Recent/Blog

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

Filtering by Tag: rainforest

Hollyhock Watercolour Workshop

June 18, 2014David McEown

It was a real pleasure to provide a watercolour workshop atHollyhock , "Canada's lifelong learning centre", on Cortes Island , BC, a few weeks ago and paint with a fine group of artists. The contemplative ambiance, facility , lodging and food was excellent as well as the variety of subjects to paint. After an early sunrise, participants had the opportunity to join in a yoga/ body work sessions before breakfast. Then we startedwithsome demos and paintedon the beach in the morning, following the tide lines. After lunchthe artist's had the opportunity to continue working or go explore the island . By 3pm sessions resumed to capture the afternoon light . Then again after another healthy buffet dinner we would have another painting session that would continueinto dusk.

Along with the stunning beach, the gardens and forest trails were also a fine source of inspiration. The only problem was that the 4 night workshop went to fast! So we are happy to announce another watercolour workshop again next yearwith and extra day.

"Artist's Journey with Watercolour"

May 31th – June 5, 2015

Explore the magical flowing spontaneity and essential techniques of this travel friendly medium. Discover painting as a form of meditation and “seeing”, allowing you to capture the moment with paper and brush. All levels welcome.

Tuition: $525 CDN / 5 nights

All inclusive accommodations and meals charged separately.

Cortes Island & Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

800-933-6339 x 232 hollyhock.ca

Registration should start by mid November 2014 , please feel free to contact us to be notified when registration begins.

"David giving a demo on the beach at Hollyhock"

"Working into the underpainting and learning to control the hard and soft edges of the mountain and cloud shapes."

"Painting the shoreline grasses, an excersise in negative shape reading, and staying cool in the shade!"

categories Art Workshops, Coast Mountains, Cortes island, en plein air, Landscape painting, Northern Landscapes, Uncategorized, Vancouver, watercolor, Watercolour, West Coast Rainforest
tags art workshops, Cortes Island, en plein air, great bear rainforest, Gulf Islands, Hollyhock, McEown, rainforest, Watercolor, watercolour

Painting In The Great Bear Rainforest

August 05, 2012David McEown

The following paintings were inspired from an amazing boat trip to the "Great Bear Rainforest ", in British Columbia's central coast. Along with several other colleagues and a wonderful crew aboard the Columbia III , we were part of a large gathering of artists working to raise awareness of the rich fragile beauty of this place that is threatened with a new proposed oil pipeline and supertanker traffic sailing through some of the most bio diverse and rich eco systems on the planet. For more information on the "Artists for an Oil Free Coast " project please visit the Raincoast Conservation Foundation Website. A wonderful coffee table book of paintings and writings from the project is now available!

categories en plein air, Great Bear Rainforest, Landscape painting, watercolor, Watercolour, West Coast Rainforest
tags 140lb cold press, Arches, en plein air, great bear rainforest, rainforest, Watercolor, watercolour

2012 Whistler and Gibsons Summer Workshops

August 04, 2012David McEown

Many thanks again to the organizers and the participants that persisted through wonderfully challenging exercisesatthe 2 workshops I gave this summer. Both theWhistler Arts Council's Workshops on the Lake, and Gibsons School of the Arts have annual fine art programs with a variety of quality instruction. We were blessed with wonderful weather that enabled on site painting right from the studio deckor to long walks on the beach after ahard studio work outon the sunshine coast!

From the our subject of moss-covered waterfalls to shoreline waves, watercolour’s magical flowing spontaneity and ethereal softness as well as its ability to make crisp highly defined form were explored. We focused on colour mixing, values, negative shape reading(no masking fluid or tricks!), creating depth and controlling the hierarchy of focal point.

I am looking forward to conducting informal art workshops on expedition cruise ships later this summer in the arctic and later this year in the antarctica summer. More Upcoming workshops will be posted soon.

categories Art Workshops, Coast Mountains, en plein air, watercolor, Watercolour, West Coast Rainforest, Whistler
tags 140lb cold press, art workshops, en plein air, Gibsons school of the arts, rainforest, sunshine coast, Watercolor, watercolour, Whistler

Pacific Spirit Forest Series

August 03, 2012David McEown

One body of work that is evolving over the last few years is a series of large watercolours depicting the subtle seasonal changes in the temperate rainforest of Pacific Spirit Regional Park. These large works are done on 140lb Arches roll paper in which I can cut large format sheets, and have room to interpret the experiences inspired from daily walks in my “back yard”.

categories Landscape painting, Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver, watercolor, Watercolour, West Coast Rainforest
tags 140lb cold press, Arches, large watercolor, Pacific Spirit Regional Park, rainforest

Pacific Spirit Regional Park

November 01, 2011David McEown

Autumn in the Pacific Spirit Forest, 26in x46in. watercolour

The Pacific Spirit Regional Park, which adjoins my backyard in Vancouver, provides countless inspiration for new paintings. In October, the Big Leaf Maples of this forest decorate the hemlock and sweet fir moss-draped understory.

categories Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Uncategorized, Vancouver, West Coast Rainforest
tags British Columbia, large watercolor, rainforest, Vancouver, Watercolor, watercolour

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