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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: cspwc

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

Remembrance, a journey outward and within.

David McEown

David McEown, cspwc flag, Auster Emperor penguin Rookery , Antarctica
David McEown, cspwc flag, Auster Emperor penguin Rookery , Antarctica

I am currently in Toronto preparing and warming up my brushes for upcoming Antarctica trips.  It is the time of year to look back and pay homage to many who have inspired and opened paths for a creative life.  Just a few days ago we heard of the passing of the great teacher, artist and friend, Doris McCarthy at the age of 100 years old. She was one of few living links to a time when Canadian art was defining itself. The first time I met her,  I was a starving artist having a solo show in some obscure medical building with many flights of stairs that she just flew up (in her eighties) eager to stay in tune with what was new , she was just so encouraging of my crazy over sized watercolours yet being so humble about her own art. Over the years I would see her at several Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour events. She was the CSPWC’s president twice decades ago and was a champion of the medium, one that she used to paint on site to the far reaches of the planet. Last time I saw her, was during an invite for dinner and wine at her home a few years ago. We sat on her couch surrounded by a treasure of artwork and a nice fire in the fireplace. We looked at a recent slide show I had from Antarctica on the laptop, and joked about those smelly penguins. The images just took us back to the place of huge icebergs and fantastic abstractions evoked by the pack ice. She also noticed a few “bad” paintings and let me know when my colour was a bit garish! I could get a sense of sadness that she still longed to go back but the body was not willing. Many will miss her.

Doris McCarthy and David McEown at cspwc AGM 2003
Doris McCarthy and David McEown at cspwc AGM 2003

On November 11 the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour celebrated its birthday in the Historic Arts and Letters Club. Eighty five years ago to that date several prominent artists including members of the group of seven came together in this building and proposed the idea of a society celebrating the watercolour medium. Some of Canada’s best artists were a member at one time or another and now the C.S.P.W.C   has grown as a truly national society, not a small feat in a country the size of Canada. I am not a club guy,  but what I like is that I have driven from Newfoundland to the Yukon and have met and visited artists studios and there is always a common humbleness created by that ever challenging medium, maybe also a shared interest in transparency and “light from within”.  A few years ago, the now current president Peter Marsh and I were talking about my crazy upcoming painting trips , and that it would be fun to make a flagand take it to the North Pole. Now it’s been with several artists and several places around the globe. Lots of  fun!

David McEown with CSPWC flag at the North Pole via Russian Nuclear Icebreaker, Yamal, 2007
David McEown with CSPWC flag at the North Pole via Russian Nuclear Icebreaker, Yamal, 2007

Painting can be a journey to the ends of the earth or deep within ones consciousness. That is true with one of my teachers John Inglis who was chairman of fine arts at the Ontario College of Art and Design and continues to produce wonderful work. It was a delight to receive a copy of his new book this month, “In Quest for Countenance, a search for meaning in a world in transition”. I love his visionary watercolours that illustrate a transpersonal quest for meaning in a world of radical change. A wonderful weave of inner, outer, and body, mind and spirit. Thanks for the inspiration John!

Boreal Memory
Boreal Memory

Speaking of weaving, today I honour my mother who passed away 2 years ago today after a difficult illness at a all to young age of 62. Priscilla was an adventurer, traveler and super talented artist who loved to work in fabric. As a professional dietician she worked hard at her quilts after work and continued to find liberation in them during illness. I have so many fine pieces of hers and hope arrange a show someday. I am always open to suggestions on how to best honour that body of work. Her mantra was to do things while you can and never pass up a chance to go for a hike in the woods or in the mountains.

“The works of humanity cannot compare to the works of nature.  As a self-taught quilt artist, one of my goals has been to pay homage to the natural environment in which we dwell.  As I walk the forest trails or contemplate the reflections in a mountain stream there is a powerful sense of being connected to something greater than ourselves.  I hope to instill in each piece of work my own emotional reactions, my sense of awe and wonderment, of excitement or peacefulness and, not least, of unity with this habitat.  I remain open to new ways of seeing and expressing and have recently experimented with a degree of abstraction in some of my landscape work. Priscilla”

Summer Flow
Summer Flow
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categories Antarctica, Arctic, cspws, en plein air, Landscape painting, North Pole, Watercolour
tags Antarctica, Arts and letters club, Auster Emperor penguin rookery, cspwc, cspwc flag, Doris McCarthy, en plein air, Fabric Art, Group of Seven, John Inglis, north pole, ocad, Priscilla McEown, Quilts, Watercolor, watercolour, yamal