 Canadian Artist Catherine O'Byrne |
When I started painting several years ago, I immediately focused on nature-related subjects. Anything which hops, flies, runs, swims in the water, or even just grows quietly by the roadside, I can't wait to paint it. My artwork has been described as "whimsical fantasy", "oriental", or "mystical" , regardless of the subject - which tends to be things we don't normally think twice about: that little frog clinging to a stalk in the garden; a caterpillar crawling on a stem; a lizard stalking a fly; snails on a mushroom.
I focus on these subjects because I love nature, likely due to the many outdoor activities of my family: camping, frog hunts, fishing trips and horseback rides as a child, where every nest, frog, bird or snake would merit a great deal of attention. Plus, for the last 12 years I've lived in the country with my husband, in a very secluded and heavily wooded area. Nature is all around me now, and I see that the seasons have a secret rhythm, as though there's some huge cosmic beast sleeping just under the grassy hills; every so often it shrugs sleepily and turns over --- and the season changes. I watch storms move ponderously from one horizon to the other, and I want to capture everything - from the watersoaked dead grasses in spring to the blue shadows of leafless trees in winter to the arrogant look only a fledgling swallow can summon up. I sometimes joke that my Celtic ancestors (who embraced the Druid beliefs mixing mysticism and philosophy, and dreamed magic for their people), are also influencing me.
I was born and
raised in Regina, and studied biology in university. In the years before
I began to paint, I raised a wonderful son, Rigel, and participated in a
variety of voluntary organizations, and worked for the government of
Saskatchewan. In spring of 2000, I picked up a paintbrush for the first
time, and began to study watercolour extensively, developing a very
strong knowledge of the tools and techniques of the complicated medium
of watercolour. When painting, I enjoy using intense colour and lots of
texture, and continually attempt to improve my representation of mood
and light.
As a prairie artist, I'm a member of the Art Gallery of Regina, of the Aurora Art Guild, and of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association. I still work for the provincial government, but in my spare time paint as much as I can, and teach the occasional watercolour course. I have presented two one-peson shows at the joe moran gallery in Regina's Wascana Park; otherwise my artwork can be found at the semi-annual Aurora art guild and Art Gallery of Regina shows.
I currently have very little artwork "in inventory" as I'm still working full-time; the images you see on this webpage are already in private collections. However, I'd love to hear your comments on my artwork. Please feel free to email me.
Special Occasions Calendar
"Are you still copying those important dates from the old calendar to the new calendar each year? Or worse, are you forgetting those special dates because you threw out last year's calendar? This Special Occasion calendar tracks those important events such as birthdays and anniversaries, and lasts for years. And it has 12 different pieces of artwork that will amuse you anew each month."
Please click here to view this Special Occasions Calendar!!
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Catherine O'Byrne
Phone: (306) 725-3746
E-mail: obyrnecathy@yahoo.ca Website: www.catherineobyrne.com
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