This piece titled À Votre Santé (To Your Health) is inspired by a wine rack from a Chattanooga restaurant. Intrigued by its patterns and colors, I began working on the painting just as COVID-19 was beginning to spread in the U.S. During the pandemic, it became evident that women significantly increased their alcohol consumption—by 41% compared to previous years.

According to a RAND Corporation study, women reported 41% more heavy drinking days during the pandemic than they did before. Additional research indicated that the psychological stress associated with COVID-19 contributed to this increase in drinking for women, but not for men.

Hearing repeated reports about the overuse of alcohol during this challenging time fueled my inspiration as I worked on the painting. I thought about what working moms (and dads) with school-aged children were enduring; the upheaval in their lives undoubtedly created more stress than they had ever experienced.

I sincerely hope that the overuse of alcohol has decreased post-pandemic and that we are moving toward a state of normalcy and good health! – Ann