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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 Tag: Antarctica

Kings of South Georgia and Icescapes of Antarctica

David McEown

The following video clips and paintings were inspired by a pilgrimage to the Sub Antarctic  island of South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula in October through December 2017. It has been my long term project to record and raise awareness about the fragility of  these natural wonders as well as try to express their inherent  beauty. Many more paintings and video circumnavigating Antarctica can be viewed on my  Antarctica page.

Wildlife highlights and  the challenges of painting on location while painting in watercolour overlooking the big three king penguin colonies on South Georgia Island: St.Andrews Bay, Salisbury Plain and Gold Harbour.

Antarctica 

Painting and wildlife video time lapse highlights from Antarctica , including early season visits to Mikkelsen Harbor, Cuverville Island and the south shetland islands. Encounters with jumping penguins, breaching humpbacks and a weddell seal animate the contemplative process of watercolour painting.

"Sleeping Giant, Paradise Harbour" , 32 x 60 inches watercolour. (studio painting, available for sale)

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categories Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia
tags King Penguins, Antarctica, South Georgia Island

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.

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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

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

Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands 2013 painting highlights.

David McEown

I am just unpacking paintings and backing up terabytes of reference materialfromthe recent expeditions to South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.  The two videos in thispost share some of the painting highlights and wildlife encounters which Daisy  and I filmed. We were fortunate to go back in February 2013 at the end of the Antarctic summer and visited again this November through December in the austral spring to continue our long-term projectstudying this wilderness area.

The trips were not only successful in the wonders we saw but also for the charity auctions that raised much-needed funds to supportimportant conservation projects such as the South Georgia Heritage Trust and Oceanites. Thank you again to the generous fellow travellers that put forth a bid on my illustrated marine charts and Daisy's books. Also a big thank you again the the One Ocean Team for making it happen!

"Enter the Drake", 6 x 15 inchers, watercolour
"Enter the Drake", 6 x 15 inchers, watercolour
From Petermann Island, 12 x 22 inches, watercolour
From Petermann Island, 12 x 22 inches, watercolour
Painting From Petermann Island.
Painting From Petermann Island.
6 Comments
categories Antarctica, Elephant Island, en plein air, Paradise Bay, Peninsula, Point Wild, South Georgia, South Georgia Heritage Trust, watercolor, Watercolour
tags Antarctic paintings, Antarctica, en plein air, Frank Wild, Icebergs, Sir Ernest Shackleton, South Georgia Island, Watercolor, watercolour

Painting in Antarctica

David McEown

 Early in the season we saw incredible sunsets and unusual amounts of ice in the channels. Recent paintings are now posted on the website and many new studio works are in the concept stage. Having so much amazing reference and ideas is a wonderful problem to have!

Iceberg n.10
Iceberg n.10

In the Antarctic spring it is exciting to witness the energy of creatures breaking trails in the fresh snow returning to nest or  to feed below the surface. They seem so at home among the  hidden turquoise ice caves, following the ancient rhythms and echoes of the ocean. Often it seems the weather etches the shapes of mythical beings on the icebergs. Every block of ice has such a story to tell as it  contains  the  layers of the past as well is being  worn by the  warming currents of today.

Iceberg n.11
Iceberg n.11
3 Comments
categories Antarctica, Art Workshops, Elephant Island, en plein air, Landscape painting, Peninsula, watercolor, Watercolour
tags Antarctica, en plein air, Frank Wild, Icebergs, Paintings, Watercolor

Painting South Georgia

David McEown

For all around wildlife and scenery, a visit to the sub antarctic island of South Georgia is incomparable. The video above captures some of the painting highlights and wildlife encounters from a recent trip in late 2011.

Imagine being dropped off at a beach to paint and be surrounded by more than 200,000 King Penguins, this is truly an exciting problem to have!

Painting with Elephant seal pup at Gold Harbour
Painting with Elephant seal pup at Gold Harbour

After taking some photo and video reference I find a place to sit without obstructing the wildlife highways and be still to observe the cycle of life displayed within meters. On one landing a real highlight was when an elephant seal pup came out of the surf and decided to curl up underneath my easel thus slowly nudge me off my chair.

The Gathering at Gold Harbour
The Gathering at Gold Harbour

With only a few hours ashore before heading back to the ship, the main landscape contours and mood is recorded in wash as well as inspiring groupings of wildlife interaction rendered. These on location works are really useful as reference for future studio paintings as photos can come with unnecessary details.

Fortuna Bay - South Georgia
Fortuna Bay - South Georgia

We really look forward to go back to South Georgia and Antarctica next season!

West Point - Falkland Islands
West Point - Falkland Islands
6 Comments
categories Antarctica, Elephant Island, en plein air, Landscape painting, Point Wild, South Georgia, Watercolour
tags Antarctica, en plein air, Fakland Islanda, Fortuna Bay, Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island, West Point

Commander Frank Wild Returns to South Georgia

David McEown

It was a privilege to witness the return of the great polar explorer, Commander Frank Wild, back to South Georgia. It was Frank Wild’s wife’s wish to have him buried in South Georgia and it was fitting to have his ashes reunited along side his friend Sir Ernest Shackleton.

The attached video captures some of the highlights we shotfrom the service that was attended by relatives of Frank Wild as well as Alexandra Shackleton, Sir Ernest’s granddaughter.

This historic event became a possibility when Frank’s ashes were discovered by the efforts of Angie Butler during her writing of the book “The Quest for Frank Wild”. It is a fascinating and informative read about this great but unsung man. Also it includes his unpublished memoirs from the “heroic” age of polar exploration.

After filming the morning service I spent all afternoon pacing along the shoreline of Grytviken trying to find a composition that would capture the significance of the day.  In late afternoon light I found a perch just above the cemetery overlooking the bay.  The scene was overwhelming to paint in the few hours left so after several tries I simplified the composition using only the top part of Shackleton’s  grave stone in lower right as well as one cross. These suggestions give room for directional lines to pull the viewer across to the church and the last light on the abandoned whaling station.  Thanks to One Ocean Expeditions formaking this event possible.

Grytviken, South Georgia
Grytviken, South Georgia

Frank Wild wrote of Shackletons’s grave site (from Angie Butlers book):

“Grytviken is a romantic spot. All around are big mountains, bold in outline and snow covered. Below lies one of the most perfect little harbours in the world, at times disturbed by the by the fierce winds from the hills and lashed by gusty squalls to a mass of flying spume and spindrift. Often it lies calm and peaceful, bathed in glorious sunshine and reflecting in its deeps the high peaks around, whilst the sea birds, “souls of old mariners,”circle in sweeping flights above its surface and fill the air with the melancholy of their cries. An ideal resting place this for the great explorer who felt, more than most men, the glamour of such surroundings”

6 Comments
categories Antarctica, Elephant Island, en plein air, Landscape painting, Point Wild, South Georgia, Uncategorized, Watercolour
tags Antarctica, en plein air, Frank Wild, grytviken, ocean expeditions, polar exploration, Sir Ernest Shackleton, South Georgia, Watercolor

Return to Antarctica and South Georgia

David McEown

In November 2011 I will be returning to Antarctica and really look forward to visit South Georgia again. This special expedition will be taking the ashes of explorerFrank Wild to South Georgia where he will be buried besidehis “boss” and loyal friend Sir Ernest Shackleton. Mr Wild was Shackleton’ right hand man and played a huge role in the 1914-1916 Imperial Trans-Antarctic  expedition  . As secondin command he was left in charge of 21 men on a desolate rock on Elephant island while Shackleton and crew of 5 made the epicrescue mission to South Georgia in a lifeboat. From April 24th to August 30 (winter in antarctica) , Wild and men waited until rescued on a rock now called Point Wild. They all survived. Attached on this post issome short video clips from a previous trip to Elephant Islandand a taste of theincredible wildlifeand painting-photography opportunities at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia Island.

[wpvideo JiGsd2rV] .

Last week I was honoured to receive  the Curry's , Da Vinci award, in recognition of the  painting   "Paradise Bay, Antarctica' . For several years now I have painted on the great white continent and always find inspiration in its natural  beauty and endless abstractions of form. Witnessing climate change among the massive ice shelves, and glaciers, I contemplate this melting flow of water that effects us all. Watercolour is an ideal medium for attempting  to capture the light and flow of this journey  and i am grateful to share this painting at this Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour  open international juried exhibition in Toronto.

"Paradise Bay, Antarctica",
"Paradise Bay, Antarctica",
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categories Antarctica, cspws, Elephant Island, Paradise Bay, Point Wild, South Georgia, St-Andrews Bay
tags Antarctica, cspwc, Elephant island, Frank Wild, Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition, Paradise Bay, Point Wild, Sir Ernest Shackleton, South Georgia Island, St- Andrews Bay