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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: en plein air

Tropical Impressions from Costa Rica

David McEown

Painting on location in the tropical rainforest , Corcovado Park, Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

In December 2019, I returned to Costa Rica to revisit sites i painted many years ago when I began a series of large watercolours involving some of this earth's rare and rapidly changing ecosystems. After painting polar subjects over the last 16 years it was refreshing to change the pallet and bring along new camera and video technologies to record these special places.

“ Rainforest Encounters”, 22 x 15 inches watercolour

“ Rainforest Encounters”, 22 x 15 inches watercolour

Most of this trip focused on painting on location in the tropical rainforest , Corcovado Park, Osa Peninsula. This is one of most bio diverse parts of the planet and the senses are just wonderfully overwhelmed. Polar painting in the cold seems more challenging but the tropics has its own adjustments. Besides dripping sweat on to the paper , the humidity was so saturated overtime it dissolved the papers surface sizing thus causing some funky things on the paper . In this case i worked shape by shape (instead of soaking the whole sheet) and followed the quickly changing interior rainforest shadows. Such is paradise but one has to be mindful of snakes, as we saw earlier in the day a young highly venomous fur de lance. The flanged buttresses of these massive trees are decorated with lichen and moss patchwork. Sleeping bats were nestled in the cracks while butterfly’s would sometime stop and have a taste of the wash in my pallet. On a perfect day one can loose track of the time, which should be noted that once the sun sets it quickly gets incredibly dark and lots of the “fun” stuff comes out to play. So grateful to be back and learn from this place. 

Night walks in the tropical rainforest was a real highlight. Having excellent guides also made possible unique sitings of several frog species. I did attempt a few night sketches in the light rain by flashlight, but we focused on photography for reference. I have been working on a series of paintings celebrating these delicate creatures to add to a body of work on rainforests.

“Red -Eyed Tree Frog” 11 x 15 inches, watercolour- Costa Rica

During this painting and reference gathering trip in Costa Rica last month we had a wonderful 2 day visit at the Toucan Rescue Ranch in San Jose. 
We were so impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the people that work at the clinic and rehab centre. Their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Costa Rica wildlife while focusing on conservation, education, and research. 

Sketching wildlife at the Toucan Rescue Ranch.

“Two-Toed Sloth”, 16 x 16 inches , watercolour. This painting was inspired while sketching a curious young two-toed sloth that was out for exercise with a few others. It won’t be long before she gets stronger and bigger before being released on her …

“Two-Toed Sloth”, 16 x 16 inches , watercolour. This painting was inspired while sketching a curious young two-toed sloth that was out for exercise with a few others. It won’t be long before she gets stronger and bigger before being released on her own in the wild. Rescue centres are of great importance in highly populated areas where animals get injured because of human activity. In 2019 the Toucan Rescue Ranch rescued and released more than 120 animals, including 15 sloths

“Rainforest Edge”, 72 x 132 inches watercolour triptych

“Rainforest Edge”, 72 x 132 inches watercolour triptych

During a recent visit to Toronto i was able to revisit a large painting that was commissioned a few years ago. This painting was inspired by a trip to the pacific coast of Costa Rica. From the many studies done on location, i worked out this design and painted on 3 pieces of A’rches, 140 Lb cold press cotton rag paper cut  off the roll. 

“All the elements participate in the dance of life in the tropics where this planet's life force reaches its utmost expression. From transpiration the water gathers in pools from the dripping lianas and bromeliads and starts to flow among living sculptures, the flanged buttresses of ancient trees. Water then carves its way through clay and volcanic rock downward to the ocean. The water then arrives again to the forest from the rain clouds. The music continues through the symbiosis between flora and fauna. Decay is quickly transformed in the forest floor shadows into nutrients that are then resurrected to the light of the forest canopy.”

The process of painting starts by immersing into the landscape and painting many on site sketches of the area. Then back in the studio the experience is recollected and a synthesis of the various interactions of forms and species experienced are envisioned into a organic whole. The large scale of the painting combines the complex microcosm with the distant macrocosm to celebrate in colour the relationships and patterns;  ocean to forest, forest to light.

Visiting the home where “Rainforest Edge”, commission is installed.

Visiting the home where “Rainforest Edge”, commission is installed.

2 Comments
categories Landscape painting, Travel, Watercolour, watercolor, Wildlife, Costa Rica
tags costa Rica, Rainforest, en plein air, landscape painting, landscape painting, sloth, tree

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