Florida Winefest & Auction celebrates its 2017 artist

From the rolling green hills of Ireland to the warm-colored vineyards of Tuscany, a look around the William Kelley Studio on Main Street is truly a transporting experience.

Kelley is a former student of the Lorenzo de Medici Institute of Art in Florence, where he typically spends most of the fall months every year — thus the source of much of his inspiration. He hosted collectors and supporters of Florida Winefest & Auction on Feb. 23 with his wife, Susan Kelley, and gave them a special peek at the workplace of the 2017 winefest artist.

There were several sweeping landscape works to take in at the event, but the star of the show was “L’Uva Sangiovese di Montalcino,” a 60’ x 68’ oil on canvas painting that Kelley produced two years ago after visiting Caparzo Vineyard in Montalcino, Italy. The original piece will be the feature painting and available for bidding at the 27th annual Grand Tasting, Brunch & Charity Auction on April 8.

Guests enjoyed the paintings, a sunset view of downtown Sarasota and several hors d’oeuvres made by Laura Pruitt.