Contact David Mceown

Many thanks for visiting my web site. We are often on assignment  or on a painting trip but will try to reply to your messages as soon as possible!

Studio visits also  may be arranged in Vancouver and Richmond Hill - Ontario,  Canada through out the year. I  look forward to hear from you.

 

 

         

123 Street Avenue, City Town, 99999

(123) 555-6789

email@address.com

 

You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab.
Link to read me page with more information.

Recent/Blog

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

Filtering by Category: Landscape painting

The Sockeye Salmon "Run of the Century", Adams River

David McEown

It happens rarely in one's lifetime to witness a sockeye salmon run of this magnitude and significance. Abandoning all studio work in Vancouver I head towards British Columbia’s interior to witness first hand a river of bright red crimson fish.  Over a few million salmon have travelled 450 challenging  kilometers from the ocean to return to their place of conception to  lay eggs, spawn and die soon after. This display of life force transferring itself through out the ecosystem and into the wonder of thousands of curious people who gather along the shorelines to view the spectacle is inspiring.

I worked on several small paintings and drawing on site while filming. Afterwards a larger sustained watercolour is attempted and captured in time-lapse  for viewing in the following 2 minute video clip.

For location and further information on the Adams River see the parks website Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park. Also a fine blog post from this event, Salmon Connections by Ivan Doumenc with photos by Isabelle Groc.

PACIFIC SALMON

RIVER-BORN FUGITIVES, RED MUSCLED UNDER SHEATHING SILVER, ALIVE WITH LIGHTS OF OCEAN'S CHANGING COLOURS. THE RANGE OF DEEPS AND DISTANCES THROUGH WILD SALT YEARS HAS GATHERED THE SEA'S PLENTY INTO YOUR PERFECTION. FULLNESS IS THE LONG RETURN FROM DARK DEPTHS RENDERING TOLL OF ITSELF TO THE SEARCHING NETS SURGING ON TO STRIFE ON BRILLIANT GRAVEL SHALLOWS THAT OPENED LONG AGO BEHIND THE FAILING ICE. IN VIOLENCE OVER THE GRAVEL, UNDER THE BURN OF FALL, FULLNESS SPENDS ITSELF, THRUSTING FORTH NEW LIFE TO NURSE IN THE STREAM'S FLOW THE OLD LIFE. USED UTTERLY, YIELDS ITSELF AMONG THE RIVER ROCKS OF HOME.

RODERICK HAIG-BROWN

 

6 Comments
categories en plein air, Landscape painting, Northern Landscapes, West Coast Rainforest
tags adams river, en plein air, Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park, sockeye salmon, Watercolor, watercolour

Painting at Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska

David McEown

When painting on location and a grizzly bear is hanging around I will "calmly" pack up , pay respect, and leave these incredible creatures alone. It is not recommended to approach bears in wilderness. However in Katmai National Park Alaska, one can   sometimes observe brown bears in their natural habitat if done responsibly. Camping in a tent amongst the grizzly bears was sleepless at first, even ifour site was in apark designated space away from the bears main fishing spot and the tent was “protected” by athinelectric wire. Traveling with a small group of photographers and an experienced guide, we observed these giants , feed , sleep, nurse and go about surviving. Most of these bears are used to the odd fly in day trip visitors and have little fear, discomfort or even interest in us. They come to fish for salmon in the tidal streamsand dig for clamson the beach.  Wilderness experience is recommended as well as checking with the park about proper equipment andbear observation habits.

I sketch, video and take pictures for painting reference. Painting is a challenge on site as it may be required to move position due to bear behavior and the incoming tides. A small pocket sketch book was most useful, as a few painting were done back at the camp site from a few shapes hopefully well seen. One thing that I hope to express in the paintings is the interconnectedness of the bears to the landscape. Their shapes and colour echo the mountain peaks, and the mountain range itself resembles the back of the lone salmon stranded and exposed in shallow water ready to surrender to the bear that will   selectively feast and leave parts scattered for many other creatures to feed and trees to grow.

Outgoing Tide, Hallo Bay
Outgoing Tide, Hallo Bay
Mother and Cub, Katmai National Park
Mother and Cub, Katmai National Park
Hallo Bay Camp, Katmai, Alaska
Hallo Bay Camp, Katmai, Alaska
Beach Patrol!
Beach Patrol!
Awaiting salmon, Hallo Bay
Awaiting salmon, Hallo Bay
10 Comments
categories Alaska, en plein air, Katmai, Landscape painting, Watercolour, West Coast Rainforest
tags Alaska, Brown Bears, en plein air, Grizzly Bears, Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, Watercolor