“Many Glaciers Mid Afternoon” - watercolor, 10 X 14” on Arches Archival paper
I just returned from a couple of weeks visit to Glacier National Park in Montana. It was a bucket-list trip, and so worth the effort. Daily hikes and painting sessions made the trip memorable. Only ran into one grizzly bear (one is enough….) and saw lots of mountain goats. This painting was from the front of Many Glacier Lodge, where lots of glaciers still exist and are so beautifully clean and reflective.
Early spring venture up to a mountain pass orchard near my home. Painted plein air, in a field next to the apple trees. I was struck by the white blossoms of the apple trees against the receding mountains. This is an original painting on archival Crescent board, and is ready for framing.
Now available at this link: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available/orchard-pass-watercolor-7-x-10
“Beaver Lake, Early Morning”, oil on panel, 9 X 12”.
About 8:00 a.m., a crystalline lake surrounded by wildflowers and pines. It was going to be a hot day, so I tackled this early as the joggers and walkers skittered by. Available here: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available
WIP of the secret forest. The intriguing thing about the distant light is that’s a wall of falling water that feeds the creek. Where bears roam. 18 x 24” oil on linen panel.
Oil, 18 X 24”, the forest below the dam. Where bears roam.
Lots of "Thank you's (or youse)" lately to the wonderful people who support my artistic efforts and purchase my prints and/or original artwork. You're inspirational, motivational and downright kind! Grateful - more so than you can imagine. Etsy: catherinetwomeyart.etsy.com
As a member of Preserving A Picturesque America (https://preservationthroughart.org/) yesterday I joined three other plein air painters at the Biltmore Estate on the Wisteria Terrace. As we painted we were filmed and then interviewed about our work and PAPA for an upcoming PBS Documentary. It was a most spectacular day, fortunately, and although I have almost no memory of what I said in the interview, I hope I did PAPA proud - I know they make me proud.
Painting, getting filmed and interviewed for a PBS documentary this morning at Biltmore. Four plein air painters for Preserving a Picturesque America hard at work.
Jeff the cameraman from LA, preparing to shoot with his 30# camera.
The wisteria that captured my heart and eye; along with Mt. Pisgah.
Almost finished, always one more thing to do....9 X 12" oil on Artefex canvas over aluminum panel with Michael Harding oils.
THANK YOU to Blend Gallery at 67 Biltmore Ave (Asheville) for the sale of "Island Edge." This original oil was painted plein air at Bass Lake in Blowing Rock, NC - obviously a beautiful, serene place filled with happy walkers as storms came and went.
The original painting has been sold, but this work is now available as a print. Please check it out here:
"The Island" is a plein air oil, 16" X 16" in Blowing Rock, NC. It was a blustery, sometimes rainy day, but there is nothing like capturing the light on site. Thank you to the collector from Hewitt, NJ for their purchase!
The international gallery, Singulart, has named my work “Maple Ridge Craggy Gardens” to their Fall Harvest Collection! This piece is in oil on an archival panel, and is professionally framed and ready to hang. For additional information, please visit:
“The Marked Tree”, 12” X 16” on panel
A memory, a feeling, a brief moment of life - this was painted at Marked Tree Vineyards, where I was surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, happy somewhat inebriated people, a good panter friends. I was so drawn to the way the vines pointed at the namesake tree - and the colors, the rich colors of the countryside on a gorgeous summer day.
Thanks so much to the Virginia Beach purchaser of "Young Mountain Laurels," a 27" X 36" oil on panel piece. When I moved in five years ago I didn't know what this beautiful little plant/bush was (flatlander) but I guess I live in the mountains now! For additional prints: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/young-mountain-laurels-catherine-twomey.html #stilllife #mountainlaurel #pleinairstilllife #catherinetwomey1 #pinkblossoms #creativemark
“Sequenced”, 24” X 36” pigments, iridescents, metallics on aluminum panel, framed.
The luminous sky and mountains at over 6,000 feet can overwhelm. Couple that with the late spring blooms of the rhododendrons, and there is a sense of floating high above the clouds as the sun descends. I'm inspired by the mountains and sky, of course - but the flow of the pigments themselves is so freeing; so abstract. It's like it helps makes sense of all of the complex layers and diffuse light spreading through the clouds. Each layer is constructed
separately using pigments, tools, an airbrush and gravity. Although the end result appears realistic, on closer inspection it's made up of pours, ridges and glowing pigment. This 24" X 36" original painting will infuse your room settings with good taste and luminescence. It is framed in a lovely copper and black floating frame.
Oil, 8” X 16” on archival panel.
There is a definite wonder in going to the trouble of painting outside. Everything about the experience is fresher, cleaner (unless you step on your solvent jar, which I just did) and the colors are unmatched. Yes, the weather was somewhat dangerous with thunderstorms all around this lake. However, knowing that, I felt highly charged to choose my painting spot, quickly decide on the composition and squint for optimal color matching. The sun poked in and out; lots of people walking by wanted to talk - but I had to focus and get it down instinctively and purely. And so it goes.
“Between Storms” is an 8” X 16” oil on archival panel.
The weather is so incredibly variable in the mountains, and this day was no exception. I made my way around a lake, Bass Lake, in Blowing Rock, NC - Blue Ridge mountains. Surrounded by threatening cumulous clouds, I quickly set up and immediately planned out the composition. Suddenly, sunlight flooded the island in the lake's middle, and I knew I had my painting. The flashes of light green and blue highlighted the dark pines against the mountainside. The light fell on a downed log, prompting a highlight that finished the piece. As dozens of people made their way past and around the lake path, it felt like we were all in it together - a race against the lightning in an electric moment.
"Monumental Oak", a 22" X 28" oil on canvas, will be offered at "The Blowing Rock Women's Show" at the American Legion Building in Blowing Rock, NC - June 9th! We are raising funds for women in need and would sure like to meet you! There will be many other artworks, so come on up! Blowing Rock is at about 3,500', where the views are marvelous and the air is clean! Thanks for your consideration.
“Monumental Oak”, 22” X 28” oil on canvas
An hour's drive up to a mountain pass proved to be well worth the trip. I spent a day at Altapass Orchards in North Carolina - and what a sight it was! The day was clear and unusually warm, so I was able to set up for some long range views. The apple blossoms were just coming out, adding to the scene's delight. This original watercolor is 6" X 12" on archival Canson board.
Thanks to Joan for purchasing this original oil painting! All funds go to the Vesalius Trust (vesaliustrust.org) to educate young scientists.
Please visit here for my annual sale: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available
We have had more than 9 inches of rain this year above and beyond the average. The almost daily thunderstorms have poured tremendous volumes of water into our lakes and streams, including this lake below my house. The runoff is so great the typically blue/green water turns all shades of browns, reds, yellows and gold. Of course, the vegetation is growing feet by the second. It's white ball hydrangea time of year. The large popcorn-appearing balls are so beautiful and refreshing against the water. That dam in the foreground is almost a hundred years old, and of course with all the rain it's rather worrisome. So much water running over the side, what kind of pressure is that old concrete under? I painted this outdoors and reveled in the sounds and sights of the water and flowers. So glad I had bug spray on, as much as I dislike it! And of course, sunscreen. This oil in painted on archival canvas and is 11 X 14". It is unframed and ready to complement your indoor decor.
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.