“In the Morning”, 16×12, Oil on Linen, from the 2017 NOAPS Holiday Small Works Show at the Cathy Kline Gallery, Parkville, MO.

Delicate, soft brush strokes help to define the emotion seen in Catherine Marchand’s painting, “In the Morning”.  A sense of peace and quiet pleasure are found in the young girl’s expression, and if she were to look up at the viewer, she would undoubtedly smile.  This quiet beauty and happiness is a theme in Catherine’s paintings; her paintings tend to make one linger to enjoy the moment that she has captured in her work.

  “Sharing Secrets”, 30×40, Oil on Canvas, Private Collection

Catherine’s beginnings in art were from a young age, as with most artists. She started out with glass as her medium, and at age 16 she was already sculpting with it.  By her 20’s she was traveling across Ontario, Canada, demonstrating her glass blowing and sculpting, while selling her work.

Later, family life took center stage as Catherine home-schooled her children.  But a return to art came when she attended the Artra Academy of Realist Art (wwwartraart.com) where she studied drawing and acrylic painting in the classical tradition with Frank Haddock, the founder of the school.  Since then, Catherine has switched to oils, and studied with various artists throughout Canada and the US.

  “Morning Fragrance”, 24×28, Oil on Linen, Picture This Gallery, Alberta, Canada.

Catherine’s focus is mainly painting women and children.  She begins with an idea, such as a mood or feeling, something beautiful that “I am excited to paint”, and then develops the idea into a setting, paying attention to every detail.  She may have the model sit to capture the essence of the light and skin tones; then for the painting she works from one of her many photos taken during the modelling session.  In the studio, after her prayer, she begins with a toned canvas and a loose sketch done in paint. She wipes out the lights first and establishes the darks in sepia tones, and then works back and forth with the lights and darks to model the form.  Her choice of support is Odessa Linen, and her palette consists of Titanium white, Lemon yellow, Cadmium yellow medium, Indian yellow, Ochre, Sienna, Cadmium orange, Winsor red, Permanent alizarin crimson, Ultramarine blue, Turquoise, Sap green, Oxide brown and sometimes black.  She uses a variety of mongoose and bristle brushes.

  “Before”, 18×14, Oil on Linen.  Private Collection.

Aside from being a mother and a valued member of the NOAPS Board of Directors, Catherine recently completed a successful commission of Colonial era village, which included a setting completely done from her imagination.  In doing such a painting, she had moved out of her comfort zone; a good idea for all artists!

Though Catherine has enjoyed much success, she feels she is learning still.  In her words: “I think the best thing to do is practice from life as much as you can…it’s putting the miles on the brush that will take us farther down the road to our goals in painting.  What a joy and a privilege to be able to play in this field; it is a precious gift.”

Catherine Marchand is represented by Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio; Picture This Gallery, Alberta, Canada; and The Main Gallery, Alberta, Canada.  To see more of her work, visit her website at http://www.catherinemarchandart.com.

To view more of the NOAPS Holiday Small Works Show, visit http://www.noaps.org/events or follow on Facebook or Instagram (Natoilandacrylicsociety.

Written by Patricia Tribastone, NOAPS Blog Director