Contact David Mceown

Many thanks for visiting my web site. We are often on assignment  or on a painting trip but will try to reply to your messages as soon as possible!

Studio visits also  may be arranged in Vancouver and Richmond Hill - Ontario,  Canada through out the year. I  look forward to hear from you.

 

 

         

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Recent/Blog

News and blog posts about recent works, workshops, events, presentations, expeditions and exhibitions by Canadian artist David McEown.

Filtering by Category: en plein air

Drawn to Africa

David McEown

vicfalls2web.jpg

In July I had the opportunity to paint and experience a slice of Africa. It will take awhile to process the immense wildlife diversity and the richness in possible compositions for larger paintings. It was very moving to be in the presence of rhinos, elephants and lions to name  just a few animals plus have time to sketch and ponder their behaviour , power and precarious existence in this age of habitat loss and the threat of poaching. 

I am in gratitude for the parks , reserves , photo safaris and conservation groups that are working so hard and with often great sacrifice to protect these amazing animals and habitats. Many thanks to Pangolin Photo Safaris , Jacki’s House at Sabi Sand ,  Madikwe Safari Lodge  and our dear friends in South Africa for guiding and teaching us so much about Africa! 

Posted here are a few drawings and paintings plus a 5 minute video of encounters with  the wildlife of Chobe National Park in Botswana, as well as Midikwe and Sabi Sand Game reserves plus Kruger National Park in South Africa . (Also with a side trip to Victoria falls in Zimbabwe) More paintings from Africa will be posted on the Africa page of this website.

5 Comments
categories Africa, Botswana, Travel, Safari, Landscape painting, en plein air, Wildlife
tags en plein air, Watercolor, drawing, elephant, lion, rhino

In Svalbard Ice

David McEown

While recently painting studies of the sea ice north of Svalbard on an ice strengthened research vessel we encountered Minke and Blue whales as well as Polar Bears hunting for seals. Here are   recent videos from the voyage as well as paintings completed on location. More paintings from Svalbard and other dynamic locations in the arctic  are posted on my the Arctic page. 

Many thanks to the team at One Ocean Expeditions for guiding us there. I look forward to  be on the team next summer as part of the "Art in the Arctic" trips" . There is still availabilty for those that may want to paint or draw in the arctic plus brush up on photographic skills!

Comment
categories Arctic, en plein air, watercolor, Watercolour
tags Svalbard, spitsbergen, Arctic, Polar Bear

Antarctica

David McEown

Once again we visited the antarctic peninsula  as part of the team at One Ocean Expeditions. However this time we arrived later in the season and saw lots of seal and whale action including many adolescent  and energenic penguin chicks! Posted here are video journal highlights , and a selection of Antarctic paintings completed on location.

A collection of video impressions from the Antarctic Peninsula , including David painting the dramatic glacier at Neko Harbour.

This short video is shot while painting on Petermann Island, a special place to observe the variations of penguin species nesting and the changes in populations due to climate change. In this case David encounters 2 young adelie penguin chicks walking into the foreground in front of a dramatic backdrop. 

During a voyage in the Antarctic Sound aboard a Russian research vessel , David paints in sub zero temperatures to allow chance effects and interplay of the weather and the mark making process, all the while trying to convey the scale and mood of immense tabular icebergs appearing through the advancing storm. On the way north , the ship surveys the shores of Elephant island and David has a chance to work on a few paintings of "Point Wild", this is were the members of Shackleton's party were rescued.

Comment
categories Antarctica, Elephant Island, en plein air, extreme painting, Landscape painting, Point Wild, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic Peninsula
tags Antarctic paintings, Antarctica, Elephant island, Penguins, en plein air

South Georgia

David McEown

Looking forward to working with reference gathered during our recent trip to South Georgia, Posted here are highlights and video of the process of trying to comprehend on paper the scale of these sub-antarctic islands.

King penguins line up to cool down and molt along side the glacial melt water rivers of St Andrews bay. The warm sunshine allows for washes to dry allowing for transparent veils of colour to be applied in an attempt to capture the feeling of backlighting over this surreal landscape.

There is not paper big enough to capture the vast display of life force present at the king penguin colony of Salisbury Plain, South Georgia! Canadian artist David McEown paints on location in watercolour some of this planets most remote yet fragile landscapes.

Comment
categories Antarctica, Baffin island, en plein air, extreme painting, Landscape painting, South Georgia, South Georgia Heritage Trust, St-Andrews Bay, King Penguins
tags Watercolor, South Georgia, St- Andrews Bay, Penguins

Falkland Islands

David McEown

We started 2017 off by camping for a few weeks in the Falkland Islands. The wildlife and landscape of Saunders island and  Volunteer point are very inspiring! Posted on this page is photos and a few  short video highlights of behind the scenes of the painting process. 

Video of king penguins merge with watercolours as David McEown paints on location during a visit to the king penguin colony and white sand beaches of Volunteer Point in the Falkland Islands.

This time lapse trailer is shot while painting the changing light on a colony of Black Browed Albatrosses located on Saunders Island.

Comment
categories Antarctica, en plein air, extreme painting, Landscape painting
tags Fakland Islanda, Saunders Island, Watercolor, Watercolours, Black Browed Albatross, albatross, Volenteer Point

Northwest Passage, Canada and Greenland's Arctic in Watercolour

David McEown

Greenland

Overlooking the Ilulissat  Ice fjord. Greenland , There is not paper big enough! (photo by C.S Ling)

In August 2016 I returned to the arctic and continued to  work on the  long term study and documentation of the arctic's incredibly beautiful yet fragile changing landscape. Also i am hoping to soon publish a book of arctic paintings and have some fine reference to work from and thus add to the large collection of studio paintings and plein-air works completed. A selection can be viewed in the arctic wonders galleries  and its links .

Ilulissat Ice  fjord - Jacobsharvn glacier, 15 x 44in watercolour, diptych  - Greenland (available for sale)

Northwest Passage

"Arctic Poppy, 15 x22 inches, watercolor

"Arctic Poppy, 15 x22 inches, watercolor

Many thanks to One Ocean expeditions for navigating us through the arctic's waterways,  and to view its wildlife. Always special  to visit  the wonderful folks that have lived on this land long before the age of exploration. History and stories are written and preserved across the tundra and beneath the surface of  water and ice. It is my hope that  i can bring a few of them to light on paper.

Baffin Island

1 Comment
categories Arctic, Baffin island, Beechey Island, Devon island, en plein air, extreme painting, Landscape painting, Northern Landscapes, Northwest Passage, Nunavut, Watercolour, watercolor
tags Arctic Paintings, Greenland Paintings, Watercolours, Northwest Passage artwork

Upcoming Expeditions to South Georgia , Antarctica

David McEown

Painting at Gold Harbour, South Georgia.

Painting at Gold Harbour, South Georgia.

We are excited to be joining One Ocean Expeditions for the following  2015 trips and programs to Antarctica/ South Georgia. 

“Painting and Photography in  the sub antarctic island of South Georgia is truly incomparable. Its  stark remoteness and vast glaciated peaks rising out of an unforgiving icy ocean is home to unbelievably  numerous and curious species of  wildlife that makes one  feel like a visitor to a whole new planet. The overwhelming scale, patterns ,color and texture of this place   provides endless  creative inspiration yet can challenge  and “reset” old preconceptions of composition and field work habits while awakening feelings of beauty, reverence and interconnectedness.”

• "SOUTH GEORGIA IN DEPTH" Oct. 17- 30,

 

• "ANTARCTICA OFF THE BEATEN TRACK" NOV. 10- 22

• "FALKLANDS, SOUTH GEORGIA, ANTARCTICA PHOTOGRAPHIC SYMPOSIUM", NOV. 22 to DEC. 10, 
with watercolorist David McEown and photographer Daisy Gilardini


To find out more details on the program, itinerary , and cabin availability  see one ocean expeditions.

This video clip  is from a 2011 expedition to South Georgia.

2 Comments
categories Antarctica, Elephant Island, en plein air, Landscape painting, Point Wild, South Georgia, St-Andrews Bay, Watercolour, watercolor
tags Antarctic paintings, Elephant island, South Georgia, Antarctica, Gold Harbour, watercolour

Polar Wonders at the McMichael Canadian art Collection

David McEown

Comment
categories Antarctica, Arctic, Baffin island, Devon island, en plein air, Greenland, Landscape painting, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, North Pole, Northern Landscapes, South Georgia, Watercolour, watercolor
tags McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Arctic, Greenland, polar exploration