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Recent/Blog

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

Tropical Impressions from Costa Rica

David McEown

Painting on location in the tropical rainforest , Corcovado Park, Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

In December 2019, I returned to Costa Rica to revisit sites i painted many years ago when I began a series of large watercolours involving some of this earth's rare and rapidly changing ecosystems. After painting polar subjects over the last 16 years it was refreshing to change the pallet and bring along new camera and video technologies to record these special places.

“ Rainforest Encounters”, 22 x 15 inches watercolour

“ Rainforest Encounters”, 22 x 15 inches watercolour

Most of this trip focused on painting on location in the tropical rainforest , Corcovado Park, Osa Peninsula. This is one of most bio diverse parts of the planet and the senses are just wonderfully overwhelmed. Polar painting in the cold seems more challenging but the tropics has its own adjustments. Besides dripping sweat on to the paper , the humidity was so saturated overtime it dissolved the papers surface sizing thus causing some funky things on the paper . In this case i worked shape by shape (instead of soaking the whole sheet) and followed the quickly changing interior rainforest shadows. Such is paradise but one has to be mindful of snakes, as we saw earlier in the day a young highly venomous fur de lance. The flanged buttresses of these massive trees are decorated with lichen and moss patchwork. Sleeping bats were nestled in the cracks while butterfly’s would sometime stop and have a taste of the wash in my pallet. On a perfect day one can loose track of the time, which should be noted that once the sun sets it quickly gets incredibly dark and lots of the “fun” stuff comes out to play. So grateful to be back and learn from this place. 

Night walks in the tropical rainforest was a real highlight. Having excellent guides also made possible unique sitings of several frog species. I did attempt a few night sketches in the light rain by flashlight, but we focused on photography for reference. I have been working on a series of paintings celebrating these delicate creatures to add to a body of work on rainforests.

“Red -Eyed Tree Frog” 11 x 15 inches, watercolour- Costa Rica

During this painting and reference gathering trip in Costa Rica last month we had a wonderful 2 day visit at the Toucan Rescue Ranch in San Jose. 
We were so impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the people that work at the clinic and rehab centre. Their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Costa Rica wildlife while focusing on conservation, education, and research. 

Sketching wildlife at the Toucan Rescue Ranch.

“Two-Toed Sloth”, 16 x 16 inches , watercolour. This painting was inspired while sketching a curious young two-toed sloth that was out for exercise with a few others. It won’t be long before she gets stronger and bigger before being released on her …

“Two-Toed Sloth”, 16 x 16 inches , watercolour. This painting was inspired while sketching a curious young two-toed sloth that was out for exercise with a few others. It won’t be long before she gets stronger and bigger before being released on her own in the wild. Rescue centres are of great importance in highly populated areas where animals get injured because of human activity. In 2019 the Toucan Rescue Ranch rescued and released more than 120 animals, including 15 sloths

“Rainforest Edge”, 72 x 132 inches watercolour triptych

“Rainforest Edge”, 72 x 132 inches watercolour triptych

During a recent visit to Toronto i was able to revisit a large painting that was commissioned a few years ago. This painting was inspired by a trip to the pacific coast of Costa Rica. From the many studies done on location, i worked out this design and painted on 3 pieces of A’rches, 140 Lb cold press cotton rag paper cut  off the roll. 

“All the elements participate in the dance of life in the tropics where this planet's life force reaches its utmost expression. From transpiration the water gathers in pools from the dripping lianas and bromeliads and starts to flow among living sculptures, the flanged buttresses of ancient trees. Water then carves its way through clay and volcanic rock downward to the ocean. The water then arrives again to the forest from the rain clouds. The music continues through the symbiosis between flora and fauna. Decay is quickly transformed in the forest floor shadows into nutrients that are then resurrected to the light of the forest canopy.”

The process of painting starts by immersing into the landscape and painting many on site sketches of the area. Then back in the studio the experience is recollected and a synthesis of the various interactions of forms and species experienced are envisioned into a organic whole. The large scale of the painting combines the complex microcosm with the distant macrocosm to celebrate in colour the relationships and patterns;  ocean to forest, forest to light.

Visiting the home where “Rainforest Edge”, commission is installed.

Visiting the home where “Rainforest Edge”, commission is installed.

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categories Landscape painting, Travel, Watercolour, watercolor, Wildlife, Costa Rica
tags costa Rica, Rainforest, en plein air, landscape painting, landscape painting, sloth, tree

Arctic Impressions

David McEown

The following paintings and video clips were inspired by  a recent expedition to Baffin Island and Greenland.

“Iceberg Reflections #4”, 15 x22 watercolour.

“Iceberg Reflections #4”, 15 x22 watercolour.

Wildlife, landscapes and painting impressions by David are merged together in this short video. (thanks to Cory Trepanier for additional footage)

“Walrus Island”, 15 x22 inches watercolour, (sold).

Greenland

It is inspiring and mesmerizing to witness the Ilulissat Icefjord. This UNESCO world Heritage site is located on the west coast of Greenland, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle. The enormous glacial ice stream which comes from one of the fastest and most active glaciers in the world is quite a challenge to paint as there isn’t paper large enough! I had time to interpret the scene, paint and contemplate how climate change has an impact on Greenland. Unfortunately 2019 was a record year for the ice cap melting.

“Ilulissat Icefjord”, 15 x 44 inches , (diptych watercolour). Time Lapse painting video of the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO world Heritage Site in Greenland.

“Ilulissat Icefjord”, 15 x 44 inches , (diptych watercolour)

Time Lapse painting video of the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO world Heritage Site in Greenland.

“iceberg n.21” , 15 x22 inches, watercolour

“It Is hard to express in words the beauty of nature’s sculpting forces and light that illuminates an iceberg’s journey.”

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Fire and Ice, Baffin Island . (photo David McEown)

For more  paintings circumnavigating the arctic  that  includes  the North Pole, please visit my Arctic Galleries Page.

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Drawn to Water

David McEown

“Okavango Dream”, 30 x 22 inches, watercolour, (available for sale)

The following paintings and short videos were Inspired by a recent painting trip on the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It was not hard for the soul to be stirred by the ancient rhythms that vibrate in the African landscape and the magnificent  wild creatures that still cling on in the remaining national parks and private reserves. We travelled often by water and that’s where the magic can often be found!

Many thanks to Pangolin Photo Safaris for outfitting and hosting us and for Daisy Gilardini’s additional video.

Video and painting Impressions of wildlife encounters along from Botswana's Chobe River and in the Okavango Delta.

Painting and Video Impressions from a water hole in Botswana's Okavango Delta.

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Arctic Dreaming

David McEown

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“Polar Bear , #7”, 22 x 30 inches , watercolour.

I painted this Polar Bear during a recent workshop in Toronto while teaching watercolour techniques and demonstrating colour mixing. I also shared stories and video of close encounters from years observing and sketching these amazing animals in their natural habitat.

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Antarctica , Fire and Ice

David McEown

"While painting on location earlier this year during an evening of “Fire and Ice” I was entertained by curious chinstrap penguins on Hydrurga Rocks, Antarctic Peninsula. 
"The temperature was just above freezing , which allowed just enough time to lay down a wash before pallet blocks up with ice. While the sunset grew more intense intense i had to stop painting to make sure it was not a dream!"

Here are a few new works painted on location in Antarctica . Special thanks to Daisy Gilardini and Visionary Wild for putting this trip together.

New studio painting, “Emergence”, 26 x 47inches watercolour - Antarctic Peninsula (available for sale)

New studio painting, “Emergence”, 26 x 47inches watercolour - Antarctic Peninsula (available for sale)

“Let it Snow”, 15 x 22 inches watercolour , Cuverville island Antarctica Keeping it loose and letting the light snow participate in the paintings marks and stains while temperature hovers just above freezing . With the company of the gentoo penguins of Cuverville Island , we watch great Antarctic peaks play hide and seek in the clouds.

"Iceberg #24”, 19 x 29 inches watercolour, Antarctica. (available for sale)

"Iceberg #24”, 19 x 29 inches watercolour, Antarctica. (available for sale)

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Southern Ocean, South Georgia and Falkland Islands

David McEown

Video highlights from South Georgia Island and the challenges of painting the vast display of life force present in the large King Penguin Colonies. (video and editing by David McEown, additional video and aerial permitted video by Daisy Gilardini)

The attached video clips and paintings were inspired by a trip to the Sub Antarctic Island of South Georgia in October- November 2018. We departed by ship from the Falkland Islands where I had time to warm up the brushes and spend time painting at a wonderful nature reserve of Volunteer Point. 

 The South Georgia trips were in particularly rewarding as we participated in a photo symposium led by some of the finest photographers in the field.   It was great to be in nature with so many folks engaged in he art of seeing, plus it was fun to conduct a few art workshops to complement all the fantastic expertise ranging from ornithology, history and marine biology.   

It has been my long term project to record and raise awareness about the fragility of these natural wonders as well as try to express their inherent beauty. Many other painting from these regions and be seen on his websites Antarctic Galleries. 

“The Colony, St Andrews Bay” , South Georgia, (15 x 44 inches watercolour)

Video highlights from South Georgia Island and painting seascapes. (video and editing by David McEown, additional video and aerial permitted video by Daisy Gilardini)

Falkland Islands

Black Browed Albatross, West Point Island.

Black Browed Albatross, West Point Island.

Video impressions and painting clips from a recent trip last month to the Falkland Islands while on route to South Georgia. Along with the fantastic diversity of bird life the highlight here is the colony of king penguins at Volunteer Point. Had several days of sunrise on white sand beaches and painting the colony at sunset with the curious “woolly” young penguins.
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