Featured Artwork

Hello! Thank you for visiting my gallery and shop. 

My name is Catherine, but everyone calls me Katie. I' am passionate about painting and will paint just about anything - walls, furniture, iron, garden art, canvas, wood, paper. Essentially, if it doesn’t move, paint it! Over the last few years I have devoted more time on improving my drawing and painting skills, and I am excited about launching this gallery and shop as a way to share my art with others.

Newly retired and with a few drawing and painting courses under my belt, I launched myself into the art world in September 2022 at the Mendocino Open Paint Out. Wow - what an experience and challenge! It was an honor to paint alongside amazing artists who have been working on their craft for years. 

I love the challenge of translating the 3D world around us onto a 2D surface in a way that is not only convincing, but compelling. I discovered my love for plein air painting about a year ago, and often paint along the bike paths near our home in Roseville, CA. The scenery is very typical of Northern California - dry grassy fields in the late summer with blue oaks for miles on end. To the casual eye, it is not very exciting and most people are counting the miles as they ride, run or walk by. However, with paintbrush in hand, I am captured by the contrasts between grasses, sky and stately oaks as well as the subtle shifts in yellows, greens, blues and violets that are revealed when you stop to take a closer look. 

Currently, my portfolio includes a collection of small-format oil, watercolor, gouache and mixed-media paintings (8 x 10 or smaller). In the coming year, I plan on spending more time exploring new areas to paint, participating in juried competitions in the area, and growing my portfolio. Join my mailing list and/or follow me on Facebook/Instagram to see what I am working on and be notified when new original paintings and prints are available in my shop. I look forward to connecting with you! 

Happily painting, 

Catherine (Katie) Fears