My new garden has brought a wealth of unique and beautiful plants. The gladiolus did not perform for three years, but the wait was so worth it. This year, the second I saw these white glads, I had to paint them. I tended to them and, knowing I'd only have a few days to paint them before they faded. What greater challenge than to place them against a white board to capture the shadows and highlights? This spring, while COVID reigns, it's been rainy and quite hot. The gladiolus are now six feet tall and stretch to the sun! Most glorious of all, however, was the flowers. At the height of their glory, they reached to the sun on a lovely spring morning as I moved to not overdo them, but capture their life and brilliance using color, value and marks. Their spontaneity was a challenge, but well worth the wait. This is an oil painting that is painted on archival, Ray Mar art board. It is 8 X 16" - perfect for that unique area in your home or office that begs for new life.
flowers
"Gladiolus After The Storm" by Catherine Twomey
"Gladiolus After The Storm" - well these flowers are 6' high this year because we've had very regular storms and lots of heat. I caught these early in the morning as the eastern sun just peaked up the side of Beaucatcher Mountain (I know, right? Gotta catch your Beau...). The blossoms were so heavy some collapsed, but I've just ordered some bamboo poles to prop them up. Always somethin'! 12 X 12", oil on canvas.
Work In Progress: "White Lily" on the Biltmore Estate's Bass Pond
WIP Work In Progress, White Lilly on the Biltmore Estate's bass pond. What a challenge it is to work larger, but I'm learning a great deal at 22 X 28". So interesting how each pad has its own look and personality. If you're ever in Asheville (let's hope all this pandemic stuff is done sooner rather then later) call me; I'll show you where it is.
Auction Ending in One Day: Tulip Portrait 2.0
Oil, 13 X 13” framed in custom frame, original by Catherine Twomey.
Bid HERE
With this second portrait of a tulip I was aiming for luminosity and translucence. This tulip positively glowed! When I moved to Asheville, North Carolina, in 2016, I had no idea what was going to come up in the spring garden. As a nature-loving gardener, however, I knew the long-neglected property needed a lot of tender loving care to be brought back to life. A small pod of tulips were in the front yard, but yielded no flowers that spring. The second year I amended the soil and was rewarded with one lonely flower. This year, however, there are a grand total of three - each with their own beauty and personality. There's a lot to be said for spending days getting to know a particular flower.I adored setting up the light and angle of the buds and petals so they caught the light just so. The layers gradually built and as I worked, I was able to achieve that translucency and brilliance that tulips have. This painting is beautifully custom framed in a greenish-green patina.
"Tulip Portrait 2.0" Auction, C. Twomey Original Oil
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20 X 20” Oil on canvas.
"Homegrown Peonies" by Catherine Twomey
"Homegrown Peonies" Commission completed! 20 X 20" oil on canvas. These were my mother's favorite colors! It's humid here in Asheville today so this may take some time to dry, but it will be on it's way soon enough. I'm thinking a large painting of one of every flower in my garden may be up next.
Auction Ends In Two Days! Original Oil Painting, Award Winning Artist C. Twomey
This oil study was done en plein air at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore is an immense mass of land, on which sits the largest private home in America.
To get to the site, I hiked down through an azalea grove to this lovely pond. There weren't many people around, so I had a lot of welcome privacy. This bright white lily drew my eye to it immediately. Positioned against the lily fronds, it reached to the sky in strong contrast to the greens and blues surrounding it.
Buddhists regard the water lily as a symbol of enlightenment because of the beautiful bloom that emerges from the mud. They also consider the water lily a symbol of purity, spontaneous generation and divine birth.
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20 X 20”, oil on canvas, homegrown peonies
Commission Work-In-Progress, Catherine Twomey
Working on this commission, I selected a couple of homegrown burgundy peonies from my garden. They are willingly posing for their posterity. The energy of the petals is simply wonderful.
A Happy Client: Print Purchase of "Dogwoods Herd" by C. Twomey
So thrilled that Jackie Bovard Horewitz loves the large print of my oil, "Dogwood Herd" for her lovely living room! Made my day to add the finishing touch to her redecorating. If you're interested in prints, just send me a DM and I can help you out. Thanks Jackie! XOXOXOXO
The small original oil painting can be purchased here: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available
“Azaleas Mid Spring” Oil on canvas, framed.
"Azaleas Mid Spring"
Here in Asheville, I'm a little over 2,000', so I've discovered the garden has a lot of mountain dwelling plants. Azaleas are everywhere. For a brief week or two they're in their glory - and this peach/pink/orange grouping pulled me in. This spring the garden is something to (over) do - a quiet way to be in nature, process the pandemic, and make interesting things happen - all at the same time. "Azaleas Mid Spring" oil on canvas.
Large Scan Image of "Dogwood Herd" Now Available!
I had some requests for larger prints of "Dogwood Herd" so I rescanned at a higher resolution, uploaded and prepped the following image. Thanks so much for your interest. Find high quality large prints here: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/dogwood-herd-catherine-twomey.html?newartwork=true
"Dogwood Herd" Oil by C. Twomey
When I moved to Asheville, North Carolina, in 2016, I had no idea what was going to come up in the spring garden. As a nature-loving gardener, however, I knew the long-neglected property needed a lot of tender loving care to be brought back to life. I nurtured a small, scraggly dogwood in the front yard - and it thrived. I've been working on my oil painting, aiming for more translucency and texture. I've been painting abstracts for a while, but for some strange reason I only want to paint realistically now - just the facts, Jack. Boy what a difference the correct brushes make! This "Dogwood Herd" is 6 X 6" and custom framed, on archival board. These dogwood blossoms were right from the home-grown garden and posed very patiently. Neither of us had anywhere else to go - pandemic and all - so we spent several days exchanging oxygen and contemplating the current state of affairs. This painting is beautifully custom framed in a greenish-green patina. It is ready to hang.
Available:
16 X 20”, oil on canvas
"Gladiolus and Echinacea; The Garden" by C. Twomey, Now Available
These coneflowers (echinacea) and gladiolus popped up in my front yard, discovered the summer of 2016 after moving into my new home. Fertilization and care caused them to burst with color and height in the summer. I "planted" myself and my easel with canvas in the midst of them. As I spent hours painting, several neighbors wandered by to watch and talk, making for a lovely painting session. Bees and bugs hummed around me as I painted, but they, fortunately, were oblivious to my presence as they frittered from bud to bud. It was like being unseen in the jungle, inspired by the extraordinary beauty and peace of the day.
Dogwood Portrait, Work In Progress by C. Twomey
6 X 8”, Iris Portrait, oil
First Pandemic Posting: Iris Portrait by C. Twomey
Like everyone else, I’ve been in shock about what’s happened to the world because of COVID-19. So in order not to think about it, I’ve been painting things in my spring garden, including the iris.
When I moved to Asheville, North Carolina, in 2016, I had no idea what was going to come up in the spring garden. As a nature-loving gardener, however, I knew the long-neglected property needed a lot of tender loving care to be brought back to life. A small pod of tulips were in the front yard, but yielded no flowers that spring. The second year I amended the soil and was rewarded with one lonely flower. This year, however, there are a grand total of three - each with their own beauty and personality. There's a lot to be said for spending days getting to know a particular flower. It's pandemic time and I'm in isolation like everyone else, so I have the time. I adored setting up the light and angle of the buds and petals so they caught the light just so. The layers gradually built and as I worked, I was able to achieve that translucency and brilliance that tulips have. This painting is beautifully custom framed in a greenish-green patina. It is ready to hang.
Available: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available/iris-portrait
"Missing The Garden" by C. Twomey
It’s kind of a melancholy day with the coolness and the rain. To cheer myself up, I’m working on this abstract showing memories of the summer garden. I have some azaleas that are this deep, gorgeous pink that just popped out of my head. Think I’ll keep going with this one as the days improve.
On a lighter note, plaase check out my print sale! Prices are 30% off for all prints:
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/catherine-twomey
Happier Monday!
Catherine
Prints Annual Discount! 30% off; Catherine Twomey Art
For the next two weeks, prints are offered at 30% off. Visit this link to order, and thanks for your interest:
Offering: "Sunflower Quad" Watercolor by C. Twomey
“Sunflower Quad” watercolor, 15 X 20” on Crescent board.
Near where I live is a 10,000 acre estate that was once owned by Cornelius Van der Built and family. It's a fantastic, still privately owned "castle" of a home. I have an annual pass, which means any time I want I can go there and pretend I'm a Van Der Built.
At the end of every summer, along one of the main roads, they plant a very large, 20' wide path of sunflowers. I ride my bike there all the time just so I can enjoy them. This summer, however, I had foot surgery. A friend, knowing my love of these flowers, delivered this bouquet - which of course I had to paint. These delightful flowers really kept me focused as I recovered, for several hours a day I could experience the joy of painting them as the hours whiled away.
Helianthus or sunflower is a genus of plants comprising about 70 species. Except for three species in South America, all Helianthus species are native to North America and Central America.
Purchase here: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available/sunflowers-quad
Watercolor, Work in Progress; 15 X 20” on illustration board
Summer and Sunflowers WIP by C. Twomey
My foot is slowly healing from some recent foot surgery. I’ve pulled out my watercolors and can paint at the dining room table since I can’t reach my studio. A dear friend brought these flowers as a healing gift, and I think they’re working! I’m thoroughly enjoying depicting the personality of each flower; each petal. I’ll continue to show the progress as the work comes alive.
Sunflowers Work In Progress by C. Twomey
16 X 20”, watercolor on illustration board.
Work In Progress, Sunflowers coming along. It is definitely the Dog Days of August, and unfortunately I can’t walk without a walker yet. Surgery is hard! The foot is healing well, however, and I’ve gotten a lot of delightful gifts for recovery. These sunflowers were just so yellow, so alive, I had to paint them. Watercolor seemed the best way to go since i can’t climb stairs to my studio. I’ll continue to post updates to this challenging work.