Destination Napa

“There is nothing quite like a summer’s day in Napa.” – Eric Christensen

Exhilarating and intoxicating. Lake Tahoe evokes these emotions in most frequent travelers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. To the South, amid hiking trails and ski resorts, one will find the pleasant surprise of Marcus Ashley Fine Art Gallery. It is a destination worthy of every tourists’ precious time if only for the Eric Christensen art collection it exhibits. These hyper-realistic watercolor paintings of natural landscapes and still life portraits are the ideal conversation pieces in contemporary homes, fine dining restaurants, and countryside hotels.

On the other side of California, the wine region of Napa Valley offers a different experience. Picturesque vineyards encourage rest and relaxation. It is Christensen’s muse, and Destination Napa is his tribute. Capturing the elegant charm of the hillside region, he presents its abundant produce on a picnic table. A vase of freshly cut lavenders, a sparkling silver pitcher, a decanter of wine, a bowl of plump grapes, a slab of cheese on a wooden board, and of course, Cabernet in a bottle and two long-stemmed glasses. One need not wonder what lies across this setting. The spectacular landscape is rendered by the artist in stark detail on all the glass surfaces.