Catherine Twomey Contributes to a PAPA PBS Documentary

As a member of Preserving A Picturesque America (https://preservationthroughart.org/) yesterday I joined three other plein air painters at the Biltmore Estate on the Wisteria Terrace. As we painted we were filmed and then interviewed about our work and PAPA for an upcoming PBS Documentary. It was a most spectacular day, fortunately, and although I have almost no memory of what I said in the interview, I hope I did PAPA proud - I know they make me proud.

Painting, getting filmed and interviewed for a PBS documentary this morning at Biltmore. Four plein air painters for Preserving a Picturesque America hard at work.

Jeff the cameraman from LA, preparing to shoot with his 30# camera.

The wisteria that captured my heart and eye; along with Mt. Pisgah.

Almost finished, always one more thing to do....9 X 12" oil on Artefex canvas over aluminum panel with Michael Harding oils.

Work In Progress by Catherine Twomey - Pink Gladiolus!

Original oil painting in progress; this piece is 16” X 20” archival canvas on panel. It is such a joy to watch these glads spring from bulbs and gradually make their spectacular showing. I have now done reds, yellows and here are the pinks.

A Day At The Daylily Farm

A lovely, albeit hot adventure yesterday to the Blue Ridge Daylily Farm in Alexander along with the Asheville Plein Air Painters. More work to do, but such a fun group of painters in an overwhelmingly beautiful place. Oil, 16 X 20" on linen.

Preserving A Picturesque America Paint Out

Big THANKS to the adventurous folks from Preserving a Picturesque America (www.preservationthroughart.org) for the shout out! What good hearts they have: "The clouds parted and we started the day at the Reems Creek vantage point near Lake Louise in Weaverville. What a glorious morning after a rain. Artist Catherine Twomey joined us and started a wonderful piece. I can’t wait to see the finished product. Others came by to ask about the history and photographers from the local paper arrived. We also had a welcome visit from our adventure buddy Alicia. As nice as the scene was, we had to hit the road again so Mike and I did our sketches and headed out towards Marshall. The falls at the old Reems Creek Mill flows down to the French Broad River and we followed its route as it joined the French Broad River and headed north. This stretch of the hike is a little more scenic and certainly less traffic than 74A. Our destination for the evening was Walnut Island Park which had a historic display talking about the Drovers road that we are hiking. Our wives provided a welcome picnic as ended the day with a lovely sunset and welcome sleep." I wish every plein air friend I have could join us!

"Dogwood Herd No. 1" and Happy Spring

11 X 14” oil on linen over aluminum; Work In Progress

Hope everyone who celebrates Easter has a good one! Here is Dogwood Herd #1, WIP but almost finished. Headed to Biltmore today to see the blooming azaleas!

"Dogwood Herd #4" Work In Progress

This oil painting commission is moving along. This is the second layer of oil paintings, so adding more detail and adjusting colors and values.

'Dogwood Herd" Commission In Progress

Work In Progress! This is the first layer.

It has been delightful to work on these four paintings (at once) of the spring blossoms of the flowering dogwood. They will grace the wall of a historic home in Charlottesville, VA once finished. I am so grateful to the commissioner - what a wonderful way to enter into spring. May you all be safe.

Waterlilies in Oil - Catherine Twomey, Work In Progress

Enjoying gobs of water lilies this afternoon; looking to balance abstraction and reality in the same moment. Done at the Biltmore Estate waterlily pond; a gorgeous summer afternoon work in progress.

Waterlilies Work In Progress By Catherine Twomey

Trying to stay centered and peaceful today as a second impeachment is underway. It helps to think about next summer when I’ll be at the Biltmore Estate painting this beautiful Bass Pond again. This painting is a work in progress, on a large 20 X 24” archival canvas on aluminum board. It will be offered for sale soon. Thank you for your interest.

Original Art Sale 25% Off ONLY Until 12/7/20!

ONLY Monday, December 7, 2020 - 25% off original artwork sale:

https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available

Thank you so much for your support this year! It’s been,, well, pandemicky.

"Bass Pond White Lily" C. Twomey, On Offer Soon

Almost finished, Bass Pond White Lily, 22 x 28” oil on stretched canvas. Learned a LOT from working larger. Hard to go wrong with a scene this beautiful.

Dogwood Portrait, Work In Progress by C. Twomey

Mars Attacks!

Some more experimentation today, while moving towards the planets and considering the Hubble Telescope images. What a beautiful planet - and so mysterious.

Manifesto 1.0: Blue Marble Earth Europe Africa et al

Do you remember the Apollo missions? The day Armstrong stepped on the moon? Clear as a bell - I do, and those days were full of possibilities. We can get back there. “Manifesto series: Europe, Africa and the other side of the world.”

Work In Progress: "Earth Striations, Night Gyrations" by C. Twomey

The summer heat is here, and with it an unsettled mood. Getting that energy out onto the canvas is the only thing that relieves the pressure. I’m imagining the earth crunching, moving, shifting and changing. There’s the warm and the cool in flux, in contention.

Or maybe it’s because I’m having foot surgery in 2 weeks. That would unsettle anyone.

A New Earth In The Making

Getting a good start on a new earth as a part of the Manifesto series. Trying some new flow medium and viscosities. These paintings are so freeing and unpredictable - and that’s a good thing.

Work On Commission: Manifesto, Earth 1.2

Got some beautific blues and silvers lined up for work on a commission. Very excited to get going and recreate the earth. Did I mention I like blues? And the earth?

Plein Air Painting At Cram Gardens, Kenilworth Lake

Had a spectacular time this morning painting at the gorgeous Cram Gardens in Asheville. Hosted by Blue Spiral Gallery, 50 or so plein air painters enjoyed a beautiful morning and 80 degree temps to hike the estate and select one of a million lovely places to paint. Hope to go back again soon!

"Point Reyes National Seashore No. 2", C. Twomey Original Work In Progress

18 X 24” on gessoboard; acrylic and mixed media.

The way the mist would flow in from the Pacific, up the dunes and over the hills set such a mood. This cove had fighting sea lions and hundreds of species of birds that I couldn't begin to identify. Whenever I have a bad day (today, unfortunately) this is where my mind goes.