Painting the Universe

Artist Cathrin Machin does something pretty unique in our astro-centric world. Yes, she photographs wonderful deep space objects, but that is only the starting point. And yes, she uses graphic design skills combined with Photoshop to move her images along.

But then it starts to get different. That’s when the real black canvas comes out—not the “canvas” of the night sky that we often metaphorically talk about. She brings out a real black canvas—along with brushes and oils—to bring a new kind of creative eye to depicting celestial nebulae and constellations.

That’s right, Cathrin literally paints the cosmos.

Moreover, her one-of-a-kind paintings are highly sought after and quickly sell out, leading her to constantly search the skies for more inspiration.

In this presentation, learn more about Cathrin’s process: how she creates these stellar paintings as well as what it takes to make a leap of faith forward as an artist.

Note: Buy the Print!

If you were one of the lucky people who attended Cathrin's talk, then you know how much fun it was to watch her create the oil-on-aluminum painting "Night Lights" (below).

The original painting was auctioned to the highest bidder at the end of the talk, but now anyone can own a print. (Well, 50 anyones can, because the print run is limited.)

Visit Cathrin's website for more information and to purchase this beautiful memento of the 2025 summit.