Olivine Wine Bar

Aug 4

Illustration

Digital & Traditional Illustration Commission

Traditional watercolour illustration featured in ‘Book Of Wine’ (that’s me hard at work!)

“Olivine Wine Bar has won The Tony Hitchen award for Australia’s Best New Wine List at the Australian Wine List of the Year awards 2023. Olivine was also awarded a Three Glass rating⏤the highest rating given. Olivine thanks Wine Curator Liinaa Berry for putting together an impressive list ........and our local Pentridge artist Elizabeth Nicholls for designing bespoke maps and illustrations that swooned the judges!”

— Olivine Wine Bar

Case Study: Bringing the Art of Wine to Life

Client Overview:

Sommelier Liinaa Berry’s commission for digital and traditional illustrations for "The Book of Wine," a 50 page wine menu for the Olivine wine bar at Pentridge (associated with the prestigious TPE Hotel Chain) was a dream illustration job! Illustrating wineries, wines and food locally and from around the worlds most famous wine makers.

Project Brief:

This project presented me with a unique opportunity to showcase my skills and creativity. The challenge involved creating a series of intricate wine maps and watercolor illustrations that complemented the wine bar's style guide and olivine dark green color palette. The brief specified delivering both digital files (AI format) for the maps and traditional watercolor paintings on A4 traditional watercolour paper for the illustrations. The artwork needed to be versatile, as it would be featured across social media, the wine menu, and various promotional materials.

Artistic Journey:

I dedicated over 100 hours of passion and meticulous work to bring the project to life, creating unique maps, using Illustrator and adhering to the client's specific requirements. The continuity in design style ensured that each map exuded a sense of elegance and harmoniously fitting into the layout of the wine book menu.

For the watercolor illustrations, I embraced the medium with enthusiasm, using my skills to capture the essence of the wines and vineyards. The monotone watercolor approach on white paper offered a delicate and timeless touch, making the illustrations ideal for scanning without compromising on the intricate details.

Symbolic Connection:

One of the standout elements of the project was the nostalgic connection to the subject matter. Growing up in Red Cliffs near Mildura, immersed in grape vines and vineyards, fueled my passion for the project. The memories of watching vines and mallee roots burn in the fireplace, along with the captivating movements of the twisted vines, added a personal touch to each artwork.

Recognition and Application:

The completed artwork was warmly received by Sommelier Liinaa Berry and the wine bar's patrons. The illustrations were featured in "The Book of Wine" menu, promotions, and social media platforms.

Value OUTCOMES:

Client Satisfaction: Sommelier Liinaa Berry and the TPE Hotel Chain were highly satisfied with the artwork, as it seamlessly aligned with the wine bar's identity and vision.

Versatile Usage: The artwork's adaptability across various media, including social media, wine menus, and promotional materials, ensures its broad exposure and continuous appreciation.

Collaborating on "The Book of Wine" project has truly showcased the transformative power of art in enhancing the wine bar.

*Images (in the attached) from left to right: “Artist Paints Chablis Moreau Naude”; “Garden Lunch"; and “Medieval Town of Avignon"*

WATERCOLOURS:

Each piece encapsulates the essence of both global and local wineries, brought to life through meticulously researched imagery. The colour palette is thoughtfully curated to harmonise with Olivine's brand colours, with a central emphasis on Olivine green, using Daniel Smith Fine Watercolours, notably Cascade Green, to closely match Olivine's key brand hue. These artworks embody the ethos that wine is an art, embodying handmade craftsmanship and adding a touch of elegance.

ICONS:

A collection of icons was crafted with a nib pen and ink on paper and digitised using Adobe Illustrator. The hand-drawn essence is preserved, lending an authentic and hand made touch to each icon.

PENTRIDGE ARTIST RESIDENCY

Collaborating with the Olivine Wine Bar was a seamless and rewarding experience, facilitated by the fact that both the wine bar and my creative practice, is based within the historic Pentridge site. This close proximity allowed for easy and frequent communication, enabling us to fully immerse ourselves in the project and understand the wine bar's vision.

As a proud resident artist at Pentridge, I have enjoyed being a part of the vibrant creative community that thrives in this unique space. To explore more about my artist residency and discover the diverse practices of other talented artists offering captivating creative experiences, I invite you to click here.