Recent/Blog

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

Filtering by Tag: art workshops

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

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

Antarctic Peninsula

June 05, 2011David McEown

Sometimes a question is asked at my presentations, why do you paint on location? Why not just take a picture? The act of painting and observing on location for me is a meditation, a way of connecting with the moment and being fully present and aware of "place". Taking in the coloured shapes and inhale them through the body, feel it in the heart and transfer them through the hand, brush and paper. Often good painting is accumulations of this state of attention, a collage of many of the experiences that have happened. Through out a session I am also inspired to take photos and I find that by being still and in one spot often provide great opportunities for close wildlife encounters. I love to watch the tides and currents at play with the ice floes, creating endless compositional dances lit with unearthly Antarctic light. It is here the camera is really handy at capturing those incredible never to be repeated moments. Thanks again to One Ocean Expeditions for taking us there and we really look forward to do it again later this year!

Painting from the lookout above Neko Harbour.

"Lemaire Channel Sunset" 7in x15in watercolour

categories Antarctica, Art Workshops, en plein air, Landscape painting, Peninsula, Watercolour
tags Antarctica, art workshops, en plein air, Watercolor, watercolour

Federation of Canadian Artists on Gabriola Island

September 20, 2010David McEown

The Federation of Canadian Artists invited me to be one of the instructors at a week-long en plein air painting event on beautiful Gabriola Island in British Columbia. It was wonderful to paint with almost 125 artists that descended on the island from all over North America. We had ocean shoreline vistas and wildlife sightings as well as old heritage farm lands to draw inspiration from. Plus the weather cooperated as well. Also it was inspirational to work with fellow instructors Mike Svob, Brent Heighton, Deanne Lemley and guest lecturer Robert Genn. The event was one of most well organized workshops I have participated in. The Haven Resort site was a fine location to host such a large event. The Phoenixauditorium also was a great venue for nightlypanel discussion on art and presentations, in which I gave my“Antarctica to the North Pole” painting adventure show. Many thanks tothe organizers that put this together. I wish the FCA much success next year and recommend it to those that want to paint on “island time for a while”.

David with Demo from Entrance Point Light House

categories Art Workshops, en plein air, Landscape painting, Watercolour, West Coast Rainforest
tags art workshops, en plein air, Watercolor

Whistler Art Workshops

July 10, 2010David McEown

The Whistler Arts Council hosts a series of Art events called Workshops on the Lake. I was pleased to teach an advanced three day watercolour session. The venue at the old station House on Alta lake is a perfect location. Inspiration is found working right from the outside deck and also in the comfortable creatively ambient studio setting for our challenging studio works. The volunteer and coordinator did a fine job making sure we were all taken care of and were flexible in our start time to catch the earlier morning light. The weather was stunning, almost to good however for painting outside. The pure blue skies and a heat wave made for challenges. Thus we painted the early morning light outside and moved inside to the cool cabin to work on a large full sheet sustained mountain demo in the afternoon. Would really look forward to doing more workshops again in 2011!

categories Art Workshops, en plein air, Landscape painting, Watercolour
tags art workshops, en plein air, Watercolor, Whistler

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