plein air
12X16”, acrylic on canvas board
Cannot complain about a day spent wandering around this ancient town, then finding this extraordinary doorway. Oh the secrets it could tell! The striking blue, oranges, yellows and whitewashed wall were wonderfully complaint as I painted away. St. Augustine was founded in 1565, and apparently there are a lot of mysteries around town.
12 X 20”, acrylic on archival canvas.
One of the most intriguing things about St. Augustine is its history. Throughout the city there are ancient, original doors guarding homes, gardens, courtyards and businesses. I wonder - how long have these beautiful doors been guarding this courtyard? 300 years? More?
12X12” archival canvas, Work In Progress.
Making some progress on this piece. Studying waves is a science unto itself, but very interesting and challenging. And that turquoise!
Very grateful to the collector of this artwork! This 15”X18” print was sold to a fine person from Parker, Colorado.
The original was a plein air painting done along Buck Mountain Road near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.
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12X12”, acrylic on canvas board.
Thank you very much to the collector from Tallahasse! This plein air painting was recently completed at one of my favorite spots along the gulf. The shade spots disappeared as the morning went on, so I painted the early and reflexively. So many wonderful people stopped by to say hello and offer to pose! There are a lot of nice people in the world.
12X12”, acrylic and mixed media on archival board.
Aviles St. in this old (1565!) town of St. Augustine is full of ancient doors and doorways of all shapes and sizes. This one in particular drew my attention - the colors, the shadows, the sunlight - all combined into a wonderful composition just begging to be painted.
Thanks very much to collector of this watercolor plein air painting. This is the Point Reyes, CA estuary, a most beautiful place full of birds, sea lions and peace. This was my first trip to the astounding Point Reyes National Seashore preserve, about 1.5 hours north of San Francisco. I hiked all over the area, and painted this sitting on a hill looking towards the cliffs, watching as the midday tide began to waft in. The gulls and seals were talking to me for the several hours while I painted.
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This lion is in the oldest city in the U.S., St. Augustine, Florida. I just loved the idea of them (there are two matching statues). They’re made of Carrera marble, and elegantly guard the Matanzas river near downtown. The city began in 1565! No, really. This is 12X12” on canvas. This is a work in progress, painted plein air.
A day spent painting at the beach. Those two palms have been friends several times this month; I love the way they’re bent in the wind yet have the best view around. I ended up talking to people who stopped all day long. My faith in humanity is restored. Everyone, to a person, was so kind, funny and interesting. Canadians, New Jersey folk, midwesterners - not a harsh word, and even an offer to purchase. But I can’t yet, I’m not finished. 12X12”, mixed media on archival board.
“Two Boats, Bridge Street”, 12X12”, mixed media, work in progress
This is a work in progress; I still want to abstract the background a lot more. Painting here was interesting - there’s the Bridge Street Inn Bar right around the corner, so some rather happy patrons stopped by to talk as I painted. It’s a lovely spot as the pelicans dived around me and boats moved in and out of the harbor.
There is so much life going on at the beach. I’m surrounded by sun bathers, dune buggies, bicyclists and hikers. Everyone is happy, including me. This mixed media painting is 12X12” on archival board.
When I set up this morning it was the shadows and contrast that intrigued me. I’ve painted enough palms in the last few weeks to finally have the hang of their shapes and fronds. That’s the Gulf of Mexico beyond the old pier, where it’s too dangerous to swim due to the riptides. 12X12” on archival board.
“Coquina Beach, Two Palms” 12X12”, archival canvas on board
I’m about bowled over today at 16 knots. The clouds are scuttling across the bright sky and my umbrella wants to fly away. What can I say - enjoying every minute? Getting used to these new paints and how quickly they dry in the wind.
It’s always wonderful to get back to some plein air painting. I love when people walking by stop and comment while giving encouragement. The Gulf of Mexico was wild today, with 3 - 4’ waves and lots of surfers in wet suits (it’s got to be cold) trying out their boards. I loved this jetty jutting out into the ocean, and the way the waves angled off of it. This is a WIP/Work In Progress, but it’s getting there.
12X12” on archival canvas and board.
Been painting up a storm over the last three weeks - all outside, plein air. Trying some new paints, a mix of oils and Open Acrylics, so I’m getting there and beginning to understand the opacity and drying times. I stood next to the Bridge Tender Bar where 60’s Jimmy Buffet music played and the local guys kept asking me if I was painting them. A good day. 12X12” on archival board.
12X12’, painting at Coquina Beach Park
I wish I knew enough about palms to guess how old these two are. They’ve (obviously) bent in the wind and are guarding the inlet into Sarasota Bay. The Bay, I recently learned, is only about four feet deep and full of grasslands and wildlife.
A year of joyful art making, experimentation and an exciting new direction. Thank you to the supporters, collectors, encouragers and laugh-makers who inspired me along the way! Happy Holidays and a 2019 with less drama and more truth-telling.
Thank you to the collector of this piece, painted live along Skyline Drive in the Piedmont Area of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Shenandoah National Park. Made me feel like an angel as the warm summer breezes overcame my easel and me. I loved the patterns; the repetition of shapes and most of all, the color of these mountains. See the sheep cloud to the upper right? My eye finally found him after I thought I was done, but he's welcome to stay.
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I’m missing summer right now - it’s about 20 degrees out, with a big wind - and this is one of my favorite summer places. Idyllic, yes, but puts a brain in a good place.
Now is the time to purchase original art by Catherine Twomey, including this plein air watercolor painted on the Tamales Trail at Point Reyes, CA in August. Reduced to $75 for a limited time only. The painting is unframed and about 11X7”.
Purchase here: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/new-products-3/at2ehgvnes8270cmkobiuxq82z9le9
