THAT’S SOME PAINT JOB The painting that eventually became the label for Red Truck Wines sprang from artist/illustrator Dennis Ziemienski’s love and appreciation of the California landscape. The bright blue sky, golden hills and crisp California light with its intense contrasts are images that consistently appear in Dennis’ work. His ability to create a vision that lures the viewer into the picture, that creates a desire to 'be there,' has certainly contributed to Red Truck’s popularity.

A native San Franciscan now based in Sonoma, Dennis graduated cum laude from the California College of Arts and Crafts. Interest in representational drawing and painting eventually led him to New York and a successful career in illustration. His paintings and illustrations have been in many exhibitions and have won numerous awards. Dennis is known internationally for his work with Time-Life, Levi-Straus, Rolling Stone and the New York Times. His compelling poster images include the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Super Bowl XXIX, Sonoma Salute to the Arts, the Napa Valley Mustard Festival, and the California Bear Flag Sesquicentennial. His paintings are featured on many well-known book covers including Armisted Maupin’s "Tales of the City."

Dennis’ strong and richly colored images borrow much of their inspiration from early 20th century painting and posters. The major influences in his paintings are Maynard Dixon, Edward Hopper and Maurice Logan. Fittingly, all were illustrators at one time during their art careers.

Currently, Dennis is working on commissioned paintings, gallery shows and murals. Examples of this can be seen at the J. Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery in Tucson, AZ and Santa Fe, NM, the William Lester Gallery in Point Reyes, CA, and the Breakaway Cafe in Sonoma, CA.