A Creative Collaboration with Eric Wareheim
My art, on a wine label, for one of my favorite comedians.
Featured above is Under the Bam, a collaboration back in 2019 with Eric Wareheim for the Las Jarras wines label. Scroll down for the artwork, the story, and an interview I did with Eater about the collaboration.
Las Jarras Wines is Eric Wareheim's wine venture with Joel Burt. Many of you know him as one half of the comedy duo Tim and Eric. Their labels showcase great artists like Jen Stark, Chloe Wise, and Angelfire.
The Inspiration
My idea was inspired by the Two of Cups tarot card, two lovers drinking from each other's cups and sharing abundance.
watercolor underpainting
colored pencil line drawing
color explorations
Two of Cups- line drawing for alternate version
Two of Cups- monotype print
Above are some of the directions that emerged. Under the Bam had the vibrant, playful energy we wanted, so that became the label. The Two of Cups version appears in my Alphacoloring book and many have colored it in over the years.
The Name
I suggested the name Bam Bam for the wine, inspired by the T. S. Eliot line from Fragment of an Agon: “two live as one, one live as two, two live as three, under the bam, under the boo, under the bamboo tree.”
Unfortunately, we couldn’t use it due to a conflict with an existing wine. But I kept the title Under the Bam as a reference to the poem.
The Wine
This pet nat is a collaboration with Las Jarras and winemaker Martha Stoumen, made from organic old-vine Valdiguié. It’s bright and playful with gentle bubbles, dried raspberry notes, a touch of grape Otter Pop, and a savory finish.
Eater interviewed me about this collaboration, here are a few things I said that still feel true.
The project was a chance to extend the joy and pleasure I feel from my art making to a product that was itself crafted out of that same spirit, and ultimately meant to be enjoyed when it is consumed.
I use my work as a way of releasing the energy I’m holding. It’s an intuitive expression versus a cognitive one.
I choose collaborations that are driven by a shared enthusiasm for creating things that have intrinsic beauty and are motivated by the spirit of play.
Read the full interview here. → Eater
