Working on this commission, I selected a couple of homegrown burgundy peonies from my garden. They are willingly posing for their posterity. The energy of the petals is simply wonderful.
20 X 20”, oil on canvas, homegrown peonies
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
"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:
Offering: "Sunflower Quad" Watercolor by C. Twomey
“Sunflower Quad” watercolor, 15 X 20” on Crescent board.
Near where I live is a 10,000 acre estate that was once owned by Cornelius Van der Built and family. It's a fantastic, still privately owned "castle" of a home. I have an annual pass, which means any time I want I can go there and pretend I'm a Van Der Built.
At the end of every summer, along one of the main roads, they plant a very large, 20' wide path of sunflowers. I ride my bike there all the time just so I can enjoy them. This summer, however, I had foot surgery. A friend, knowing my love of these flowers, delivered this bouquet - which of course I had to paint. These delightful flowers really kept me focused as I recovered, for several hours a day I could experience the joy of painting them as the hours whiled away.
Helianthus or sunflower is a genus of plants comprising about 70 species. Except for three species in South America, all Helianthus species are native to North America and Central America.
Purchase here: https://www.catherinetwomey.com/available/sunflowers-quad
Watercolor, Work in Progress; 15 X 20” on illustration board
Summer and Sunflowers WIP by C. Twomey
My foot is slowly healing from some recent foot surgery. I’ve pulled out my watercolors and can paint at the dining room table since I can’t reach my studio. A dear friend brought these flowers as a healing gift, and I think they’re working! I’m thoroughly enjoying depicting the personality of each flower; each petal. I’ll continue to show the progress as the work comes alive.
Sunflowers Work In Progress by C. Twomey
16 X 20”, watercolor on illustration board.
Work In Progress, Sunflowers coming along. It is definitely the Dog Days of August, and unfortunately I can’t walk without a walker yet. Surgery is hard! The foot is healing well, however, and I’ve gotten a lot of delightful gifts for recovery. These sunflowers were just so yellow, so alive, I had to paint them. Watercolor seemed the best way to go since i can’t climb stairs to my studio. I’ll continue to post updates to this challenging work.
"Last Glad of the Season" by C. Twomey
5 X 10.5”, watercolor on Winsor & Newton #120 paper; Available HERE
Slowly recovering from some foot surgery. Got a good prognosis from the doctor on Thursday, but two more weeks of slow walking and elevating. In the meantime, the kids next door are getting ready for school and the garden is looking weary. This beautiful stalk popped up this week and I had to paint its portrait. I will miss the flowers, but the Black Eyed Susan’s are going strong.
“Rose And Water”, watercolor, 11 X 9”
A Rose For Your Thoughts...
Haven’t been able to paint much after having foot surgery July 30th. Third surgery on my left leg, and hopefully the last. I inherited some wayward bones that had to be put back in their place. All went well and hopefully going to get back into the swing of things soon.
Note: I have an added respect for people who have to use walkers to get around.
Best,
Catherine
Enjoying The Summer: Gladiolus & Echinacea, Work In Progress
Original oil, 18 X 24” on RayMar archival board, in progress
Days like today are difficult to match. I hunkered down right in my front yard, amidst the flowers, bees and various critters (including interested neighbors!). Thank goodness for the umbrella! I’ve been waiting for these flowers since spring, and they’ve gained twice their size since last summer. Nothing like a little fertilizer to make for happy plants. I’ll post the final when I’m finished.