Featured Artist at Sky River Mead

 For the next month, I will be the featured artist at Sky River Mead! Sky River is part of the Woodinville Washington Wineries near the Hollywood Schoolhouse. You can find them just south of the first round-a-bout on Redmond-Woodinville Road.

If you haven't tried Mead (honey wine) you need to! Thought to be the oldest known alcoholic beverage, it is smooth and sweet and delicious and has an ancient and amazing history. The Sky River tasting room is open Friday and Saturday 1-6pm and Sunday from noon-4pm. 

I currently have 16 original watercolors at Sky River, including four brand new watercolors that have never been shown before! All paintings are available for immediate purchase from Sky River Mead. You can also purchase packs of my tree notecards for $10 (see photo). My paintings will be at Sky River Mead until April 17.

On Thursday, April 4 there will be an artist reception at Sky River as part of the Woodinville First Thursday Wine Walk. Please join me for snacks and free mead tasting from 4pm-8pm! If you stop by, you can enter to win a free archival giclee print of my painting "Wisteria Veil". It should be a very fun evening and your odds of winning should be pretty good, so don't miss this reception! Hope to see you there my friends!

Win this "Wisteria Veil" Print!

My Painting Wins the Popular Vote!

I'm very surprised and pleased to share that my painting "Umbrella Forest" won the public voting contest in the current art show at the Connie M. Bishop Fine Art Gallery in Bellevue!

This exhibit features the artwork of seven local artists who are members of EAFA. You can see all the paintings in the show if you click here.

The CMB Gallery is located in the corridors of the Ultimate Salon Studios at 1805 136th Place NE in Bellevue. 

This Saturday, March 23 there will be a reception at the gallery from 6-8pm. 

Please join us!

The artwork will be on display and available at CMB Gallery until May 18.

Click here to learn more about this strange and unusual painting!

Edmonds Art Walk, March 21

If you live in the Seattle area, don't miss this Thursday's Edmonds Art Walk, 5-8pm! The Edmonds Art Walk is one of the largest in the state of Washington, featuring over 31 walk-able exhibit locations, live music and hundreds of visitors each month.

I'll be at Edward Jones at 313 Main Street along with 10 other artists from Northwest Artists Connection. These six original watercolors are available in this show at Edward Jones. Please stop by! For a map click here. We're #2 on the map!

"King of the Forest"  $425

"Windows and Doors"  $650

"In Memory"  $650

"Cupid's Garden"  $200

"Japanese Maple in the Snow #1"  $150

"Japanese Maple in the Snow #2"  $150

Rainy Day Cherry Blossoms

 



"Rainy Day Cherry Blossoms"  16" x 18"  $650



 When I write something I am enthusiastic about, I know that I add too many exclamation points. It has occurred to me recently that I probably do the same thing in my paintings. In my watercolors, I often use exaggerated color to communicate living energy. Sometimes that enthusiastic color can get a little overwhelming.

 

I've been painting more cherry blossoms, but I'm trying to capture the delicate petals with more delicate color. As I tone down my palette, I'm having to think more about value (a very good thing!) and I am discovering paint combinations that make the most rich and interesting neutrals. Who knows where this will take me next?



"Cherry Blossom Solo"  8"x 8"  $225

 



"Cherry Blossom Duet" 8"x 8" $225

Cherry Blossoms in the Sunshine

"Cherry Blossoms in Sunlight"   13" x 19"   $475 Framed  

This time of year, I am holding my breath, watching the buds swell. Soon there will be glorious flowers everywhere!

Cherry blossoms fascinate me. There is nothing so delicate in all the world. I love to study how the light filters through the fragile cherry blossom petals. They appear and then disappear so quickly. If I paint them, I can hold onto them forever.

To see more of my paintings, please go to www.catherinemjames.com

Agapanthus Bud

  "Anticipation, Agapanthus" 13" x 19"  $475  Framed 

I grow agapanthus in my garden in pots. They are about my most favorite flowers EVER. The super big ones aren't hardy here, so my pots have to go in the garage every winter. (Much to my husband's delight.) At the end of the summer, they send up these 4 foot high blossom stalks that explode into huge blue fireworks! The hummingbirds can't get enough of them!

There is something about this agapanthus bud that I just couldn't resist painting. Tulip buds are pretty, crocus buds are nice, but this is a whole company of buds all emerging at once, getting ready for an impressive show! I just love the anticipation!

Gosh, I had fun with the background on this one, too with all the sunshine sparkles and loose painting. Such an interesting contrast to details like the little water droplets on the bud.

Art Show at Seattle Center

What fun to have a new show of my paintings! For the month of February, twelve of my paintings are on display at Caffe Zingaro in Seattle. Caffe Zingaro is a great little place at 127 Mercer Street, just up from the Opera House, Intiman Theatre and Seattle Rep, and across the street from Theatro Zinzanni and the Metropolitan Market.

 

The customers are so very international and artistic! Many are connected to the nearby theaters. ...And did I mention that the people working at Caffe Zingaro are amazing? They really know all their customers and they go out of their way to be so friendly! They sure make a gooood cuppa coffee! 

 

Please stop by if you are in the Seattle Center or Queen Anne neighborhood during the month of February. The paintings there are mostly new work, including four brand new pieces that have never been out in the big wide world before.