Water Works
Oil Paintings by Cathryn McEwen
Oil Paintings by Cathryn McEwen
My current work deals with figures in water and is a continuation of my interest in body language, emotion and narrative. My intention is to extend the concept of a portrait or portrayal of a figure using the water to express something more about them through reflection or the surface qualities; an alter ego, a deeper emotion, a secret desire, or a darker side of the person involved.
"CathrynMcEwen's dialogue remains faithful to the importance of body language and afundamental 'reading between the lines.' Her subjects, immersed in water, arein profound conversation with their own reflection... images which do notalways portray that which we'd expect. With titles like 'Beauty and theBeast', ‘Negative Reaction’ and 'Getting in Touch', Cathryn's images take us tothe innermost realms of the human spirit, and forces us to reach far beyond thesurface. Her technical work is precise and meticulous, but it is her innateability to make us one with her subjects and to thrust usinto their most intimate conversations which envelopes and holds our attention.Cathryn does not settle with mere aesthetics, she guides us through theundercurrents of a mature discourse questioning that which we perceive of ourselves and that whichis perceived by others. Although all of her subjects are only partiallysubmerged in the water that surrounds them, there is nothing superficial aboutthem, or McEwen's work."
ALEC VON BARGEN
Founder
ONDARTE International Artist Residency
Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
"CathrynMcEwen's dialogue remains faithful to the importance of body language and afundamental 'reading between the lines.' Her subjects, immersed in water, arein profound conversation with their own reflection... images which do notalways portray that which we'd expect. With titles like 'Beauty and theBeast', ‘Negative Reaction’ and 'Getting in Touch', Cathryn's images take us tothe innermost realms of the human spirit, and forces us to reach far beyond thesurface. Her technical work is precise and meticulous, but it is her innateability to make us one with her subjects and to thrust usinto their most intimate conversations which envelopes and holds our attention.Cathryn does not settle with mere aesthetics, she guides us through theundercurrents of a mature discourse questioning that which we perceive of ourselves and that whichis perceived by others. Although all of her subjects are only partiallysubmerged in the water that surrounds them, there is nothing superficial aboutthem, or McEwen's work."
ALEC VON BARGEN
Founder
ONDARTE International Artist Residency
Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Surface Tension 102 X 73 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2012
Its All Too Beautiful 76 X 62 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2012
Baptism 76 X 92 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2012
Save Me 80 X 80 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2012
Sink or Swim 82 X 66 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2012
Getting in Touch 80 X 60 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2012
I keep making the same mistakes 76 X 76 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2011
Back to Basics 91 X 91 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2012
Lost in the Moment 102 X 76 copyright Cathryn McEwen 2012
