What is the biggest nightmare for a wine lover? Wine stain! too hard to avoid and get rid of. But in case of Amelia Fais Harnas, wine stain is an amazing form of art. Amelia who is originally from Corning, New York makes stunning portraits using wine. Amelia makes her portraits on pieces of white cotton by first drawing in wax and then pours layers of red wine on top. 

From being a freelance artist to a gallery manager, a performer to a model, Amelia in one artist who enjoys variety. Amelia is intrigued by the challenge of controlling the unpredictable nature of wine which is the reflection of a person's character. Apart from making portraits, Amelia is a wine lover and she makes sure to pour herself a glass of wine when she is at work.

Initially, when Amelia started using wine for her portraits she used to melt the remains of used candles in a coffee can and painting that wax using a brush over cotton sheets. Her first portraits were small in size and the stains were made with a bottle of French Cahors.  Her largest portrait till date is 3 x 5 feet. Her portraits require certain climate conditions and are stored more carefully than other artwork. Read on to know more about Amelia and her stunning wine portraits. 

I can't really say that anything inspired me to work with portraits. It's more that portraits are the only subject matter that hold my attention and bring me the most satisfaction. Using wine more or less resulted from an afternoon of letting my mind wander, playing with what-ifs. I have also painted using more traditional media, like watercolors and oils. 10 years ago, I studied with Thomas Buechner, who had extensive knowledge of old master techniques.

3. Could you please elucidate on the techniques and equipments you use to create these amazing Wine Stains? Describe to us how you go about creating each wine stain.

I use a wax-resist with red wine as my dye. I either/both draw with a tjanting or paint with a brush dipped into very hot melted wax. I usually work on 4 to 5 pieces at a time, rotating the pieces, working layer by layer, blocking out the lightest areas to the darkest areas. The process is most efficient at a room temperature of about 80 degrees F. I will sometimes draw the portrait straight onto the cloth with a crayon, or sometimes I do a full charcoal drawing and trace from that onto the cloth. I am continually working to hone certain processes while also still experimenting and inventing variations. This part of it is very exciting to me.

5. On an average, how much wine do you use to create one Wine Stain? Tell us something about your wine collection. Being a wine artist could to share your knowledge of wines with us?

A 24 x 18" wine stain takes about two glasses of wine (one glass for the wine stain, and one glass for me...). I don't have a wine collection, but I do appreciate wine. I learned a lot about pinot when I lived in Portland, OR, but I also am learning a lot from my new connections in the Finger Lakes region. I hope to learn more about French wine in Paris...!

6. What is Sketchbook all about? Why not sell eBook versions of it on your own website? 

My sketchbook is my way of keeping track of my life. Some people think I'm very brave to publish excerpts, but my life isn't so different from many others. I fall in love; everyone falls in love at some point. I doubt my abilities; we all question our abilities at some point. What is there for me/us to keep secret? The first two sketchbooks are, in fact, available as eBooks on lulu.com.

The subjects in the wine stains are typically either dear friends or self-portraits. I did do a group of portraits of a wine maker using his wine. The compliments I like the most so far are about how original they are. It's tough to be original these days with so many people with fantastic minds all whirring away...

8. What do you enjoy the most when not working on Wine Stains(apart from drinking the wine....haha)?

Aside from wine stains, I spend a lot of time traveling (soaking up ideas) as well as collaborating. I've long enjoyed providing harmonies (being a soloist is sometimes too much!).

It's very hard for me to single out artists whom I admire. I very much admire my close friends who are actively creating, but don't wish to get in trouble by leaving anyone out! I am also currently greatly influenced by the artists in dOCUMENTA (13) - Cardiff & Miller's videowalk in the Hbf most especially. But I still haven't seen everything - even after a full week! If I could crawl into the brain of one artist, I'd be very excited to walk around inside the brain of Jean Cocteau (another variety-seeker).

10. What advice would you like to give to a budding and aspiring artists?

My advice to budding artists (and this includes myself!!): Be mindful of the beautiful and blurred line between work and play.