With a warm invitation this piece feels like “coming home”. Painted from an imagined place and inspired by the lush agricultural fields which I grew up in, in Almaden Valley, sprinkled with romantic stories of my Italian heritage.
The fog that gently falls on the mountain tops, like a blanket of love and comfort for the soul. An old family vineyard celebrating tradition values inspiring future generations to come. And lastly the red door a splash of pure love & inspiration.
Many of my childhood summers were spent in Sonoma County.
Magically this Santa Rosa and Almaden Valley have always been a deep source of inspiration for my heart & soul.
As an adult I dreamt for over 40 years, about going to my ancestor’s homeland, Italy. The birthplace of the world’s passion for art, music, food & wine, or at least I think so.
It wasn’t’ until the age of 47, on a long-awaited trip to Italy with my family, I totally understood why Sonoma County always felt like home to me.
Italy reminds me of Santa Rosa, Almaden Valley, Sonoma County, Napa, & Glen Ellen. Perhaps it’s the way the sun hits the mountains, the light of the morning, the deep blue skies, white puffy clouds, misty mornings, the golden afternoon sunlight flows through vineyards.
Perhaps Italy reminds me of Sonoma or Sonoma County reminds me of my ancestral past life existence in the homeland of my family. Either way, the arrow of my Italian Heritage and homeland has changed my heart forever.
P.S. How did I come up with the name? I was painting at my cousin Annie’s, (really more like my sister) as often I do. She lives in Santa Rosa where I spent most of my summers. She lets me take over her entire living room, backyard, and dining room and paint away. Annie’s has been a safe haven for me for 50 years. Annie is very special to me. Many pieces have been born in Santa Rosa, Anyhow, Annie always wanted a red door, but couldn’t because of Town house regulations, so one day I yelled out to her, “Annie I am painting you a red door”, thus La Porta Rosa d’ Annie or Annie’s Red Door.
