Ah, painting challenges. I painted the framed piece on site maybe 9 years ago. I was dissatisfied with it, & it never sold. I finally listened to my gut: the mill wheel was overly charming, busy and saccharine - it has to go. It's the waterfall I loved; so back to some surgical work to bring it all alive. You never, never know enough.
contemporary art
"Beaver Lake, Early Morning" - Sold Adventure
Sold! I thought this piece was stolen. Honestly, it wasn’t where it was supposed to be in one of my galleries. It’s one of my favorite pieces, a plein air from Beaver Lake in Asheville. Well, the gallery had put it in their front window, didn’t let me know, someone spied it and bought it yesterday. I only found out where it had been placed when it sold. Glad it worked out but oh, oh, the angst. Thanks for the support.
"Ribbon Falls" C. Twomey, Sold
“Ribbon Falls” is an 11 X 14” pigment on linen, sold to a collector in Connecticut. Much appreciated! From the Blue Ridge mountains, spring time run-off.
Tomorrow On Wescover
Check out this listing tomorrow, 4/30: https://www.wescover.com/items?q=catherine%20twomey
“Beaver Skull, Winter Light”, 9/5 X 9/5” Contemporary fresco. Having visited this favored beaver skull before, this time I used a new medium (watercolor), new board (Aquabord) and winter light. For whatever reason, this time the beaver's smile became more apparent. I have a feeling she will be painted again. Framed in a beautiful handmade burlwood frame, ready to hang.
Keywords: animal, animal portrait, fresco, skull, anatomy, animal skull, beaver skull, creative, creativity, catherine twomey, medical illustration, rendering, wash, watercolor, teeth, eye socket, canines, contemporary art, contemporary artist
Thank You To The Dog and Pony Show Gallery!
So grateful for the sale of “Savannah Companions” by The Dog and Pony Show Gallery in Asheville. I so love that a collector found this gentle scene spoke to them. Please visit https://www.dogandponyshow.com/collections/catherine-twomey-contemporary-frescos for additional contemporary fresco pieces.
“Savannah Companions”, 12 X 12” contemporary fresco on Aquabord. Original Contemporary Fresco from painting references photographed in Kruger National Park, South Africa. The setting sun highlighted the contrast of the zebra’s stripes against the golden hour light. The herd was relaxed but watchful and able to run at a moment’s notice. This painting is archivally varnished and requires no glass.
“Many Glaciers Mid Afternoon” - watercolor, 10 X 14” on Arches Archival paper
Glacier National Park Paintings by Catherine Twomey
I just returned from a couple of weeks visit to Glacier National Park in Montana. It was a bucket-list trip, and so worth the effort. Daily hikes and painting sessions made the trip memorable. Only ran into one grizzly bear (one is enough….) and saw lots of mountain goats. This painting was from the front of Many Glacier Lodge, where lots of glaciers still exist and are so beautifully clean and reflective.
"Orchard Pass" Original by Catherine Twomey
Early spring venture up to a mountain pass orchard near my home. Painted plein air, in a field next to the apple trees. I was struck by the white blossoms of the apple trees against the receding mountains. This is an original painting on archival Crescent board, and is ready for framing.
Now available at this link: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available/orchard-pass-watercolor-7-x-10
"The Secret Forest" Work In Progress by C. Twomey
WIP of the secret forest. The intriguing thing about the distant light is that’s a wall of falling water that feeds the creek. Where bears roam. 18 x 24” oil on linen panel.
Oil, 18 X 24”, the forest below the dam. Where bears roam.
Studio Sale on etsy.com (catherinetwomeyart.etsy.com) Now!
Lots of "Thank you's (or youse)" lately to the wonderful people who support my artistic efforts and purchase my prints and/or original artwork. You're inspirational, motivational and downright kind! Grateful - more so than you can imagine. Etsy: catherinetwomeyart.etsy.com
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.
"Island Edge" by Catherine Twomey Sold!
THANK YOU to Blend Gallery at 67 Biltmore Ave (Asheville) for the sale of "Island Edge." This original oil was painted plein air at Bass Lake in Blowing Rock, NC - obviously a beautiful, serene place filled with happy walkers as storms came and went.
"Center For Humans and Nature" Awarded Artworks by C. Twomey
Thank you to the Center for Humans and Nature (https://humansandnature.org/) for the unexpected award for six of my works to be published in 2023! What a terrific way to start the New Year! Citation: A version of ‘Accelerating’ first appeared in a
publication of the Center for Humans and Nature Press and is revised and
reprinted here with permission of the Center for Humans and Nature Press.
"The Island" by Catherine Twomey
"The Island" is a plein air oil, 16" X 16" in Blowing Rock, NC. It was a blustery, sometimes rainy day, but there is nothing like capturing the light on site. Thank you to the collector from Hewitt, NJ for their purchase!
"Sea Leveling" by Catherine Twomey Through ERA Contemporary Gallery
Thank you to ERA Contemporary Gallery in Philadelphia, PA for featuring my painting: "Sea Leveling" - now on offer. Check it out: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWfQJcMZKh/
Maple Ridge Craggy Gardens Named To Collection!
The international gallery, Singulart, has named my work “Maple Ridge Craggy Gardens” to their Fall Harvest Collection! This piece is in oil on an archival panel, and is professionally framed and ready to hang. For additional information, please visit:
“The Marked Tree”, 12” X 16” on panel
"The Marked Tree" Vineyards by Catherine Twomey
A memory, a feeling, a brief moment of life - this was painted at Marked Tree Vineyards, where I was surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, happy somewhat inebriated people, a good panter friends. I was so drawn to the way the vines pointed at the namesake tree - and the colors, the rich colors of the countryside on a gorgeous summer day.
“Sequenced”, 24” X 36” pigments, iridescents, metallics on aluminum panel, framed.
"Sequenced" Original Painting by Catherine Twomey On Offer
The luminous sky and mountains at over 6,000 feet can overwhelm. Couple that with the late spring blooms of the rhododendrons, and there is a sense of floating high above the clouds as the sun descends. I'm inspired by the mountains and sky, of course - but the flow of the pigments themselves is so freeing; so abstract. It's like it helps makes sense of all of the complex layers and diffuse light spreading through the clouds. Each layer is constructed
separately using pigments, tools, an airbrush and gravity. Although the end result appears realistic, on closer inspection it's made up of pours, ridges and glowing pigment. This 24" X 36" original painting will infuse your room settings with good taste and luminescence. It is framed in a lovely copper and black floating frame.
"Between Storms" Plein Air by Catherine Twomey
“Between Storms” is an 8” X 16” oil on archival panel.
The weather is so incredibly variable in the mountains, and this day was no exception. I made my way around a lake, Bass Lake, in Blowing Rock, NC - Blue Ridge mountains. Surrounded by threatening cumulous clouds, I quickly set up and immediately planned out the composition. Suddenly, sunlight flooded the island in the lake's middle, and I knew I had my painting. The flashes of light green and blue highlighted the dark pines against the mountainside. The light fell on a downed log, prompting a highlight that finished the piece. As dozens of people made their way past and around the lake path, it felt like we were all in it together - a race against the lightning in an electric moment.
"The Women's Show" June 9, Blowing Rock, NC!
"Monumental Oak", a 22" X 28" oil on canvas, will be offered at "The Blowing Rock Women's Show" at the American Legion Building in Blowing Rock, NC - June 9th! We are raising funds for women in need and would sure like to meet you! There will be many other artworks, so come on up! Blowing Rock is at about 3,500', where the views are marvelous and the air is clean! Thanks for your consideration.
“Monumental Oak”, 22” X 28” oil on canvas
"Upper Falls Early Spring" by Catherine Twomey; Available!
North Carolina/Tennessee border. Imagine sitting for hours along the banks of a somewhat hidden creek. There are fishermen there, friendly and pulling trout out of the clean, clean water. The bugs aren't out yet because it's early spring; it's a bit cool in the morning but warming as the sun ascends. You're soothed by the literally babbling brook while completely absorbed by the task at hand. A most glorious day. Sometimes the shapes are as mesmerizing as the sound of the water! Watercolor, gouache, Arches paper, about 8" X 10".
To purchase:
https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available/upper-falls-early-spring