Red Among the Vines

Red Among the Vines, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

On a country road that leads to my brother-in-law's home outside of the city of Napa are many beautiful red barns in their fields of grapes. These barns remind me of a red version of the old black tobacco barns that used to dot the state of Kentucky.  I always loved the basilica design of these simple, functional structures. They resembled Renaissance Cathedral architectural design, such as the Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, who's steps I sat on two summers ago.

Regardless of the architectural influences, the barns are always beautiful. Red or black, they always catch my eyes as if they are protecting their field like a watchful beacon.