I have always loved giving gifts more than receiving them but that doesn’t mean I think finding the right gift is always a breeze. To make this holiday season a little breezier for you, I have put together a gift guide! I hope you find it helpful and, as always, if you need any assistance choosing the right gift this holiday season, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Send me an email at catherine@catherinefreshleyart.com. Or, come into the gallery. We're open Wednesdays 12-6 and on Saturdays through Christmas from 11-4. 1. For everyone: A calendar I am not kidding when I say everyone can use a c ..read more

So many times, I have looked at a finished painting of mine and seen multiple paintings within the painting. Meaning, you could cut the painting into several pieces and have multiple, separate paintings that all were their own, successful, compositions. Most of my paintings capture huge, expansive views of wide-open spaces. This idea of paintings within paintings would mean focusing on a smaller portion of what’s in the “viewfinder” – a more intimate view. I left in mid-September for a trip to Europe not feeling un-inspired per se, but definitely without an idea of what I wanted to ..read more

I recently got together with Casey of Casey Grace Studios for a fun styling photoshoot. She refurbishes high-end furniture, giving the pieces a totally new life. Her colorful furniture and my vibrant paintings are a natural fit! We spent several hours arranging her pieces with mine and accessorizing with all the fun décor pieces from her shop. Here we share five easy dos and don’ts for successful styling. 1. Do use accessories to fill a large space At first pass, I might think this painting is too small to hang over this dresser. But by adding tasteful accessories on both sides of the paintin ..read more

Are you headed to an art festival or a gallery? Both are fantastic places to purchase art. You’ll be able to see and get a feel for a lot of different art. At art festivals and at galleries that show multiple artists, you’ll be able to see a range of art styles, sizes, colors, mediums (what the art is made from), and prices. And, at art festivals, you’ll likely get to meet the artist! Getting to talk to the person that made the art often strengthens your connection to the art – you know the person that made it and will probably get to learn about their process and inspiration. Then, when peop ..read more

Let’s be real: TVs aren’t typically very pretty. They have commanded prime real estate in living rooms and family rooms for the better part of a century. But when not in use, they aren't usually an aesthetic asset to a home. Enter: Samsung’s The Frame TV. It has a slim profile, a unique screen designed to be minimally reflective (like a Kindle screen!), and an optional, decorative frame. When not in use, the screen can display art and photos of your choosing. It even has the option to include a mat around the image, making it truly look like framed art on your wall. Furthermore, the lighting ..read more

People often ask me what inspires me. For years – a decade? – the answer was pretty straightforward and my paintings were a direct translation of my inspiration. I was very inspired by gorgeous, everyday scenes: A sunset near my home, the lines in a field made by a combine harvesting wheat, big puffy clouds on a summer day. I would photograph those scenes and paint a painting that matched the scene. In the past couple of years, I have pushed myself as an artist and I feel like I have really grown. I have always been in awe of little details in nature and had a strong appreciation for good pro ..read more

When considering purchasing art for your home, I think it’s so helpful to see photos of art in real homes. It helps you understand how big or small a certain size painting will feel in a room and it is also helpful to see the art in context – and with real-life surroundings. I brought a few of my available paintings home and hung them in my very “normal” house. Sure, I’m creative and I think I have a good eye, but I am not an interior designer or decorator and my house is a mix of 100 years’ of homeowners’ updates (we haven’t done any)! All that to say, you don’t have to have a perfect house ..read more

Over the past dozen-plus years, I have helped many people choose art for their homes. As I wrote last week, some people look for art to fill a specific space in their home, while others purchase art simply because they like it, and they commit to making it work somewhere. This blog post shows different sizes of art in different homes, giving you an idea of what sizes look good in which areas of a home. So, whether you are shopping for a certain spot in your home, or are trying to decide where in your home to hang a new piece, hopefully you will find this helpful. I hope it goes with ..read more

Find the right space for the art or find the right art for the space? I have sold art in-person to dozens and dozens of collectors over the past 13 years, so I have had the privilege of helping both new and experienced art buyers choose the right piece. Two approaches to buying art I have observed that there are two main ways people approach buying art. Some people take the “I need a piece for over my couch…it’s this size and these colors…” approach. Some people prioritize the art; they find the piece that is their absolute most favorite and commit to making it work somewhere in their house ..read more

I am pleased to share a new collection – “Portland to Paris” – with you this week. The collection debuts at the grand opening of my gallery, which is Dec. 1 from 5 – 8 p.m. With this collection, I wanted to continue in the abstract landscape style that I started exploring last year. While I was fortunate to do a fair bit of traveling in 2022, my travels didn’t take me to many places that feature the type of scenery I like to paint (other than Willapa Bay). All that to say, I am feeling a little short on reference photos. For this collection I decided to revisit some of my favorite paintings a ..read more