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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 Tag: polar exploration

Polar Wonders at the McMichael Canadian art Collection

David McEown

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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

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 Also it includes his unpublished memoirs from the “heroic” age of polar exploration.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”

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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

The North Pole

David McEown

The Arts in this environment above 89° North is about survival first.  Every detail and action must be considered to avoid letting the cold take grip on ones ability.  Awareness of the ice is paramount as cracks can appear anytime, and weather is also extreme.  
On top of the world, the light is now continuous and the sun circumnavigates our actions, emitting polar optical effects, as we make our way through endless shapes, texture and colour.  
Such reward it is to set up camp and feel the warm stove and feel reverence to what is often taken for granted.  Then is time for reflection and creation of paintings.  I let the washes of paint freeze and hope to bring back to share these raw paintings that are marked by the arctic air.  

Many thanks to Victor Boyarsky, director of the Agency "VICAAR", (www.northpolextreme.com/iindex.html ) and my partner, Daisy Gilardini, (www.daisygilardini.com ) for having me as an assistant on this photo-video assignment to record the science, adventure ski trips, and re-supply missions to some of the incredible polar projects that are in progress near the Barneo ice camp.

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categories Arctic, en plein air, Landscape painting, North Pole, Northern Landscapes, Watercolour, watercolor
tags north pole, Arctic, polar exploration, watercolour, ice pack