Matthew Teitelbaum (ed.), Paterson Ewen, Toronto, 1996, pages 47, 49 and 51
John G. Hatch, Paterson Ewen, Life & Work [online publication], Art Canada Institute, Toronto, 2018, page 63
Paterson Ewen’s painting does not follow a linear pattern, nor can it be clearly categorized into a particular art movement. He found himself a latecomer to the Montreal abstract art scene and never fully associated a particular group or strategy, be it the gestural technique of the Automatistes or the rigid canvases of Les Plasticiens.
In Ewen’s mature work, his “predominant aesthetic was a loosely based abstract lyricism rooted in the observation of natural phenomenon.” This watercolour painting makes subtle reference to his interest in celestial subject matter - perhaps it is a planet, a comet, a moon in the sky. John G. Hatch writes that “Ewen was at the vanguard of a diverse group of artists who have subsequently depicted celestial subjects in their work. [...] His paintings of planets, comets, galaxies and other celestial features have encouraged others to explore beyond our immediate surroundings.”
