A Luminous World

Water has always held a unique place as a subject for artists. It’s a subject that can be calming and powerful at the same time, carrying a sense of purity, movement playful joy, and at times mystery. For many artists it’s a lifelong muse, and for Cathryn McEwen it continues to inspire paintings that capture both its beauty and its complexity.

Cathryn is a Canadian-born artist now living on the East Coast of NSW, where she works from her coastal studio. Her paintings take a closer look at the qualities of light. Water is the perfect muse for her as she explores its luminous elements. Various colours and reflected qualities create intricate scenes that feel both real and dreamlike. She has a unique way of painting the shifting play of and movement that makes each work feel alive.

One of the highlights in this newest collection is Another World (76x102cm, framed in chic black). At first glance, it’s predominantly green and yellow, but the longer you look, the more you discover. Blues, mauves, and soft neutral tones come into view, each one carefully woven into the reflections. It’s a painting that rewards time, much like water itself, where the surface tells one story but a whole other world exists just beneath.

Her attention to the movement of shallow coastal waters and the subtle differences in light gives each painting a fresh energy. Up close, you can see the brushwork capturing those fleeting moments, while from a distance the paintings shimmer with natural rhythm.

This collection also introduces something new to KAB Gallery — a series of contemporary still life paintings focusing on glass bottles and crystal wares. Just as she does with water, Cathryn studies how light filters through the glass, catching reflections and bending the colour properties. It’s fascinating to see her same approach applied to a still life subject. The bottles glow with soft transparency, and the overlapping shapes create patterns that echo the qualities of her water works. They feel connected, yet distinctly different, offering collectors another way to enjoy her style.

Cathryn’s water and bottle series are both available now at KAB Gallery Terrigal and soon at KAB Gallery Sydney when we open our new location at Neutral Bay.

The Past is a Present

Bees Knees

They are works to stop and take in slowly — paintings that invite you to look, and then look again, discovering something new each time.

About the author

Kerry-Anne Blanket

Director & Curator - KAB Gallery

KAB Gallery’s Kerry-Anne Blanket holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and two Masters degrees (Hons) from the University of Sydney. With an extensive career in art education along with the management of museums and investment art galleries, Kerry-Anne can offer premier art consulting to her clients and source specially requested works. 

She has a keen eye for detail, comprehensive art market knowledge and a love of all things beautiful. Kerry-Anne works directly with artists and collectors alike to curate interesting and eclectic exhibitions.