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.

Great Bear Rainforest

David McEown

Watercolour impressions from the Great Bear Rainforest by David McEown with additional Video and Photography by Daisy Gilardini.

Many thanks to Maple Leaf Adventures and Canadian Geographic Travel for inviting us as RCGS travel ambassadors on board Cascadia, a small expedition catamaran, to explore the beautiful wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia’s west coast.

It was a privilege to return to this incredibly rich temperate rainforest ecosystem. While sailing among the outer islands we had amazing encounters with humpback whales, sea lions and eagles and followed the salmon’s path along spawning channels into the rainforest. There, under the guidance of our expert Gitga’at First Nation Guides we were so lucky to even witness the rare Spirit Bear! Through the dramatic landscape, deep into the coastal mountain range, we sailed towards the Kitlope River and learned about the culture and historical significance of this sacred watershed. 

As I review the many sketches, videos and images shot during the voyage I feel full of inspiration for new studio paintings.

 We are thrilled to return to this mesmerizing part of world in the fall with Maple Leaf in September 2023 for another expedition focused on photography, sketching and watercolour.

Our Gitga’at First Nation Guides provided a safe viewing area for our small group. We sat quietly for hours along the river, under a light rain when finaly a Spirit Bear magically appeared from the deep forest. Without even acknowledging our presence she fished the salmon right in front of us for a long time, before magically disappearing back into the  forest. 

 While on location I often take lots of reference photos and video material. When time allows, I however, never miss the opportunity to sketch and/or paint with my watercolour. In this instance I would photograph and video when the bear was fishing then switch to sketching and painting while she would go into the forest to eat the freshly caught salmon. 

“In the Great Bear Rainforest”, 28 x 40 inches, watercolour 

This large watercolour was inspired while bear viewing along a pristine salmon spawning river in the Gitga’at First Nation territory. In this unique ecosystem, everything is interdependent. Salmon which come back in cycles to spawn, are the connection between ocean and forest and provide essential nitrogen for the tree to grow old and strong. The spirit bear, or Kermode has a whitish, cream-colored fur, due to a unique recessive gene, and is a subspecies of the more familiar North American black bear. Local Gitga’at First Nation guides have named this female “Warrior”. She is the daughter of “Ma’ah,” a spirit bear in which I was fortunate to have photographed and painted many years ago.

Photography by Daisy Gilardini, Canadian Geographic Photographer in residence.

Comment
categories Uncategorized

Grizzly Bears of Chilko Lake

David McEown

In mid October many grizzly bears come down to the water at Chilko Lake and feed on the sockeye salmon that spawn along the Chilko River.  We had great opportunities to sketch, paint and photograph these majestic animals in the autumn colours! (video by David McEown)

From the safety of our boat I produced a lot of sketches and small colour studies which made great reference for studio paintings once back home.

“Autumn on the Chilko” , 22 x 30 inches watercolour (available for sale)

The Bears had a good feast as we also did when  returning back to the comforts of our lodge, thanks to Tsylos Park Lodge.

Comment

Svalbard Impressions 2022

David McEown

It was inspiring to be back in Svalbard earlier this year for the month of April and return for the Summer Solstice. This Norwegian archipelago  of which Spitsbergen is the largest island is located in the arctic ocean north of Norway. These landscapes have  some of the most dramatic scenery that I have ever painted as well is home to abundant populations of arctic wildlife.

The video above features wildlife encounters and landscape highlights which I try to capture in watercolour. I used my Nikon Z9 taking most of the video. Many thanks to Daisy Gilardini for additional clips. At this time of year the light is ideal as sunrise and sunsets start to merge into one, iIlluminating still frozen fiords and crystal blue icebergs.

“Hornsund Reflections, 15in. x 22in watercolour

The following selection of painting were sketched on location as our small ship navigated its way through ice and some completed later on in the studio . Early in the season it is often well below freezing temperature. On some paintings I use a flash freeze technique in which I lay the water wash down and it freezes immediately leaving crystal textures. On others, when smoother transitions are required, I sometimes add flow medium like ox gall from Winsor Newton, (there are synthetic version on the market now) and glycerin in my paint mixture. Other times it is just to darn cold so I draw several compositions, and paint inside the ship from memory. Dressing in lots of layers is essential to stay warm and I use good gloves that open at the finger tips in order to feel the pencil.

These plein-air sketches are indispensable captures of the complex and surreal colour and light effects cast by glaciers and drift ice. The paintings are also used as references for bigger studio painting completed later on when back home, such as “Walrus and Ice” and the polar bear in “Ice Edge Sunrise”.

“Ice Edge Sunrise”, 28 x 40 inches watercolour

Fjord ice starts to break up in spring by a long deep swell from the arctic ocean creating endless inspiring compositions.

“Spitsbergen”, 14 x 22 inches watercolour

“Polar Shorelines”, 29 x 40 Inches watercolour

Svalbard Summer Impressions

Summer is an exciting time to be back in Svalbard. Countless birds are nesting along the cliffs while thundering glaciers give birth to icebergs. Low lying arctic flowers emerge and bloom while reindeer graze and polar bears are found scouring the shorelines looking for food. In the video above we had a wonderful encounter with a mother Polar Bear with two almost grown cubs feeding on a whale carcass. The temperature is now above zero so it is ideal for watercolour. I often prefer to work late at night or early morning when the light is not too harsh.

While painting along the drift ice in North East Svalbard on a moving ship I often work on 3 small studies at a time using 140 lb A’rches cold press “bright white” paper. While observing the fantastic icescape ahead of the ship I quickly block in the open water shapes around the ice leaving the dry white of the paper to represent snow and ice. Often the dramatic islands are reflected in the calm water between the ice patterns. While being on deck most of the day I photograph seals and polar bear tracks on the ice floes hope to spot the next bear! Many of these smaller paintings will be used as concepts for larger works completed in the studio. I am currently starting a new series of large watercolours. I will add them to this blog post over the next few months.

“Monacobreen”, 7 x 22 inches watercolour

“Surfacing Ice” is a studio painting inspired from a previous trip and represents a rolled and shattered iceberg about the size of a large house. Compressed jewel like ancient ice is exposed to air for the first time in thousands of years revealing embedded moraine sediment lines and patterns of fantastical creature shapes.

“Surfacing Ice”, 22 x 30 inches, watercolour from a few years ago.

“High Arctic Summer", 22 x 30 inches watercolour

“High Arctic Summer” Keeping the eye and heart close to the ground and discovering small pockets of wildflowers in the high arctics short but intense summer.

We thank Amazing Views Photo tours for organizing these trips and inviting us as guides. I really look forward to return again next year to experience photographing and sketching the wonders of Svalbard. For upcoming trips with Daisy Gilardini and myself on board please visit my upcoming events page. Most of the artwork on the page is available for sale, please contact us for more details.

To view more artwork from Svalbard please visit my Arctic Wonders page that also includes gallery links to locations that I have painted while circumnavigating the arctic and visiting the North Pole numerous times.

Polar Bear n.8

2 Comments

Return to Antarctica and South Georgia

David McEown

South Georgia Island

These recent works were painted on location during a trip to the Sub Antarctic  island of South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula in January - February 2022. It has been a long term project of mine to study , record and raise awareness about the fragility of  these natural wonders as well as try to express their inherent  beauty. Looking forward to work on some new studio paintings from all the reference! Many more paintings circumnavigating Antarctica can be viewed on my  Antarctica page.

How does one paint more than 200,000 King penguins spread out as far as the eye can see? There is not paper big enough to capture the vast display of life force present at the king penguin colony of Salisbury Plain, truly one of of natures great spectacles! I have painted this place over the years from to top of the hill in the background and from both sides, but in this 2022 expedition I decided to just look strait into the colony from the landing beach. With it lightly raining i paint between my folder angled against the wind. After establishing a good start on composition and the colour of a few key penguins , i clip another piece of paper on and expand the composition to the left side also taking notice of arriving penguins swimming on to shore with bellies full of food to feed their fuzzy brown chicks.

Antarctica

It was rare to have weather calm enough  to be able to leave the ship and have a closer look at the historic site called Point Wild. Commander Frank Wild was Ernest Shackleton’ right hand man and played a huge role in the 1914-1916 Imperial Trans-Antarctic  expedition .  They had to abandon their ship the Endurance as it was beset by ice and sank. As second in command he was left in charge of 21 men on a desolate rock on Elephant island while Shackleton and crew of 5 made the epic rescue mission to South Georgia in a lifeboat. From April 24th to August 30 (winter in antarctica) , Wild and men waited until rescued at this place  rock now called Point Wild. They all survived.

Deception Island is actually a  flooded caldera of an active volcano. While sketching from the shore of the inner harbour , old boats and  remnants from previous whaling activity swallowed up by the volcanic sands inspired this watercolour composition. The scene is a stark reminder of impermanence.  On  the outside of the island there is bustling Chinstrap penguin colonies and many whales are  returning to these waters.

While  looking down the Errera Channel from Danco Island a dramatic sky and snow squalls lift to reveal the Gerlache Strait and the shape of iconic Cuverville island. In the foreground is a small Gentoo colony in which I isolated one lone penguin walking along the top ridge. The exposed rocks on the way up the steep slopes make excellent nesting sites for these Penguins.

1 Comment

Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary

David McEown

I was excited to revisit the Great Bear Rainforest and witness grizzly bears in their sacred primordial home of the Khutzeymateen. In the spring after a long hibernation , hungry  bears come down to the shoreline and feed on the fresh sedges offering incredible opportunities to view and sketch these bears in their natural habitat.

The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary  in the North Coast region of British Columbia  was established in 1994 by BC Parks to protect critical habitat for the region's grizzly bear population, home to one of the highest concentrations of grizzly bears in Canada.

Coast Tsimshian First Nations depend upon this area, as they have for thousands of years, as the source of their social, economic and cultural prosperity. The Coast Tsimshian First Nations, and the Gitsi’is Tribe collaboratively manage the protected areas and access requires a permit. Many thanks to Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge for the hospitality and great guided tours. I look forward to working on studio paintings inspired by this trip.

“Khutzeymateen Encounters”, 22 x 30 inches watercolour. (available for sale)

“Khutzeymateen Encounters”, 22 x 30 inches watercolour. (available for sale)

This studio painting was inspired from sketches and photos  taken during our trip. From the safety of our boat we encountered this young male grizzly bear feeding on  the fresh sedges and  mussels at low tide. Our guides called this bear “Ember” in which he had distinctive light haired ear tips  and collar.

Field sketches done on location. We observed the bears  spring feeding ritual on  fresh sedges. The boat would move around with tides and currents but our expert guides found great views ,so the best way to get a feel of light and mood of this place was through quick  gesture drawings with a  monochromatic wash. The bears certainly did not seem to be bothered by us! 

“Khutzeymateen”, 15 x 22 inches watercolour.  (available for sale)

“Khutzeymateen”, 15 x 22 inches watercolour.  (available for sale)

A light rain had just stopped and clouds lifted revealing the snow covered peaks and steep valleys that drain out to this rich and colourful estuary. Within minutes we spotted bears feeding on the fresh sedges. After sketching on the boat I worked on the painting back on the floating base camp further out the inlet.

“Khutzeymateen Reflections”, 15 x 22 inches watercolour. (sold)

“Khutzeymateen Reflections”, 15 x 22 inches watercolour. (sold)

A recent early morning attempt to capture the light on the  Khutzeymateen inlet!

1 Comment

Mt. Assiniboine Impressions in Watercolour

David McEown

Video highlights from painting on location in Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park.

The silver lining from international travel restrictions caused by the pandemic is that I am rediscovering some of the wonderful landscapes from my own province. In mid summer we had the opportunity to stay in Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park. Record heat and  smoke from nearby wildfires created some challenges, but we were fortunate to have a few clear days and intense heat and sudden thaw of the snowpack produced an incredible  display of wildflowers. I look forward to working on some larger studio works from this iconic  Canadian scenery that is often compared to the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Many thanks to Assiniboine Lodge for the great hospitality!

Early morning painting  done on location of Mt. Assiniboine reflecting in Lake Magog. I was struck by the wildflowers in the foreground and how they echoed the warm morning light on the peak. 

It is pretty humbling to try and capture the complexity and scale of these mountain meadows but it is so important to work on site and let the flood of compositions seep in while gathering reference for some larger studio works. I often start these in a loose wet in wet impression and then after a wash dries work at linking the depth of field between mountain peaks and paintbrush flowers in the foreground.

Working  through heat and smoke is not unusual but this summers  record temperatures and wildfire season in British Columbia was challenging and another climate change  wake up call.

Visibility was limited on a few days but we were rewarded with wildflowers displays and some wonderful  lifting panoramas , such as this view from the “nublit”. I start this painting with a light  underpainting wash of violet and  yellows  and apparently the mosquitoes like the to bathe in the white of the paper!

David McEown painting on location from the “Nublit”. (photo by Daisy Gilardini)

David McEown painting on location from the “Nublit”. (photo by Daisy Gilardini)

Often I will have an early morning painting , mid day and evening painting on the go during these trips and with the complexity of this one I would work on this over a few evenings if the lighting is similar and Lake Magog stays calm.

Many of these paintings are for sale along with others inspired from the Canadian Rockies and are posted on our store page.

Comment