Catherine Antoine : from the love of words to the love of line and color

Why paint or draw? For most of my life I was an international reporter, in South East Asia, in Europe, in the United States. I wrote articles in French originally, but later I had to switch to English. As the years went by the unique, intimate link that I held to my mother tongue became blurred.

This is how I turned to the language of lines and color, shadows and light, to express the deepest parts of myself.

To paint or to draw is a slow meditation on the world that surrounds us, what it is that we see. Far from the stress of daily news reporting, I discovered that painting and drawing require a major shift in the pace of life. For one thing, the studio is a lonely place. The still life or the landscape speak to me in silence. They tell me their stories, they take me down a quiet path. The more I look, the more I see.

None of my paintings ever feels “finished.” The red could be more intense, blue more translucent, yellow more luminous. Shadows offer endless nuances of violet and green. I make this maxim my own: one never finishes a painting, one lets it go.

To draw a living model is a different experience. When all is well, I feel an invisible connection to the person whose heart is beating right in front of me. Each gesture, each curve of the muscle is a gift offered. I accept it with respect. Harmonious, peaceful or dynamic, the drawing emerges beyond my will. The result is often is surprise.

Since 2005, I studied art for several years at the Washington Studio School. Then, guided by Georgia O’Keefe “I decided to accept as true my own thinking,” I decided that I was ready to try to figure it out by myself. I spent a lot of time in my own studio. Music blaring, lost in thoughts. Artists who taught me a great deal are Carlton Fletcher, Maggie Siner and Martin Campos; plus several others, generous with their experience and thoughts.

I love nothing more than being captivated by a sight, whatever it is. The scene grabs me. It is an adventure always repeated, never twice the same.

I hope you enjoy these paintings and drawings. I’d love you hear from you.

Shows:

Several annual student shows at the Washington Studio School

Aubusson, France, 2022 international salon

2023 - 2024 Annual student show at the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA

2024 DelRay Artisans - August show “The Science of our Surroundings”