Holiday Market at Trackside Studios

Some nature-centric artists capture snowy summits, others sunlit shores. But Swannanoa painter Peggy King prefers a more peculiar subject: apes quaffing goblets of vino. “My wine monkeys are inspired by my love for fine wine, happy people, and fun,” King tells Asheville Made. “It’s a playful series meant to bring a smile to your face and, hopefully, a chuckle.” And that they do. Even the most stoic of onlookers can’t help but smirk when they see “Call Me,” which depicts a brazen baboon sipping a full-bodied Bordeaux at a bar, or “All That Jazz,” a painting of a golden snub-nosed monkey crooning between sips of Malbec. Works like these have provided much-needed levity after Helene. The storm devastated Trackside Studios, where King is a gallery artist. “… the first floor of Trackside was a total loss,” she says. “Five of my original pieces were affected. Your paintings are a part of your soul, and losing them is like losing a small piece of yourself.” Still, King is determined to move forward and has been spending lots of time in her home studio in Swannanoa. In early December, she will present new pieces during a Yuletide market happening at Trackside Studios.