No time to wallow in the mire. - The Doors, Light My Fire

No matter what, no wallowing in the mire today for me. 

z

A door opens to me. I go in and am faced with a hundred closed doors. ~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943, translated from Spanish by W.S. Merwin

Pairing my paintings with inspirational quotes has become a daily ritual for me, especially lately.  I will be posting some new work in a few weeks.  For now this is a piece I did for a dear customer in Boston many years ago.  Have a wonderful weekend.   Thanks for stopping by.  Catherine. 

After OZ-New original painting

Did you ever wonder what became of Dorothy after OZ? Here's a glimpse. She decided to stay in Kansas but relocated and definitely upgraded. Toto approves peaking out from the curtain.   I never noticed  the red heart clock that Tin Man received had a little flower chain attached.  I think I will plant some red poppies this spring for sure.  This painting is 14x11 painted on stretched canvas.  For sale in my etsy shop and website.

www.catherine47.etsy.com

or

www.catherinenolin.org

Ode to Henri

I have started on a new painting that I hope to post by Weds. of this week.  For now, here is a piece I painted last year in tribute to one of my favorite painters. 

Kareena's Magical Flower Shop-Original painting

This is my newest painting finally completed.  Kareena shows off one of her many award winning arrangements as  her faithful staff looks on.  This piece is 14x11 painted on canvas with acrylics.  The sides have been painted and it's wired and ready to hang. 
                   For sale in My etsy shop~ www.catherine47.etsy.com  or www.catherinenolin.org

Family Album -Original Painting By Catherine Nolin

The other night while driving down a winding road on my way home from my sister's house I slammed on my brakes and there stood a huge deer frozen in the middle of the road.  It was pretty magnificent. 

This is my newest painting.  I am trying to get into the holiday spirit.  My son Sam will be home for 5 days so I wont be posting any new work until he is back to school .  I am looking forward to the brake.  I know I will be back on the following Monday with a lot of new inspiration. 

This painting is 14x11 painted with acrylics on canvas.  The sides have been painted and it’s wired and ready to hang.  Thanks for taking a look. 

                                                                                       

You can also view and purchase my work at :

www.catherinenolin.org

Feel free to contact me with any questions at

catherinenolin@comcast.net

   

 

Curtain Call

                                            14x11 painted on stretched canvas with acrylics.
                                                                     purchase at:
                                                            www.catherinenolin.org
                                                                              or
                                                            www.catherine47.etsy.com

Curtain Call

I love it when I have a lot to say about my inspiration for a new painting.    I grew up in a large creative family of 6 girls and one boy.   Two of my older sisters left home as soon as they turned 18 to become “actresses”.    My parents weren’t too happy.  I can remember going to many of their plays from Macbeth to West Side Story.  Mostly community theater but to an 8 year old it seemed like Broadway.  Another sister, my oldest,  who didn’t take off to find the foot lights,  actually looked just like Barbara Streisand.   Naturally  we were huge Streisand fans.  I have a great memory of going to see Funny Girl with her  in the most beautiful movie theater in New York, red velvet curtains and chandeliers galore.    I was an instant fan at 10 years old. 

As for my two sisters, well they never pursued professional acting careers.  However, I am very excited to say that this weekend I am going to see my niece perform her   one-woman show, “A Visit from Victoria” produced by the Tenement Museum in New York City. 

    This is the link to find out more info.  http://thewildproject.com/performances/2011-between-the-seas.shtml

  

The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.Marcel Proust

Madeline Dreams of a more simplistic life.

The painting within my paintings was taken from a black and white photo I came across on one of the millions of blogs I peruse daily.  I wish I had bookmarked the site so I could tell you more.  I just liked the way she looked and of course her lovely contrasting dress.  I believe that is called pasymetry?  Anyway, as I began to paint this piece I decided to loosen up my brush strokes and create a more painterly look.  This painting is 16x20 painted on stretched canvas and will be accompanying me to South Portland this Saturday.  I will be for sale in my Etsys Shop until then. 

                                                               Catherine

 

Enlightened Botanical

This is my latest painting.  It's 11x14 painted on stretched canvas.  I will be showing my new work at Art In The Park in South Portland ME on August 13th.  This is new show for me but  since my sister lives right down the street in Cape Elizabeth, it's a good excuse for a visit as well. 

I plan  on posting another painting this week however, my son, Max (20 years old) is preparing for a cross country trip which also involves organic farming along the way.  He is leaving Friday morning for 4 months!  Although I am not thrilled that he has decided to put finishing college on hold, this is a once in a life time experience that he will have with his cousin and another good childhood friend.  I have been feeling both anxiety and excitement for him.  They are going to many of the major national parks along the way camping for weeks at a time.  It really hasn't hit me yet that he is leaving and what he will be doing!  Everything happens for a reason and I know that this experience will be with him for the rest of his life. 

Summer Reading

What can I say.  Sometimes it seems like my brush has a life of it's own.  This painting took  many twists and turns but I am so glad I was able to complete it.  I am taking a little break while my son is home for the next week.   As much as I love to paint and I am looking forward to spending time with Sam. Hopper is another favorite painter of mine. I suppose I have the Cape on my mind these days as well!   This painting is 11x14 painted on canvas. For sale in my Etsy shop. 

Claire's Leaving Home

This is the last painting I will be posting before my show in Boston this Sunday.    I am forever inspired by so many Beatle songs.   “She’s Leaving Home,” (one of my favorites) is what helped me come up with the idea for this woman whom I have named Claire. Claire’s leaving home after living alone for so many years.  I decided to paint her in an early Picasso type style which I like very much.  This painting is 16x20 painted on canvas. 

                                  Catherine

Sophia's Pagoda Vase Is Empty

        

Must be Friday since I have completed  another painting. Sophia needs some flowers for her vase. She is fortunate that she can simply walk outside and have her pick. Can you tell what my influences were for this piece?  Hopefully, like Sophia,  I will be able to walk outside and have my pick of flowers once the sun comes back!  This new painting is 11x14 done on stretched canvas for sale in my Etsy  Shop.

Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

         Catherine

Living In The Moment

I do love the combination of eggplant and orange. I have been seeing it more and more lately. This painting is reminder to me that life is "now"(as my two sons would say.) I get so caught up in my work sometimes that I forget to come up for air, literally! This scene is simple and peaceful, kitten included. I think I'll stop and have a cup of tea. I like Good Earth green tea with lemongrass but not too late in the day otherwise I can't sleep. Hope you are having a good day.

 Catherine

Earth Tones New painting

I wish I owned this white couch and the pillow too.  This is my newest painting.  It has a little bit for everyone!  Oceans, earth, stars,  birds, telescopes and an  interior scene.  I have been drawn to more muted earth tones lately.  This could be a holding pattern.  This painting is 11x14 for sale in my Etsy shop. 

Designer's Workshop

Finally Finished.  The inspiration  behind this painting............. 

  After being interviewed by Linda Merrill for her magazine, "Surrounding"  I began to think back on my days in the mid 80's as a clothing buyer, taking the shuttle to New York City, going to all the beautiful showrooms and dreaming about being an actual fashion designer. 

That's where the idea for this painting came from.  I am still very much interested in textile design and I'm working on some very interesting designs also.

A few details about some of the items in this painting.  The beautiful yellow Chinoiserie desk I  saw on First Dibs, the botanical dress is just something I created out of my love of pattern and color as well as the high heel pattern on the bench.   I think lilies of the valley are the prettiest little flowers,  I often include them in my paintings  because they remind me of my back yard growing up. Happy Spring!   Catherine 

Eternal Balance

 This new painting almost got away from me half way into it. Too many critics inside my head. I decided to stick with it and I am so glad I did. My best paintings seem to take that journey! Anyway, I could look at books of old illustrations of coral and other sea vegetation all day. I also enjoy painting them. This newest piece is 11x14 painted on stretched canvas. The sides have been painted so no frame is needed.

Evening Art Show

I 'm  glad I was able to finish this painting this morning, because  I think I am getting sick! Anyway, this new painting is quite eclectic,  wouldn't you say?  I especially love how the wallpaper came out.  My husband is somewhat of a star gazer so I decided to incorporate a little moon theme.  The other references are just things that I love.  This piece is 11x14 painted on stretched canvas.  The sides have been painted so no frame is needed. 

Sunflowers and Blue Moods

My new painting.   I began with the thought of wanting to use browns with blues.  I started  thumbing through an old  Van Gogh book my son Max gave me for Christmas one year when he was 10 years old.  He wrote an adorable inscription which said, "Thought you could get some ideas for your paintings in here.  Love, Maxwell. " Well I did.  I also started looking at another Picasso book which is where the blue woman came from.  I love using  a lot of symbolism .  I don't want to just paint a room anymore.