Catherine Buchanan
Painter, Photographer & Writer
From the Artist
Art projects are often an answer to a question. Can a painting offer a moment of peace? Capture the spirit of a place? Solve a visual problem? Motivation comes while searching for answers. Ideas show up in a flash, or after days of ruminating and pouring over photographs. Art is a joint venture between creators and viewers, who often see something new in the work, which is heart warming to hear about.
I paint at night when the world is quiet, owls and crickets for company. Wandering through dusty halls of memory, combining colors that please the soul, longing for moments when paint flows from brush to canvas as intended or with luck, better than imagined. Sometimes it’s just knowing when to stop.
Biography
In the 1980’s I studied photography at San Francisco State University and years later started a business photographing museum artifacts to support my painting habit. I’ve always painted. My series of dogs in front of classic cars, was exhibited throughout the San Francisco Bay area and published as a Pomegranate Press calendar.
In my 40’s I sailed from San Francisco to New Zealand with a friend, visiting more than forty islands over several years. I settled in American Samoa, opened a thrift store and learned to paint people’s portraits by practicing on my neighbors.
Moloka’i, Hawaii, where I lived for years after leaving the South Pacific has inspired many painting series over twenty years including The Life of Saint Damien, Native Wildlife, 90 Paintings in 90 Days and Moloka’i Landmarks, which are currently on display at the Moloka’i Airport in Ho’olehua.
Ten years ago I settled in the Hudson River Valley for the kayaking, hiking and stunning scenery. Long, quiet winters offer ample time to paint. It’s a big changed from life on tropical islands, the colors are more muted and seasonal changed dramatically alter the landscape. It’s like living in four places without moving. I miss Moloka’i though and return whenever I can.