Ask the Artist: Catherine O'Mara

Name: Catherine O'Mara
Medium: Egg Tempera

How long have you worked in this medium? 17 years.

Were you formally trained or self-taught? Self taught.

What do you love about your medium? The ability to achieve a great depth of colour with thin, transparent layers.

What is your least favourite aspect of your medium? Waiting for it to completely cure (dry).

What do you listen to when you’re working in the studio? Mostly CBC 2 ....also CBC 1, my own cd's ( wide variety).

Favourite things to do when you’re not working in the studio? Gardening and walking.

Favourite artist / craftsperson of all time and why? There are many... Vincent Van Gogh.

Favourite book? I will choose from  just the past year... the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

How long have you lived in Muskoka? 51 years.

Favourite restaurants in Muskoka?  This is too hard !! My friends' places, Little Place by the Lights, The Norsemen, ​​Three Guys and a Stove​.

Favourite road to drive in Muskoka?  The Limberlost of course!

Favourite place to hike, bike or walk in Muskoka? Limberlost Wildlife Reserve.

If you weren’t an artist/craftsperson, what would you be instead?  A florist or a something to do with gardening ... maybe a landscape architect.

Visit ​Catherine's Artist Page​ to learn more about her work.

('Ask the Artist' is an ongoing Q&A series that provides a little bit of insight into the lives of the members of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour)