Daffodils

"Daffodil Duet"  11" x 14"  Framed $525  

I finally got organized and had some quality scans done of my most recent work. I am so pleased to be able to share my new work with you at last! This new watercolor features "ice follies" daffodils from my garden. Their buttery-yellow faces are so cheerful!

Those of you who've been following my work for a while know that I sometimes like to hide a little frog in the painting. (The frogs are my little indicator species letting everyone know that all is well in the garden.) Can you find him in this painting?

I'm continuing to show my work at Gallery North in Edmonds, Washington. If you are looking for a very pleasant outing on a nice spring day, the Edmonds waterfront has some beautiful walkways and there are lovely little shops and restaurants all around the downtown area. Gallery North is right on Main Street just up from the ferry dock and they're open 7 days a week. You can find new original watercolors of mine available there every month, as well as fine art prints and cards of my work.

Enjoy every moment of the spring that you can!

New Trilliums in Bloom

2015 Trillium Tour Poster Artwork

Once again, I have had the privilege to create the artwork for for this year's Cottage Lake Gardens Trillium Tours poster! (See the 2012, 2013, and 2014 posters below.)

Trilliums are a rare spring wildflower that require 7 years from planted seed to flower. Many species of trilliums are endangered and protected. ALL of the 48 species of trilliums in the world can be seen growing at Cottage Lake Gardens in Woodinville, Washington, just a few miles from where I live! This year's poster artwork features the impressively tall, reddish pink Trillium chloropetalum. These amazing trilliums are in bloom at Cottage Lake Gardens as we speak!

If you're interested in participating in this year's spring Trillium Tours at Cottage Lake Gardens, there are only a few spaces left, so don't hesitate to sign up.

For more information about Trilliums or Cottage Lake Gardens, please visit cottagelakegardens.com. Posters and note cards featuring my trillium paintings and other trillium-related gifts can also be purchased from the Cottage Lake Gardens website.

2014 Poster

2013 Poster

2012 Poster

Woodinville City Hall Art Exhibit

Woodinville City Hall

I am very honored to have an exhibit of my artwork at the Woodinville City Hall in December and January. This show, titled "Seasons in the Wild Garden", includes 20 of my original paintings. Each of the four seasons is featured in watercolors displayed in different areas of the City Hall.

All paintings are available for purchase and can be released from the exhibit for holiday gift giving. Please contact me at catherinemjamesart@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing a painting. 10% of all sales will be donated to the Rotary Club of Woodinville.

The exhibit runs through January 31st.

Woodinville City Hall is open to the public on weekdays:
17301 133rd Ave. NE, Woodinville, WA
Monday-Thursday 7:30am-5:00pm and Fridays 7:30am-4:00pm.

Winter Watercolors in the Council Chambers

 

Summer and Fall

Spring Paintings

Snowy River

"Snowfall, Sammamish River" 18" x 24"  $850 Framed  

This is the Sammamish River, just down the hill from where I live. I wanted to show the quiet stillness that happens when it snows. Snow is not common here in western Washington, and everyone stays home when it snows. I love the silent hush that covers the busy city whenever the snow falls.

It was quite a challenge for me to paint softly and without many edges, but wonderful to have the chance to paint with so many beautiful grays!

 

I've been going the extra mile with the framing on my latest larger pieces and I'm particularly pleased with this one. I've framed "Snowfall" with a "float frame" instead of my usual double mat. (You can see the soft edges of the painting.) Thank you to Ben Franklin Frame Shop in Redmond for creating this gray weathered frame that compliments the painting so perfectly!

"Snowfall, Sammamish River" will be one of more than 20 of my watercolors hanging in the Woodinville City Hall in an exhibit titled "Seasons in the Wild Garden" during December and January.  The art exhibit is open to the public weekdays during City Hall hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30am-5:00pm and Fridays 7:30am-4:00pm. I hope you'll have a chance to stop in and see this significant show of so many of my watercolors!

Woodinville City Hall
17301-133rd Avenue NE
Woodinville, WA 98072

Wishing the Fall Leaves Farewell

"Autumn Light"   18" x 24"   $750 Framed 

We've just had a week of frosty weather and autumn has changed into winter. The dying of the leaves is always tough for me. Our winters in Seattle are short compared to many places, but 4 or 5 months without leaves is never something I look forward to. But I am grateful for the beautiful show the leaves put on as the season closes.

I've been watching this week how the light and colors are changing with the cold. The sky has become more of a blue-green than the rich blue of summer. The greens are tired and faded. The shadows are long. The frost lingers in the cold shadows and there's always a faint low fog in the trees. The light is low and it catches the colorful leaves from the side and sets them ablaze.

This scene is from near the entrance to Marymoor Park in Redmond.

Autumn Vines

"String of Hearts"  11" x 14"  Framed $475 

These vines are planted everywhere in the Seattle area to cover and soften concrete walls. Intertwining vines make such beautiful pictures. I've probably taken hundreds of photos of the ones near Marymoor Park in Redmond, not far from where I live.

One of the reasons I enjoy painting with watercolor is because I am so fond of lines. Watercolor makes it so easy to paint such clean, lovely lines! And of course vine-covered walls are just filled with elegant lines.

I love how these vines change so unevenly in the fall, showing a whole spectrum of color at once. I especially love how the younger leaves in these vines look like necklaces of colorful hearts.

Collecting Chestnuts

"Autumn Treasures, Chestnuts"  18" x 18"  SOLD

When I was little, I always looked forward to collecting chestnuts behind my grandmother's house. Inside the spiky hard covers I would discover these jewels of smooth beautiful redness that were more magnificent treasures to me than gold coins.