Willcox Artist’s Work Selected for Wine Label

By Mia Longoria/SVL

Willcox artist Yolanda Van Der Lelij Klein has been selected to have her artwork featured on the label of the 2024 Rosé by Laramita Cellars, a Willcox vineyard owned by Greg Gonnerman. The selection of her piece, “Spring Time,” a vibrant and colorful oil painting inspired by her love of flowers, will be on bottles at retailers and restaurants and came after an extensive search of southern Arizona artwork for the perfect design to represent the wine.

Yolanda’s journey to this artistic milestone has been a story of passion and creativity. Originally from the Netherlands, Yolanda and her family moved to the United States in 1994 after selling their property. They settled in Willcox, where they started a small business and built a seven-acre greenhouse to grow tomatoes. After dedicating years to the business, she sold it in 2016 to focus more on her personal life. A year later, Yolanda proudly became a United States citizen. Now, after 30 years in Willcox, she considers the town her forever home and has no plans to leave.

Yolanda’s artistic journey began long before she picked up a paintbrush. She had always been interested in crafts and quilting. She joked that her children eventually told her they had enough quilts and did not need any more. In 2012, a close friend encouraged her to explore painting and invited her to an art workshop. That experience lit a spark that led her to enroll in online art classes and pursue further education at Cochise College. Over the years, her love for painting bloomed, and her favorite subjects became flowers, buildings, and birds.

Yolanda’s talent quickly gained recognition, earning her numerous art show awards and features in wineries like Golden Rule and Carlson Creek. One of her most cherished pieces is a painting of her granddaughter with a bird on her shoulder, which won the People's Choice Award. Despite her success, she remains deeply connected to the local art community, often inviting fellow artists to her home to paint and socialize.

Her passion for large art is evident in many of her pieces, including “Spring Time,” which now finds a new home on the 2024 Rosé label. Yolanda expressed her excitement and gratitude at being chosen for the honor, saying she was thrilled that her work will be showcased in such a unique and lasting way.

At 65, Yolanda remains an active and vibrant presence in the art scene, participating in at least five art events a year. Her work has been displayed in numerous venues, including the Benson and Willcox Art Shows and other exhibitions. Her passion for art will be enjoyed not only by art lovers but also by wine enthusiasts who will get a taste of her artistry with every bottle.

Coming up this week, pieces of her artwork will be displayed in the Fine Art and Photography Show hosted by the Willcox Art League at the community center from April 3-5.

Laramita Cellars will be at the Tombstone Wine Celebration April 5-6 on Allen St.