Planning 2014; Sheep Cloud Mountains

Oil Painting of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Blue Skyline Sheep Cloud
Above, 5" X 7" oil on linen board; painted live along Skyline Drive in the Piedmont Area of Virginia, 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.
Today: an auspicious start to the New Year 2014, Year of the Horse, spent meeting a lovely group of fellow artists. We're planning an upcoming Studio Tour for northern Albemarle County, north of Charlottesville, for either the spring or the fall. Cannot wait to get to know such an inspiring group of fellow artists, including watercolorists, painters, weavers, art manufacturers and more.

All In The Family

Resume/Curriculum Vitae


Curriculum Vitae

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

• One Person Show, Mud Dauber Gallery, Earlysville, Virginia, October 2012 - current. 
• TED Conference: invitation and exhibition of work in the medical division, TEDMED (Technology, Information & Design) (http://www.ted.com) as a participant, San Diego, California, 2011
•  Winner of the 2010 ArtInPlace Mural Competition (http://www.artinplace.org) Charlottesville, Virginia; Barracks Road, Charlottesville, 12 X 24' on Aluminum
•  Fellow of the Association of Medical Illustrators (FAMI), 2009
• Exhibition at the William H. Benton Art Museum, Connecticut
• Numerous works in the collection of The LLoyd Library and Museum. The Library holds, acquires,  preserves, and provides access to a wide variety of disciplines that fall under the following subjects: natural history, botany, pharmacy, medicine, scientific history, visual arts.
• Winner of the American Horse Publications Annual Awards, First Place in Illustration for "Da Vinci Horse"
• Exclusive medical illustrator for Roche Pharmaceuticals interactive multimedia program, OTIS: Organ Transplant Information Systems –Award-winning program distributed worldwide for heart, lungs, liver and additional transplant patient education
• Founding Member, Illustrators Partnership of America, (Top 100 Illustrators nationally)
• Salon judge and presenter, 2007 Association of Medical Illustrators Meeting, Bozeman, Montana
• 17th Annual International Exhibition of Animals in Art - University of Louisiana Veterinary School, entry juried in - only 85 accepted out of 900 applicants
• American Horse Show Association "Buy" review of The Guide to Equine Electrolytes: What Every Owner and Trainer Should Know
• International Museum of Surgical Science, juried invitational show
• Association of Medical Illustrators, Award of Excellence; Concepts in Biology
• The RX Club/Art Directors Club, NYC, Best of Medical Art, Award of Excellence
• Association of Medical Illustrators, Award of Excellence; Human Anatomy
• Association of Medical Illustrators, Award of Excellence; Biology: Visualizing Life
• The RX Club/Art Directors Club of New York City; Award of Excellence
• Association of Medical Illustrators, Award of Excellence; Human Anatomy and Physiology


WORK HISTORY (edited)

CATHERINE TWOMEY, LLC 2009 – 2013
Fine artist specializing in plein air, landscape and equine, interpretations. Board Certified Medical Illustrator, Fellow of the Association of Medical Illustrators, Founding member American Society of Illustrators Partnership.



ARTISTS ART, LLC 1999 - 2010
Founder, President
Specializing in the logical, concise conveyance of medical illustrations 
and communications for the healthcare industries.
Clients:
  • ·  United States Dressage Association
  • ·  National Science Foundation
  • ·  EndoArt Corp., Zurich, gastrointestinal gastric band illustrations
  • ·  Roche Pharmaceuticals Organ Transplant Information Systems
  • ·  Pfizer Animal Health

SYBERACTIVE, A DIVISION OF HEALTHWORLD, INC., 1996 – 1999
Interactive Managing Director
Clients:
  • ·   Healthworld Intranet Website, medical advertising agency
  • ·   Clinical Challenges in Decompensated Advanced Heart Failure, Sanofi-Winthrop
  • ·   Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Interactive Sales Training Program, Zoloft
  • ·   Procardia Pfizer Pharmaceuticals sales training program
MEDPRO COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 1991 - 1996, 1999
Founder, President
  • ·   Acquired by Healthworld, Inc., in 1996
  • ·   Production of pharmaceutical illustrations and audiovisuals
  • ·   Medical consultant to film production companies, physician practices and law firms
  • ·   Art directed and illustrated major chapters of numerous college textbooks and reference manuals
  • ·   Illustrations published in The American Journal of Cardiology, Resident and Staff Physician, NBC/HOME Show and Self Magazine
  • ·   National Feature Editor, A.M.I. News
ADDITIONAL
  • ·    Member, American Horse Publications Organization
  • ·    Board Certified Medical Illustrator, member of the Association of Medical Illustrators
  • ·    Fellow of the Association of Medical Illustrators (FAMI)
  • ·    University of Illinois, B.S. in Biocommunication Arts/Medical Illustration. Coursework in instructional design, illustration, design, surgery, exhibits, audiovisual production and photography.
  • ·    U. of I. Medical School Sciences: human gross anatomy, physiology, neuroanatomy, histology, embryology, pathology.
  • ·    Northern Illinois University Graduate School, M.S. in Art Education, Summa Cum Laude.

Sneak Preview, Equine Sculpture


Here is a first preview of a sculpture (equine ecorche) in the planning stages. It's been a long time coming, but finally the timing is right. I've worked out the skeletal system, cervical region. I've studied the muscles, origins and insertions as well as the proper bend at the poll. Yes, this is going to be the "This is how your horse should look" sculpture, the first in a series comparing correct versus incorrect riding. It is very exciting to finally have arrived here, and I've got a sample of the porcelain I'll think I'll be working in.

At the moment, the other side of the head and neck will be aesthetically realistic. I'm thinking this will be the size of a bookend, and can be used as a teaching tool and/or as art. Cannot wait to get sculpting!

"In The Master's Hand" Oil on Canvas

In Hand Dressage With The Young Horse
In The Master's Hand
Been working diligently on this commissioned piece, and starting to get it to the stage where I'm satisfied. The light has been a challenge but I'm starting to like the warmest color on the horse's hind end, as well as the tail highlights. I've also emphasized the little "flip" at the bottom of the tail that emphasizes the cadence of this dressage movement.

I love the attempts by this young warmblood gelding to piaffe by lifting his left hind as high as his right front foot. That, and the fact that the trainer patiently waits for the response to his aids. There is nothing quick and easy about dressage, but patience certainly helps and this image shows that.



Dreaming Beyond Cancer

Watercolor by Catherine Twomey
Dreaming Ocean

I had to get out the paints this morning to get down a dream vision. What a contrast my dreams have been lately to those before September 18, when kidney cancer was still a part of my husband's body. From dark and unsettling to calm, beautiful, light and well, dreamy - I much prefer the most recent dreams.

This is a watercolor on Arches watercolor paper. The swelling wave behind the breaking one brings an anticipatory tension to the seascape. It's difficult to describe the sense of relief we carry today, and how previously "critical" problems have been minimized.


Piaffe in Hand

Catherine Twomey Original Art
Piaffe in Hand
Since late August, my family has been in unexpected, unwanted yet very instructive crisis. My husband was diagnosed with kidney cancer while being checked for a minor intestinal upset. That led to surgery, which was unbelievably successful, and now a peaceful recovery.

In the meantime, I have been working on this commission of a master German dressage teacher in the initial stages of teaching a gorgeous warmblood to piaffe. I love the intimacy between the two as well as the light cast over the hard working pair. This work was a wonderful distraction during a very difficult time.

I am slowly coming to some conclusions and insights about what we just went thru, but that will make a later blog post. For now, I hope you enjoy this painting and the mysterious connection between humans and animals.

Making It Thru Kidney Cancer

Cleveland Clinic
Post Surgical Recovery Floor 9, Cleveland Clinic
This was the infamous day of September 18, 2013, followed by recovery and the trip home.

 My husband was admitted for surgery at 6:30 a.m. at the Cleveland Clinic. Surgery with the Director of Oncology, Dr. Andrew Stephenson, began at 9:27 a.m. Here is a synopsis of that day as it unfolded:

 12:20 p.m.: "At the Cleveland Clinic, surgery is about to end and all has gone well. Will talk to the Dr. soon. Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, mantras, etc.; this has already been a very long day but we're encouraged. Listening to a beautiful violinist next to a waterfall helps soothe the soul."

 1:45 p.m.: "Dr. able to save over 90% of the kidney. Clean margins all around, a very good thing. Rick is sleeping & I can see him soon. 

Joyful! Cannot thank everyone enough for pulling for him!"

 September 19, 11:00 a.m.: "Rick is doing great! Rick is now in a regular room and has walked a couple of times today. 

The now-removed tumor on the kidney had been pushed up very close against the inferior medial lung/pleura, and when they removed it the very bottom tip of the lung was "pin-pricked" causing a 10% collapse of the lung, called a pneumothorax. They didn't even know it had happened until after surgery & an x-ray. He was breathing just fine, but was put on oxygen just in case.

When I arrived today the oxygen was removed and Rick was alert and conversational. The lung should quickly heal by itself. He's only in pain when trying to get up, but that's to be expected. Rebuilding the core muscles will take some time, but he's on his way already.

We're heading in again tonight to see him. Had a good cry of relief last night, and a long nap this afternoon. No word yet on when Rick can go home, but possibly Saturday or Sunday. Rick is promising not to over-do it, and at the moment I'm personally controlling his electronics. That is, unless you've already received an e-mail from him from yet another new thingy he'd hidden under the gurney!

Thanks again for your thoughtful and delightful notes; it's hard to describe how much they mean to us."

 September 21, 5:00 p.m.: "I'm on my way to pick him up and bring him home. All systems are go, and the Dr. has now given him a 95% cure rate. I have nothing but great things to say about the professionalism, thoughtfulness and service we've gotten from the clinic since Wednesday.

I know Rick is feeling much better because he's now starting to ask for his electronic devices (music & earbuds first), which he'd banned from his sight until he could handle them. I bet he'll be commandeering the TV for football when he gets home, and that (for once) will be music to my ears.

Thank you all for your well wishes, flowers, upbeat messages and positive vibes. You've helped enormously and we will never forget it. Hug the ones you love and tell them that. You never know."

And then the bomb dropped....

Baseball Flying

Football Flying

Well it's been a while since I've been able (or wanted to) post. I spent the start to middle of the summer working on a long-awaited project: a horse sculpture project that I will eventually launch on a crowd funding site. I've also been taking a ceramics class. Then, another unexpected bomb dropped.

Three weeks ago my husband called from where he's working in Ohio, starting out with: "I've had a really bad day." That was the understatement of a very up and down year. He'd experienced some intestinal pain, and needed to see a doctor. Not yet having a GP in Ohio, he was sent to an ER. That happenstance probably saved his life.

A CT scan revealed a minor intestinal infection. It also showed a 4 cm probably malignant tumor on his right kidney.

Fortunately, I have friends in Cleveland with deep medical backgrounds. They referred us to the Director of Oncology/Nephrology at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic. If my husband was going to have to have cancer, this was the best place to be: they perform over 4,000 of such surgeries a year, and it was caught early. A very unlucky event just became manageable.

We are now two days out from surgery. When I arrived here in Ohio with the dogs, I was not only in shock, but uncertain about what to do with the three weeks we had to wait until surgery. Rick lives in what I fondly refer to as a man-cave, so to cheer us both up I painted the above baseball and football now proudly hanging in his otherwise nondescript house. My brother arrives tomorrow and from there, the rest is anyone's guess. Oh, yes - there's a well-armed friend staying at the house until this is over. And a hungry mama bear in the neighborhood as well, just for added security.

A 90% cure rate isn't a bad deal, however, so I'm pulling for this all to be just a rough, vivid, past memory that jolted us to the reality that no one lives forever. Please think good thoughts. We have no other choice.

Kathleen Carroll at the UN Security Council

Kathleen Carroll (my sister-in-law) briefed the United Nations Security Council on the protection of journalists yesterday. I have seen and been very moved by the AP Wall of Honor which shows those who have given their lives while on assignment, often being ambushed, tortured and shot. Written with some editing help from my brother Steve Twomey:

Goodbye, Mr. Killian


Thoroughbred thoroughly thru and thruKillian's Red, the best thoroughbred in the world

Killian's PortraitKillian's gallup

Goodbye, Mr. Killian. Thank you for bringing such joy into so many lives, especially Lizzie's. Thanks for patiently letting me learn how to ride, and to finally learn a soft hand and quiet mind. You were the best horse in the entire world, and you are already sorely missed. I will remember us best cantering thru the fields of wheat without a worry in the world, free and as one. And I'm really glad I didn't name you Fabio: for you were always a Killian's Red, a true Irish thoroughbred.

Out of Africa

on safari by Catherine Twomey
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.

Catherine Twomey
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.
Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa
King's Camp Elephant
King's Camp Cheetah

Red Barn Star

Barn in Free Union, VA by Catherine Twomey
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

Catherine Twomey Huckstep's Garage

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

In the Lobby Photo Booth

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....

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