Tolk said.
In the three-hour class, students could use design suggestions or come up with their own creations.
Ron Marshbanks of Clearlake Oaks chose to go his own way with a tropical motif featuring palm trees on an island surrounded by deep blue water. “I had a glass of wine and this design spoke to me,” he said.
The only male in the class, Marshbanks said he came to the event “because my wife wanted to” but added, “We’ve been interested for some time in learning about painting on glass.”
Nancy Miller of Willits also came with a relative, her niece, Jen Miller, also of Willits.
“We thought we would get together and do something and this sounded like it would be fun,” Jen Miller said.
Her design didn’t turn out as she expected it would but Miller laughed it off with a sip of red wine. “I’m art-challenged.”
Nancy Peterson — yes, there were three artists named Nancy — said she liked the creativity of the class along with its joy. “It allows me the freedom to express myself and have fun with my friends,” she said.
Price said she thinks people enjoy her occasional wine glass painting classes “better” when paired with wine tasting.
“I have super fun,” Price said. “I love hearing people say they’ve never painted before and then create something beautiful.”
