The River Runs Through It
On Display in the South Gallery at the Columbia Art League
9.8.26 - 10.3.26
Artist Statement:
Walt Whitman wrote, “The passionate play goes on and you may contribute a verse.” Painting is my way of contributing a verse. I take what I see in the landscape and infuse it with my own thoughts, feelings and stories. My work is not just a representation of what I see, but how I feel in the moment I paint. My plein air palette knife paintings are done alla prima, also known as direct painting. They are each done in a single session while the paint is still wet. This style of painting helps my intentions stay succinct, emphasizing textures within each painting.
I have been painting the Missouri River for the last sixty years. Not only does this river run through my community, it has been a constant presence in my life as an artist. Thanks to my Aunt Ruth, I now know the Missouri River has also run through generations of my family history. My great great great great grandfather Josiah Dickson settled in Missouri back in 1819. The Missouri River has not only been a touchpoint for connecting to the land and to my inner self as I work, it helps me reach back in time to the family that came before.
About the Artist:
Catherine Mahoney is an award-winning plein air artist who works in both oil and watercolor. She holds a BS in Art Education from Truman University and has decades of teaching experience in both private and public settings.
