A Closer Look

Through careful observation, meticulous technique, and a keen sense of composition and pattern, watercolour artist Cathy Ross conveys the unique character of personal and found objects. Her found object still life paintings often convey a sense of intimate connection, collective memory and nostalgia. By presenting these objects in fine detail on an otherwise stark canvas, her subjects take on a life and agency of their own, inviting the viewer to consider their story.

As an artist, I am interested in looking at objects closely and conveying my visual response to them. Something will capture my attention – a certain colour, the unique shape of a plant or the charm of an everyday object. I then collect these things and have them in my studio as possible subjects for my work. Through careful observation, I try to convey the uniqueness and special character of each object. Sometimes elements are arranged in complex compositions, other times, I use a single subject in isolation. My paintings are meant to be intimate. I want the viewer to pause and take in the subtle joy of the ordinary and the ephemeral beauty of the natural world. – Artist Cathy Ross