"Visceral" by Catherine Twomey

Operating on intuition, I move through the world looking at facts as well as trusting my instincts. When something's visceral, you can feel it in your guts. A visceral feeling is intuitive — there might not be a rational explanation, but you feel that you know what's best, like your visceral reaction against flying a particular airline or having faith that your best friend isn't who you thought. Lately, there's been a deep-seated, visceral sense that something big, something unknown, is about to happen. I read a lot about climate change and worry that something big is happening and there's nothing to avoid it; nothing to be done. This painting comes from that sense. The cool blue shapes are amorphous - is it ice, melting? Is the orange contrasting heat growing, spreading, encroaching? The organic, churning forces of nature will deal with us one way or another, no matter how we treat them - they'll win. This painting is on archival canvas and board; it is 8 X 16".

"Invasion" by C. Twomey

"Invasion" of what, I can't say. A sense of foreboding; impeachment anxiety; the reckless spirit of the season. Consider the source. Acrylic, 8 X 16" on RayMar linen. 

Prints of my work are now on sale here:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/catherine-twomey?tab=artwork

Happy holidays and may next year be honest.

"Full Moon, December" by Catherine Twomey

Winter is advancing. The sun sets earlier by minutes, every day. Something extraordinary happens to the sky, however. It seems clearer, crisper, more beautiful then any other time of year. It's energizing. I want to let the paint have a mind of it's own, with a little help from me. I want to capture the contrasts and clarity. Tomorrow, December 12, the full moon of December, called the Full Cold Moon, will arrive overnight tonight just after midnight eastern time, and as it rises it will be joined in the sky by the planets Venus and Saturn, which will be close together after reaching a conjunction on Dec. 11. This painting is unframed. It is on archival RayMar linen panel and is of the highest quality. Acrylics were used, along with inks and flow medium. It is a luminous, 8 X 10" original painting.

SOLD - "The Gulf and Old Pier" by C. Twomey

Painted this about a year ago at the south end of Anna Marie Island, Florida. Loved all the people coming by to make friends, comment and enjoy the sun. The clouds were so dramatic and beautiful that day. And that green in the surf: incredible.

Please note, my prints are 30% off at this link:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/catherine-twomey?tab=artwork

Happy Holidays!

"Missing The Garden" by C. Twomey

It’s kind of a melancholy day with the coolness and the rain. To cheer myself up, I’m working on this abstract showing memories of the summer garden. I have some azaleas that are this deep, gorgeous pink that just popped out of my head. Think I’ll keep going with this one as the days improve.

On a lighter note, plaase check out my print sale! Prices are 30% off for all prints:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/catherine-twomey

Happier Monday!

Catherine

Prints Annual Discount! 30% off; Catherine Twomey Art

For the next two weeks, prints are offered at 30% off. Visit this link to order, and thanks for your interest:

https://catherine-twomey.pixels.com/

"Catawba Falls, Upper" by C. Twomey

I hiked the Catawba Falls Trail east of Asheville, trekking through a mossy, shady forest valley to a beautiful series of waterfalls on the Catawba River.

The headwaters of the Catawba River are beautifully scenic. Just east of Asheville, the river tumbles through a rolling forest, cascading in a series of waterfalls and flowing over a mossy riverbed set in a shady, scenic stretch of the Pisgah National Forest. I explored waterfall after waterfall in a sun-dappled valley, hiking just over two miles through a shady forest to the seeping wall of vibrant green moss and tendrils of water known as Catawba Falls.

Self Portrait, 12.2.19, C. Twomey

Had a delightful Self Portrait drawing session with my friend, Ursula Gullow, on Monday. This was a blind contour where I primarily did not look at my paper, just at the mirror.

The introspection of this exercise was deep and startling.

The name of the company I bought the mirror from?: “You’re So Vain, I Bet You Think This Mirror Is About You.” Pretty clever.

My prints are on annual sale, 30% off, here:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/catherine-twomey?tab=artwork

Happy holidays

30% Off PRINTS Sale by C. Twomey

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/catherine-twomey?tab=artwork

ANNUAL SALE, two weeks ONLY! All prints 30% off - a huge savings.

Six Artworks Opening: Permanent Collection: Mission Hospital, Asheville

Hope you can join me! Six of my works will be on exhibition.

"Tomales Trail" Sold and Shipped; Client Thrilled

"Tomales Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore" just SOLD and shipped; from the client: "This is for my 10 year old daughter. This was our first “big hike”together 10 miles and we share wonderful memories of it.
Thank you for painting it so beautifully. She is so excited to hang up on her room."

Made my day!

"Blue Ridge Vineyards On Buck Mountain Road" by C. Twomey

Soon to appear on the cover of Select Traveler magazine: "Buck Mountain Vineyards and Blue Ridge Mountains."

For prints: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/vineyard-blue-ridge-on-buck-mountain-road-virginia-catherine-twomey.html

"Sun Over the Blue Ridge" by C. Twomey

“Sun Over the Blue Ridge”, 12 X 16”, acrylic on raw canvas, ready to hang.

The weather here in Asheville has been rather spectacular the last few days. The nights are getting colder, it's almost Halloween, and this week the time changes. Life moves on!

Another spectacle: the mountain hikes. And - my foot has just "graduated" post surgery to being able to hike again! We headed to Black Balsam Knob and switchbacked to the 360 views. I was mesmerized by the clouds, the changing trees and of course the layers of rocks and hills below the top. Nothing quite as dramatic as the autumn sky and swirling clouds.

I am exploring a new technique. It involves using raw canvas and literally "staining" the canvas using pigments and a wetting agent. I've found working like this leads to very intense, rich colors that leap off the fabric. This allows me as little or as much control as I desire, which is exactly what I was looking for in a technique. 12 X 16" on raw canvas, wired and ready to hang.

Purchase here: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available/sun-over-the-blue-ridge

"Nebula 2019" by C. Twomey

It's definitely fall now - we're going to get a frost tonight. In advance of fall, I hate the thought of it. The lower temperatures, the dark - but once it's actually fall, it's spectacular. The bugs are gone, the sky is an incredible cerulean blue - and the nights; so crisp.

This painting is about the nights. I can look up at the sky and sense the universe; the stars, the planets and the enormity of it all. This nebula, or an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionized gases, hovers in the sky with the richest of colors and blues.

So fall is inevitable. I've learned to embrace it, and this is an example of that.

Max Patch Hedonism

"Max Patch Hedonism" 20 X 20" on gallery premier canvas. I climbed the rough trail to the bald, or open area, of Max Patch. If you've heard of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) then maybe you've been there. Deep in the Pisgah National Forest, it's a pretty easy climb to the bald - and there you'll find a spectacular 360 degree view of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Black Mountains and the flatland of eastern Tennessee.

Added to the Mission Art Collection, by C. Twomey

This painting was sold a while ago, but I’m happy to say it lives on. “Sedona Afternoon Sun” is currently being added to the Mission Hospital Advanced Medicine Collection.

"Falls of Catawba: Blue Ridge Mountains" by C. Twomey

“Falls At Catawba”; the sound hits you before you can smell the water; the reward is climbing to sit near the soft ferns as the water finds its way down. Is there anything more peaceful than sitting beside a gently flowing waterfall in dappled shade?

The headwaters of the Catawba River are beautifully scenic. Just east of Asheville, the river tumbles through a rolling forest, cascading in a series of waterfalls and flowing over a mossy riverbed set in a shady, scenic stretch of the Pisgah National Forest. This fantastic day hike explores waterfall after waterfall in a sun-dappled valley, hiking just over two miles through a shady forest to the seeping wall of vibrant green moss and tendrils of water known as Catawba Falls.

This painting is original, and is wired and ready to hang. It is unframed. It was painted on raw canvas, allowing the beautiful stains of the paints to saturate and spread. It is enhanced with metallics such as silver and copper.

"The Falls At Catawba" Work In Progress, C. Twomey

Work In Progress, “Falls At Catawba”; the sound hits you before you can smell the water; the reward is climbing to sit near the soft ferns as the water finds its way down.

"Point Reyes Estuary" Back from i.d.e.a. Museum

This original watercolor was just returned from being on exhibition at the i.d.e.a. Museum in Phoenix, Arizona as part of the Roadside America exhibit. It is now available for sale. The painting is professionally framed.

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. For a brief moment as I worked, a coyote came by, paused, and quietly continued on his way.

Point Reyes National Seashore is a vast expanse of protected coastline in Northern California’s Marin County. Beaches here include Wildcat Beach, with the cliffside Alamere Falls. On a rocky headland, the 1870 Point Reyes Lighthouse is a viewpoint for migrating gray whales.

"Max Patch Hedonism" by C. Twomey

Hike a section of the famous Appalachian National Scenic Trail (or A.T.) on top of Max Patch Mountain near Hot Springs. This 4,600-ft. bald mountain was cleared and used as pasture in the 1800s. Today, it's a 350-acre tract of open land on a high knob with 360-degree views. It's one of the most spectacular settings you'll experience in the Blue Ridge.