Catherine McCargar Art

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"Monet's Garden in Giverny, France - just a delightful train ride outside of Paris - never fails to inspire artists just as it was intended to do when it was ...

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When the vineyards are showing off reds and golds during the early months of autumn, I head out to stand in the midst of them at my easel. This painting was done in the Livermore Valley wine country where the charming house nestled amongst the lively vines grabbed my attention. I am drawing the viewer's attention to the house by softening the edges of the painting.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.

California Wine Country...

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A vineyard leads to a rustic cottage nestled among lush trees. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting dappled shadows onto the winding path. The soft an...

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Artist Catherine McCargar paints a panoramic view of Mt. Diablo, a sight visible from her home. She paints a rendition of the mountain with much detail of the surrounding foothills. "I confess I have used my artistic license to have a little fun with the scene," admits Catherine. The title gives the viewer a hint about the creative aspect integrated into the stunning impression.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...

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An adorable black-and-white cat gazes forward with its green eyes, exuding curiosity. Soft, blended brushstrokes capture its smooth fur. Artist Catherine McCarg...

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A silhouette of a single Monterey pine basks in the glow and soft light of the setting sun. The lavender surface of the ocean reflects the radiant sky. California-based artist Catherine McCargar loves taking painting trips to the coast. In this piece, she painted on Moonstone Beach in Cambria.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.

Words that describe this painting: coastal, ocean, California, seaside, beach, path, sunset, tree, summer, sky, nature, grass, vacation, season, impressionism, nature, seascape, watercolor painting, blue

Coastal Summer Sunset...

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A variety of plants thrive around Lake Temescal, nestled in the Oakland Hills of the California Bay Area. The lush greenery reflects in the still water, addin...

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Pink petals stand out amidst a bed of lush green leaves. Artist Catherine McCargar, an avid gardener and dedicated watercolorist, painted these coneflowers gr...

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Artist Catherine shares a peek into the beautiful autumnal woodlands of California, presenting her keen eye for color an...

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A rustic red barn nestles among the lush greenery at the Thomas Ranch on Old Northville Road. Mt. Diablo peeks through the trees while vibrant wildflowers sca...

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Well known for her landscapes, artist Catherine McCargar presents a view of Mt. Diablo and its surrounding foothills. The grand and proud mountain looks onto ...

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"When snow dusts the top of Mt. Diablo - a giant in the landscape of the eastern San Francisco Bay Area - there is great excitement in the air," says artist C...

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Cozy cottages line up snugly on a quiet street in the coastal town of Mendocino, California. The scene leads to the top of the road, where the sky blends into...

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Tree-studded hills and valleys in California glow under the summer sun. Dramatic shadows in deep blues and purples dot the golden grass, creating a striking c...

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Artist Catherine McCargar paints a rural setting in this impressionist piece. She uses her refined skills to convey a grass field's softness and intricacies. Meanwhile, she leads the viewer along the walking path into the welcoming shadows and shelter of the copse of trees ahead. "One can almost feel the crunch underfoot," says Catherine.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern...

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Artist Catherine McCargar displays a scarlet dragonfly landing on the branch of a magnolia bush. She captures the fleeting moment as it sips nectar from the flower. Its red wings match the fully bloomed magnolia, fittingly complementing the verdant green leaves. Catherine effectively uses organic curved lines to draw the viewer's eye through her intricate arrangement of buds, blooms, and leaves.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...

Artist Comments
The place that inspired this watercolor painting is among the many lovely locations that are the foothills of Mt. Diablo in the East Bay Area near San Francis...

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This is a painting done en plein air, and is my impression of shoreline grasses and distant hills, with the intrigue of a train coming through and just in vie...

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Artist Catherine McCargar enjoys living in Northern California with the wine country of the Bay Area within easy reach. "I found the softly rolling hills of p...

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Artist Catherine McCargar paints vibrant purple flowers cut fresh from her lawn. "This summer, after plentiful winter rains, the buddleia or butterfly bushes in my garden are full of lush blooms," shares Catherine. She gathers a bunch and paints them in an impressionist style, letting the watercolors flow together. Catherine makes a delicate and painterly portrait of the blossoming stems.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...

Artist Comments
Enamored with the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, artist Catherine McCargar paints a deep and abiding seascape of the California coast. A family of three stands along a gorgeous impressionist seascape, relishing in nature's boundless splendor. She displays calm violet hues of wet morning sand against gentle white waves and golden cliffs. The breathtaking scenery evokes a palpable sense of wonder, peace, and restoration.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.

Words that describe this painting: seascape, ocean, beach, shore, sand, coastal, California Central Coast, peaceful, calm, shoreline, walking, family, grass, plants, waves, watercolor, paper, small, rocks, cliff, impressionism, impressionism, seascape, watercolor painting, purple

And All is Well...

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Artist Catherine McCargar shares a soothing scene of the Pacific Ocean skirting along the verdant coast. Invigorating frothy waves waves...

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Artist Catherine McCargar captures the peaceful ambiance of a September morning in the countryside. She paints a view of Harmony, a tiny town along the central California coast just south of Cambria. The iconic farmhouse is enveloped by soft golden grasses and cool blue hills, imparting a tranquil feel to the scenic surroundings.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...

Artist Comments
Artist Catherine McCargar finds inspiration from a row of colorful kayaks while on an outing to Tomales Bay in California. "I was captivated by the rainbow co...

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A quiet, peaceful meadow near Lime Ridge on Mt. Diablo in California. Catherine explains that at one time, this area was bustling with mining activity. She fo...

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A panoramic autumn view of rolling hills and a sailboat on the bay in Northern California. The blue water provides a refreshing sight within the grassy straw-...

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Artist Catherine McCargar presents a bright and lively impressionist rendering of flowers and leaves. They bloom profusely in a garden, celebrating abundance and color. The flowers, dahlias, roses, and pansies, growing so closely together, resemble a bouquet. "I am equally interested in gardening pursuits as I am in creating paintings," shares Catherine.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.

Words that describe this painting: flora, nature, garden, roses, spring, summer, season, flora, flowers, dahlia, pansy, pansies, botanical, watercolor, paper, impressionism, impressionism, flora, watercolor painting, green

Garden Bouquet...

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Trees dot a grassy landscape under a clear blue sky. Captured by the shadows cast by a lone tree, artist Catherine McCargar painted this peaceful scene on a late California summer morning. The purple and lavender shades contrast and complement the golden glow of the morning sun. Catherine employed an impressionist style to simplify the subject matter, yet her brushwork on the foreground grasses is intricately detailed.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.

Words that describe this painting: landscape, field, trees, impressionism, shadow, sunlight, summer, sky, watercolor, paper, morning, impressionism, landscape, watercolor painting, green

New Day Dawning...

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Here are late summer sunflowers, girasoli, growing in a garden that also produces fresh seasonal vegetables for us locals. Sunflowers are always smiling, and ...

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"This painting is a closer-up version of an earlier work called French Laundry," shares artist Catherine McCargar. She uses the same technique of priming the watercolor paper with a layer of gesso as the first painting. The process gives more fluidity to the paint, enabling her to execute wet-on-wet and to move it around as she sees fit. Catherine achieves a truly impressionistic painting with contrasting soft and hard edges that keep the viewer engaged.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...

Artist Comments
Artist Catherine McCargar illustrates alluring red flowers in a background of white. She captures the delicacy and transparency of gorgeous poppies she noticed in a local public garden. She creates a somewhat stylized arrangement of blooming stems. "It is punctuated by the addition of the buds as they dangle before bursting forth the seed capsules that remain after the petals drop," says Catherine.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...

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Catherine developed a soft, warm background to highlight these delicate and papery seed casings. The silvery, translucent lunaria dance around the stunning or...

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Artist Catherine McCargar presents an intriguing close-up of succulents tenaciously adorning a dramatic cliff. The view overlooks the Pacific Ocean in Point Lobos Natural Reserve. "This park near Carmel, California, is among my most inspirational places to visit," shares Catherine. She joyfully gets lost in painting, adding detail after detail. The fluid colors allow the movement of pigments and the precision of brushwork.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California...

Artist Comments
Artist Catherine McCargar can't help but be charmed by California's expansive vineyards. Often taking inspiration from the rich and verdant views as she lives in easy travel distance to many of them. In this piece, Catherine offers the viewers a perspective from within a vineyard. Rows and rows of grapevines cover the landscape and nearby trees border the edge adding fiery touches to the scene. Painting the piece in an impressionistic style, Catherine uses deep shadows that highlight autumn light drawing the viewer in to see what she sees.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.

Words that describe this painting: landscape, vineyard, grapes, nature, autumn, fall, season, California, wine country, impressionism, farm, plants, watercolor, paper, travel, impressionism, landscape, travel, watercolor painting, green

November in the Vineyard...

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Artist Catherine McCargar displays a dreamy forest clearing in delicate color. Trees line the landscape, casting shadows on the wintry terrain. A peaceful and...

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"Mt. Diablo has many faces," says artist Catherine McCargar. "It can be seen from afar and up close." In this painting, Catherine captured the scene by standi...

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I enjoy making trips to Palm Springs to collect inspirational material for paintings. I am especially drawn to the bougainvillea blossoms that grow so well in...

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A young girl reaches for her father's ready hand to guide her while she walks along a low wall in a lush garden. "I love gardens, and paint them often, so the...

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"Mount Diablo is a majestic presence throughout California's Bay Area," says artist Catherine McCargar. In this painting, she capt...

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Artist Catherine McCargar paints a classic white house perched on top of a hill. Lush greenery circles the delightful scene. She depicts serene surroundings r...

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A group of inviting Mediterranean style homes in Palm Springs nestled against a backdrop of rocky desert hills, and watched over by a sentinel palm tree. "Thi...

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"The inland hill country of Northern California is ideal for raising and riding horses," says artist Catherine McCargar. "This is my impression of a scene at a local ranch that captures both an up-close view of iconic beaver-tail cactus, and a glimpse of the surrounding rolling and distant hills." Catherine infused the scene with bright midday sun and the quiet, welcoming atmosphere of the landscape.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.

Words that describe this painting: landscape, hills, plants, cactus, ranch, mountains, nature, country, impressionism, Northern California, prickly pear, western, impressionism, nature, western, representational, acrylic painting, green

Horse Country...

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"Penguins are amazing family focused creatures, and I really do enjoy painting them," explains Catherine. She created this painting on heavyweight paper using primarily watercolor, with touches of graphite and gouache as well.

About the Artist
Impressionist Catherine McCargar expresses her deep admiration of nature through landscape paintings of Northern California. While she is well-versed in a range of media, her preferred medium for painting is watercolor. The fluidity of the paint allows her to capture the muted undertones and the fleeting light found in the natural world. While the backgrounds of her paintings are impressionistic, the foregrounds of her paintings are often highly detailed, showcasing her technical mastery over her medium.

Words that describe this painting: animals, penguins, animals, representational, watercolor painting, grey

Family Gathering...

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Artist Catherine McCargar explores the tranquility of still waters and deep shadows in this peaceful coastal landscape. The sun's rays shine on the greenery w...

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This is my kind of garden; in full bloom, and crammed with a splendid variety of pretty things. The subject matter delights me not only because I love gardens...

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Artist Catherine McCargar based this painting off of a plein air piece she created while standing in the middle of this walking path and horse trail. "I had t...

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I began this painting on location in plein air, positioning my easel on a path along a hillside that overlooks the out-buildings of a working farm, The farm i...

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A place with the name Green Valley lives up to its name in this painting. The impressionistic handling of the subject gives room for the imagination of the viewer to draw on personal memories of the joys and promises of spring. This piece is painted to the edges of the paper on heavyweight watercolor paper. It will need a frame for display.

About the Artist
Catherine McCargar created her first work of art at five years old, a snowman drawn on blue construction paper. A group of artists invited her to try plein air painting and she fell in love. In her eyes, the time spent composing and recording in the open air is invaluable to breathe life into a painting. Catherine currently lives in California and loves tending her garden and being creative in the kitchen when she;s not painting. Fun fact: she occasionally writes stories for her granddaughter with accompanying ink drawings; she recently wrote a series called Baby Owl Learns to Fly.

Green Valley Spring...

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A thick greenery surrounds a quaint cottage, its roof peeking through the vibrant foliage. Roses bloom profusely in the foreground while trees soar high in th...

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Artist Catherine McCargar displays a view of a barn overlooking a verdant hill. After winter rains, the hillsides in northern California green up, and winter ...

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Artist Catherine McCargar presents an old barn on top of a sloping road in rural California. As a plein air painter, she sometimes ventures out in less-than-ideal weather conditions. "The day was cold and foggy, but this made for beautiful, nuanced colors and muted tones delightfully rendered in watercolor," shares Catherine. She draws inspiration from the Swedish painter Carl...

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Artist Catherine McCargar exhibits a scenic landscape of Mt. Diablo with an impressionistic style. The dense leaves of the lush trees rustle from the refreshing gusts of mountain air. Catherine notes that the dark parts of the mountain appear obscured in the shadows during early fall when the lower foothills turn a soft golden yellow. She captures the view en plein air from a location in Walnut Creek...