Grapevine

On By ResaIn Music Stars

Amy Winehouse?

I think it looks like Amy… a healthy Amy with full cheeks.

She had full lips, tattoos, dark-lined mascara eyes and often a big flower in her hair.

She held her chin behind her wrist, at times.

Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote I Heard It Through the Grapevine in 1966. The next year, Motown stars Gladys Knight and the Pips had a #2 Billboard Hit with it.

In 2006, Amy and Paul Weller did a fabulous live version. I love the juxtaposition between Amy’s brave blues/jazz vocals and Paul’s straight ahead performance.

I drew Amy a couple of years ago for Holly and my series on Rock Stars.

You can check out the article on Holly’s House of Heart!

Amy Winehouse…Beyond Black

Pics taken by Resa – August 10, 2026

The Artist:

From Playdead Cult

(Pretty sure I’m right. Next time I go by, I’ll pop in and make sure)

116 thoughts on “Grapevine”

  1. Fabulous art and music, Resa! After watching the video and seeing your drawing, the street art could be Amy Winehouse. Or maybe inspired by her. I hadn’t heard that version of I heard it through the grapevine before.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Merril!
      Yes.. I feel the street art was at least inspired by her, even if the artist didn’t know it. Hmmm, is that possible?
      I stumbled onto that version of Grapevine. It’s one of those videos I watch over and over, then have to stop before I get sick of it.

      Reply

  2. This wall art portrait reminds me very much of Little Amy Winehouse, The flower she often wore in her hair. Such a remarkable talent and young life gone too soon. I feel your sketches of Amy are some of your most beautiful and reflects the youthful spirit and enthusiasm she had for life. Thank you for this dear Resa, Amy was truly a special woman and brought us inspiration in music. She and Weller’s version of “I heard it through the Grapevine “ is up there with the best , unique and gripping. I enjoyed it once again.
    xoxoxoxoxo

    Reply

    1. Little Amy… she was so tiny at the end; a bag of bones for Mr. Jones.

      I really do like the sketch of Amy, thank you dear Meece!
      AND, as soon as I am fished the new PBH/RR/AGM post, let’s start another bio for me to do the drawing for! Who should we do?

      Love this version of “Grapevine”. She was a brave singer. She tried things as she felt them – make the note or not. Love you!
      xoxoxoxoxoxo

      Reply

        1. Agree!
          Yes, let’s think about who?? So many, but who do we have a FEEL for?

          OKAY. Sent you the new drawing of Evilomlap Etagloc! I need to do touch-ups, but need your feed back!
          xoxoxox🐭❤️🐭oxoxoxo

          Reply

            1. We shall figure!
              Throw Helen Mirren into the consideration mix. We’ve only done 1 movie star… Fay Wray – from the 1933 King Kong movie.
              I do have an anecdote about working with Helen +/or that note she wrote me, thanking me for my work on her character’s wardrobe.
              xoxo 🐭❤️🐭xoxo

              Reply

                1. She won an EMMY for best actress on the show we did together. Her character went from 1949 – 1972. Lots of costumes! Peter Fonda was in that movie, too.

                  Reply
  3. Keith's avatar Keith

    Resa, Holly, well done. Thanks for the remembrance of this talented and fragile person. During the documentary my wife and i watched in the theater, I remember how people took advantage of her and she distanced herself from some good friends. I also remember Tony Bennett filming a duet with her and he was obviously troubled by her fragility suggesting she talk with someone. Keith

    Reply

    1. Thank you!
      Fragile is a good word for her. Yet, her talent was massive, so not fragile.

      Yes, talented shiny people are like shiny objects. Then the magpies come out to collect the shiny. Then the vultures come out to collect the magpies.

      What the vultures don’t get, drugs and alcohol find.
      Of course, some are not fragile, and fend off the bone collectors.

      I adore the duet with Tony Bennet. He was not fragile.
      Thank you for your visit and comment, Keith!

      Reply

    1. I adore that video.
      Yes, she is skinny, but I like skinny. Unfortunately, she was not healthy skinny.
      That painting does go unnoticed by most passer-bys. Not me of course, I could find street art hidden under a rock pile.

      Thanks about the portrait. I draw them as I feel them. Amy delivered a lot of feel.
      Big hugs! ༺☆༻

      Reply

  5. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (actually, through a WordPress email notification 🙂 ) that you created another great illustrated post, Resa. Your Amy Winehouse drawing from a couple years ago is tremendous!

    Reply

    1. Aww, thank you, Dave!
      So, I guess that makes it – grapemail? 🥴 🍇📧

      Drawing Amy was an emotionally challenging experience.
      I draw by feel. If I don’t feel it, I can’t draw it. The feelings from Amy were powerful. Kind of sad, but poignant; something to sink my esoteric teeth into.

      Reply

    1. I agree, Maggie. It’s a very cool piece of street art. Thanks about my sketch… She was a challenge to capture.
      SIGH… taken too soon, but boy, she sure left some wonderful music. xx ༺☆༻

      Reply

  10. Wow, Resa, your drawing’s wonderful and captures the spirit of Amy Winehouse! Love this colorful street art, too, which draws in the eye! She was an amazing singer and so sad what happened to her, but I guess she lives on through her music and this amazing creativity. 🪷

    Reply

    1. Aww, thank you, Ada!
      It was quite the experience working on her drawing… I felt her in me… tried to capture that.

      Yes, she lives on through her music. That is one thing about the arts… we can live on a bit longer through them.

      Who knows who will discover the book you wrote a hundred years from now? ꧁★꧂

      Reply

    1. I thought it resembled her, too.
      Thanks about my sketch. I haven’t developed any painting chops, yet… maybe one day. I did move an old canvas to my creative area, and pulled out the acrylic paints.
      Hahaha! So far I’ve painted a pair of sneakers ..not bad!

      Your paintings just keep getting more amazing. How are classes coming along? ꧁★꧂

      Reply

    1. FRIDAY?
      What happened to Wednesday and Thursday?
      Sigh!
      Thank you, 𝓖𝓡𝓐𝓗𝓐𝓜!

      ꧁★꧂꧁★꧂ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓮𝓮𝓴𝓮𝓷𝓭 ꧁★꧂꧁★꧂

      Reply

  14. This is lovely, Resa, even the poignant undercurrent. I’m glad you took a closeup of the eye, because it’s impeccably done. I’ve always loved this song, so thanks too for the video. There are so many covers of the song, and I like every one that I’ve heard, from the original to Gladys, to CCR, to the California Raisins! LOL. Hugs on the wing.

    Reply

    1. Eye, eye, matey! (sorry, couldn’t resist!)
      CCR – wow – LOVE that version. John Fogerty’s voice is perfect for rock/blues/r&b .
      Hugs back!
      (PS) next post is raccoons – I will feature your new “A Peril in Unseen Frequencies” book at the end.)

      Reply

  17. Resa, this is fabulous tribute to Amy Winehouse. The images (they look exactly like her so I am assuming it really is her) say so much on their own. There is something about seeing her remembered through street art and portraiture that feels right. She had such a distinctive presence, and these images seem to hold onto that Your portrait of Amy catches her at a beautiful moment of singing.

    Reply

  19. I think that is Amy as well. I still can’t believe she’s been for so long now. 15 years . . . that does not seem possible. As for your wonderful drawing of her, beauty! And I love that rendition of Grapevine.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Marc!
      Wow…15 years? That was one fast 15. Zoom! What was that? Your life, matey!

      Thanks about the drawing. She really moved me. I could feel her.
      GrapeFine!
      ꧁★꧂

      Reply

    1. Thanks Shey!
      Yeah… poor Amy and what a talent!
      So, I got an email from amazon announcing your new book release. CONGRATULATIONS!
      I’ll write you in the morning. Time to hit the hay with my sketch pad! xxxxxxxxxxxx

      Reply

      1. Absolutely. I LOVE her voice. And she had great style too. Wp seems to be fine now, but what a carry on. And THANK YOU re the Writer… You’re the best. She is more a night clubbing girl but there is a sort of ball scene in it. xxxx

        Reply
  23. Prior...'s avatar Prior...

    Resa, your drawing of Amy is excellent – and I watched the documentary about Amy last year and it was chilling and stayed with me. I did not see her singing Grapevine and so enjoyed the video – and mural!!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Yvette! I really enjoy drawing.
      Grapevine is a sweet performance, and the mural is so cool. It’s just up the street from me.

      PS I enjoyed Trent’s writing that you shared!

      Reply

  25. Hello Resa! I’m still playing catch-up after my family visit to New England. Hope all is well with you.

    Oh yeah, this is definitely Amy Winehouse. Like you said… she had full lips, tattoos, dark-lined mascara eyes, and often a big flower in her hair. What gorgeous art! I do remember your beautiful drawing of Amy in House of Heart’s Rock Star series; love that, too!

    ♥❦❧XOXOXOXO♥❦❧

    Reply

    1. Catch up is good,. Hope you are well, as we are.

      It’s our Thanksgiving weekend, and so I won’t be blogging much until Tuesday or Wednesday.

      Amy’s gone, but her music lives on.

      ♥❦❧XOXOXOXO♥❦❧

      Reply

  26. Resa, what a beautiful tribute to Amy. ❤️🎶

    I see the resemblance too the eyes, the flower, the attitude and especially that unmistakable sense of soul.

    Your drawing captures something even deeper. Amy had such a distinctive voice and presence, and it is heartbreaking that such an extraordinary talent left us so young.

    Reply

    1. Yes, and thank you, Mihran!

      It was a wonderful experience drawing Amy. When I do a portrait, it’s as much from feeling, as it is from my eyes and hands.
      ♥❦❧

      Reply

    1. Thanks Jennie!
      I know how you feel. Every time I find new street art I get a shiver of excitement. Finding or discovering art, in the alleys or galleries is pure joy.

      Reply

    1. Thank you Brian, and I agree!
      Amy’s in the 27 Club.
      Sigh!
      I’ll be by soon. It’s Thanksgiving weekend here, and I am behind with blogging.
      Well, more behind than usual. ༺☆༻

      Reply
  32. acflory's avatar acflory

    I confess that Amy Whitehouse has never been one of my favourite artists but that portrait of her /is/ fabulous. Thanks for discovering it and sharing it with us.

    Reply

Speak your art mind!