Out of Africa

Zebra, Sabi Sands Game Reserve Safari

Back from weeks in Cape Town and two safaris in Sabi Sands and Timbavati game reserves near Kruger National Park. Just starting to get my rhythm back, and still somewhat jet lagged. What an experience.

Of course, I start with a horse's close relative, the zebra, and I met lots of them. And lions, leopards, hyenas, warthogs, elephants, Cape buffalo, wild dogs, baboons, and on and on. Never got to meet so many animals, in their world, with no barriers between us and them.

I tried to paint in the field, but that proved to be too challenging most of the time. Have tons of reference photos, however, so much more to come.

I've already started on a clay sculpture of a giraffe, and hope to continue in the sculptural vein for a while.

Baby Camouflaged Giraffe

Thrilled for the chance to go, but SO MUCH more appreciative of what I have and what the USA is.

Africa Here I Come

Heading to Africa tomorrow, visiting Cape Town, Arathusa and Kings Camp Lodge(Kruger National Park) for a trip I've been waiting for my entire life - a definite bucket list item. Watercolors & cameras coming too. Oh, & the home turf is being guarded by a huge Vietnam vet, just in case; along with two highly trained attack dogs. Just sayin.

Red Barn Star

Red Barn Star by Twomey

I am very excited to release this painting that was commissioned by a patron in the Earlysville area. It's hard to describe how picturesque these acres are, and the barn epitomized all there was to see. Morgan horses are kept in this barn, which is an original "antique" although it's been restored and is in perfect condition.

Coming from the Midwest, it's still hard for me to believe how beautiful the Blue Ridge mountains are. Throw in the history here and I get all carried away. 

This is an 8 X 10" oil on linen board.

Huckstep's Garage Redux And Beyond

Just finished this latest rendition of Huckstep's Garage in Free Union, VA. This was commissioned by the person whose father actually made the "Huckstep's Garage" sign on the right. This iconic set of buildings just sold, and I'm hoping beyond hope they won't be razed, but rehabbed instead.

This almost brings to an end a large number of commissions I've been working on since October. There's a sea change coming as well. Meaning, I'm feeling an overwhelming need to paint in a vastly new way.

Representational is good. But of late, however, it's not been enough. Having "done" representational and accurate forever, I need to dig deeper and see what's there. There's this unavoidable need to move beyond and into a previously untapped expressiveness. That, I think, will be the next step, and as per usual, I'm gung ho to get going. Look out! No promises being made, but a deluge of energy pouring forth.

Scenes From The Julia Sweeney Michael Blum Wedding

Sequence of Rick Freeman (note Men's Warehouse tux!) and me at Julia Sweeney's fabulous wedding. During the reception the lobby was set up with a photo booth and thru the night guest's souls were captured for all eternity. So here we are, from dignified to not-so. Just a tiny glass of wine and all hell broke loose. Really wish I had some shots of me dancing with Kim Dickens!
http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/04/02/an-excerpt-from-julia-sweeneys-if-its-not-one-thing-its-your-mother/ — with Julia Sweeney and Rick Freeman at Hollywood, California.

Photo Booth Capturing Our Souls

Julie Sweeney on the Today Show IN A FEW MINUTES!

Julia Sweeney appearing on The Today Show (ttps://www.facebook.com/pages/NBC-Studio-Tour/176413765742819?fref=ts&rf=154249251255451) this morning - any moment now! - here's a photo of Julia and her new husband Michael I took at their wedding in Hollywood a few years ago. The BEST and MOST FUN WEDDING ever, officiated by Father Guido Sarducci (http://www.fathersarducci.com/) with appearances by Jill Sobule (https://www.facebook.com/JillSobule?fref=ts) and other glamorous luminaries who already get enough publicity. OK, back to reality, headed to the dentist so I'm finished plugging Julia Sweeney for the moment, thank your lucky stars....

© Twomey • Julia Sweeney Blum and Michael Blum Wedding

Father Guido Sarducci

Julia Sweeney on the Today Show Wednesday 4/3/13

Julia Sweeney

Julia Sweeney will be on the Today Show tomorrow morning talking about her lovely new book, "If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother". She's the same wonderful, funny, smart, serious and genuine person that comes through in her prose. No, she's not paying me to say this, I'm just very pleased to know her and be able to read her great book. OK, I suck at the subtleties of PR. 

And if you need a great laugh, take a look & listen here.

Amazon.com

Julia Sweeney on Morning Joe

Julia Sweeney "If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother" Book Promotion

Julia is on Morning Joe right at this moment to promote her new book, "If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother".

She sent me a copy yesterday. I'm in Chapter 23 "Hinky Dink is Sinking" along with our family's history. It's a wonderful, heartfelt read that at times was difficult to read without laughing and/or crying.

It's weird - I'm SO nervous for her, and this is what she does! And she's really good at it!

Knock 'em Dead, Julia. Love, Catherine

Red Horse Barn Snow Storm Virginia

Red Horse Barn Snow Storm Virginia

The recent spring snow storm brought great destruction and with great beauty. This lean-to barn is in my back yard. It only looked this way for a couple of hours until the heavy wet snow began to melt, but it was stunning until then.

Spring Snow Storm Yellow Barn

Wakefield Farm Spring Snow Storm and the Yellow Barn

A heavy late winter storm in Earlysville, near Charlottesville, Virginia. This is a very old (1781) barn at Wakefield Farms. I loved the way I could see through the barn window to another very old structure. The trees were bending every which way, but by the end of the day most of it melted.

Interested in prints of this work? Please visit here.

Snowstorm Dappled Gray Horse

Went dog walking (leaping) through the snow yesterday. I'm lucky enough to have a horse farm in the back yard, and I came across this guy who just struck me as insanely beautiful against the snow heavy trees and pond. I loved how he just kept looking at me; I can never get horses to do that when I want them to....

To order prints of this and other work, please visit here.

Cousin Julia Sweeney's New Book Almost Released!

Julia Sweeney on SNL as Pat - Early 90's

My fabulous cousin Julia Sweeney's new book, "If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother" is being released April 1!

It can be ordered through Amazon, and not that I'm biased or anything, but I'm certain it's going to be wonderful, because that's Julia.

Have a wonderful day; I'm going to make certain I do.

Happy St. Pat's!

St. Patrick's Day Chicago, 1969, Marion Donahue Ryan Sigler in the Parade

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Here's my grandmother, Marion Donahue Ryan Sigler, happy as can be in the St. Patty's Day Parade, Chicago (State & Wacker) St. Pat's Day, 1969. That's the famous Marina Towers in the background (I think they'd just been built), along with thousands of her Irish-for-the-Day friends. Love the coat & green flowers! And yes, the Chicago River had been dyed a brilliant green, too..

Barn Door Blue Bucket Photo

Blue Bucket Barn Door

I took this photo last fall. It said everything about the farm where this was taken. The farm's owner takes meticulous care of the 400 acre property - it's just lovely. It's located in Free Union, VA which is a quaint, historic area north of Charlottesville made up of a wide mix of people.

This was a shot from the inside of the horse barn. The glowing blue bucket; the canoe; the light - were irresistible. There is no peace like that inside a horse barn. It's the opposite of sitting all day at a computer. Organic? You bet. In a very, very good way.

There may be a painting done of this in the near future. In the meantime, prints can be purchased here:
http://catherine-twomey.artistwebsites.com/art/all/landscapes/all

Have a great weekend.

Medical Illustrations & Communications

If you aren't interested in licensing my medical illustraitons, please visit the following link: https://catherine-twomey.squarespace.com/config/

The following represent a thirty year in-the-making body of work. Sectors represented include advertising agencies, medical education companies, corporations, schools, publishers, physicians, small businesses, medical legal firms, charities and more.

Published on the cover of 

Hospital Practice Journal 

article on lung pathologies.

Publication on the

Causes of Pain

; illustration showing the anatomy of the peripheral nerve fibers.

Conceptual cover illustration for a medical education symposium on 

Cardiovascular Disease

Medical legal illustration used as evidence in a automobile accident case

where the spinal vertebra were fractured.

Interactive program on the

Senses: Hearing

and the connections between the ear and brain.

Two illustrations above currently used in a charitable South African program, teaching nurses how to recognize pediatric ocular pathologies in order to prevent blindness.

Anagen Phase of Follicular Development

for a hair growth pharmaceutical product.

Pathologies of Red Blood Cells

, publication.

Comparison of normal venous dynamics vs.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

, created for medical education company for cardiovascular anatomy and physiology.

Anatomy and Physiology

book showing the

Bilipid Cell Membrane

Partuition: Nine-month Fetus

for medical legal case.

Pediatric Digestive System

for publication.

Cellular Tree Structure

for book on biology.

Animal and Plant Cells

for book on anatomy.

Equine Digestive System

for United States Dressage Federation publication.

Cruciate Ligaments

for anatomy book.

Knee Ligaments for anatomy book.

Interactive Program for

Transplant Patients: Dialysis Illustration

New Page Added: Medical Illustration and Communications

Pediatric medical education for nurses in South Africa: Ocular Diseases, Astigmatism

If you have a moment, please feel free to take a look at samples of my medical illustration and communications work:

/catherinetwomeyart/p/medical-illustrations-communications.html

Thanks!

Yosemite Merced River Wild

Yosemite Merced River Wild

Plein air watercolor painting of the Merced River in Yosemite by Catherine Twomey, 2011. Sat almost too closely on the banks to paint this. The river's pounding torrent was deafening. The hiking path had actually been washed out. 

This was the year of overflow snow and subsequent water in Yosemite, when over 14 people lost their lives trying to cross the river and falls like this one. Bear was in the air.

Wear Your Helmet USDF Illustration

Lateral Brain Structures and Skull ©2013 C. Twomey • All  Rights Reserved

Just finished this medical illustration of the lateral structures of the brain for the United States Dressage Federation Connections magazine to be published in an upcoming issue. The article will be about the critical need to wear a helmet at all times when riding. Fortunately, the USDF is changing their competition rules to accommodate helmet wearing at all levels.

Equestrian head/brain injuries are no joke. They can happen in an instant and change lives forever. So NOT worth the risk. Check it out.

Exhibition of Medical Illustration

Medical Illustration by Anita Impagliazzo  A very talented medical illustrator friend, Anita Impagliazzo, is headlining a show of her wonderful illustration work at St. Catherine's school in Richmond VA. The Mullen Hall science building first floor is filled with Anita's fantastic work in the new state-of-the art science center for high school girls. I am honored to be represented in the exhibition (2nd floor atrium) along with my peers from MediVisuals (Richmond) as well as several other independent biocommunicators.

Medical Illustration by Catherine Twomey

Hucksteps Garage III

Huckstep's Garage III

Working on another Huckstep's Garage, the third one. This is the base layer. Subsequent steps will include color corrections, blending and greater detail, especially on the garage to the right. This building really strikes a chord with people.

The focus on this version is the sign on the garage to the right, above the door. The commissioner of this painting has an actual connection to the sign maker, his father, who created the iconic "Huckstep's Garage" sign in the 1960's.

I just love the emotional human connections that keep popping up as I work my way around, painting Albemarle County.

New rumor about old Free Union History: Huckstep's, Maupin's Store, etc., known as the "Free Union Mall (!)" have all recently been put on the market and sold within days for the asking price.

I really, really, hope whoever purchased these irreplaceable landmarks decide to rehab, not replace. There's a great winery just up north on Free Union Road, The Glass House Winery that combined with this historic group of buildings possibly offering touristy services would make a great day drive visit for visitors from around the world to this area.

Quintessential Virginia, indeed.