High chroma vs. low chroma - I've deviated from my standard, higher chroma palette to introduce earth colors. A revelation! The top painting was a struggle to knock back the bright colors and took twice as long to do. The lower painting was eye-opening: I discovered colors I never would have otherwise found in half the time. I LOVE Terra Rosa! Anyway, so much excitement for one session; so little time.
still life
“Cosmos & Company” oil on linen panel, 16 X 20”
"Cosmos & Company" New Work, Catherine Twomey
These are cosmos, zinnias, black eyed susans and more; home grown in my garden. The focus is on the glorious, translucent color that saturates every bloom. The canvas was started with a beautiful two-tone layering of burnt sienna and then a cooling green/blue. Gradually the layers were built up, thinking first about how one color would interact with another before seeking out the shapes.
This series will continue the abstract nature of this interest in color. It's about understanding what makes an exciting, complex and interesting painting above all else. The emotional component, of course, is the work that went into not just the painting, but my first attempt at planting seeds from scratch. The cosmos were so incredible - they grew to over six feet tall and lasted well into the fall. This is homage to them and to their magnificent colors that brought joy to all who knew them.
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.
There was this distinctive light cutting through the water across the diagonal that I couldn't stop looking at. Everything beyond that light was shadowed and cool and my eye focused on the contrasts between warm and cool, light and dark. Picture summer on this cold winter day - but the days are getting longer. How about that incredible reflection of the one magenta/orange/whatever lily? I was so struck by this single lily, glorious in its simplicity and contrasted by the brilliant greens of the surrounding pads.
For reasons I can't explain, the more I see water, the more I want to paint it. It can be so hugely abstract, which is much of the joy of painting it.
I visit these lily pads about once a week. Every time I pass by I have to stop and wish them well.
To purchase, please click here: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available/74b6k82655yl97nkx7dsqtc8mm6gmj
What a year! I remember talking to my sis in February; wondering if we were going to have to cancel a trip to Scotland due to some strange virus. Well, we did, like everyone else. In the meantime, however, we learned to live with it and I painted and sold more paintings than I ever have - along the way finding that I'm pretty much a contemporary Impressionist-type painter. That alone was worth it! Thanks to everyone for your support, your kindness and here's to hoping 2021 is a banner year in so many ways.
2020 Summary and Goodbye; Good Riddance!
in abstract painting, abstraction, acrylic pour, alla prima, animal, art for sale, azaleas, blue ridge mountains, dog portrait, dogwood, dogwood painting, dressage, echinacea, equestrian, equine, family, flower painting, flowers, fruit, gallery, gallery art, gladiolus, horses, iris painting, japan, japanese art, juried show, manifesto painting, mars, mountains, nebula, oil painting, oil paintings, peony, plein air, print sale, rose painting, seascape painting, self portrait, sketch, sold art, spacescape, still life, sunflowers, vineyards, volcano, watercolor, watercolor painting, waterfalls, work in progress, yosemite painting
Last Sale Day TODAY, Monday, 12/7
in abstract painting, abstraction, acrylic pour, alla prima, animal, art for sale, asheville art museum, auction art, azaleas, barn, blue ridge mountains, commission, dog portrait, dogwood, dogwood painting, dressage, echinacea, equestrian, equine, etsy print sale, etsyshop, flower painting, flowers, fruit, gala fundraiser, gallery, gallery art, gladiolus, horses, iris painting, japan, japanese art, juried show, kilauea, landscape, manifesto painting, mars, mountains, nebula, oil painting, oil paintings, permanent collection, plein air, print sale, rose painting, seascape painting, self portrait, vineyards, yosemite painting, waterfalls, watercolor painting, watercolor, sunset painting, sunflowers, still life, spacescape, volcano, sold art
Please note! Today is the last day of my original art sale. Thank you SO MUCH to the collectors who've already purchased work. Here's the link, shop 'til you drop and Happy Holidays!: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available
Original Art Sale 25% Off ONLY Until 12/7/20!
in abstract painting, abstraction, acrylic pour, alla prima, animal, art for sale, asheville art museum, barn, auction art, azaleas, azeleas, blog writing, blue ridge mountains, charity auction, commission, dog portrait, dogwood, dogwood painting, dressage, echinacea, equestrian, equine, etsy print sale, etsyshop, family, flower painting, flowers, fruit, gala fundraiser, gallery, gallery art, gladiolus, horses, iris painting, japan, japanese art, juried show, kilauea, landscape, life writing, manifesto painting, mars, mountains, nebula, oil painting, oil paintings, peony, permanent collection, print sale, rose painting, seascape painting, self portrait, sketch, SNL, sold art, spacescape, still life, sunflowers, sunset painting, vineyards, volcano, watercolor, watercolor painting, waterfalls, work in progress, yosemite painting
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.
Now Available As A Print, by C. Twomey
“White Lily Bass Pond” oil painting on canvas.
Thanks to the purchaser from Ottawa, Canada (love you Canadians!) who purchased "White Lily Bass Pond" from my Etsy store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/catherinetwomeyart?ref=search_shop_redirect
Annual Etsy Store Sale!
A big thank you to my followers and friends! For two weeks only, my annual Etsy sale! Worth the wait:
https://etsy.me/3hKfTH8
Charity Auction, Original Oil Paintings and Much More Offered!
“Azaleas Late Spring” and other fantastic items will be offered at the Vesalius Trust Auction beginning Sept. 16! Preview items here and mark your calendars:
https://vesaliustrust.org/upcoming-events/online-silent-auction/
"White On White" Oil Offered by Catherine Twomey
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.
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
To Bid, click:
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