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Recent/Blog

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

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!

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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.

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