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.

Return to Antarctica and South Georgia

David McEown

In November 2011 I will be returning to Antarctica and really look forward to visit South Georgia again. This special expedition will be taking the ashes of explorerFrank Wild to South Georgia where he will be buried besidehis “boss” and loyal friend Sir Ernest Shackleton. Mr Wild was Shackleton’ right hand man and played a huge role in the 1914-1916 Imperial Trans-Antarctic  expedition  . As secondin command he was left in charge of 21 men on a desolate rock on Elephant island while Shackleton and crew of 5 made the epicrescue mission to South Georgia in a lifeboat. From April 24th to August 30 (winter in antarctica) , Wild and men waited until rescued on a rock now called Point Wild. They all survived. Attached on this post issome short video clips from a previous trip to Elephant Islandand a taste of theincredible wildlifeand painting-photography opportunities at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia Island.

[wpvideo JiGsd2rV] .

Last week I was honoured to receive  the Curry's , Da Vinci award, in recognition of the  painting   "Paradise Bay, Antarctica' . For several years now I have painted on the great white continent and always find inspiration in its natural  beauty and endless abstractions of form. Witnessing climate change among the massive ice shelves, and glaciers, I contemplate this melting flow of water that effects us all. Watercolour is an ideal medium for attempting  to capture the light and flow of this journey  and i am grateful to share this painting at this Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour  open international juried exhibition in Toronto.

"Paradise Bay, Antarctica",
"Paradise Bay, Antarctica",
Comment
categories Antarctica, cspws, Elephant Island, Paradise Bay, Point Wild, South Georgia, St-Andrews Bay
tags Antarctica, cspwc, Elephant island, Frank Wild, Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition, Paradise Bay, Point Wild, Sir Ernest Shackleton, South Georgia Island, St- Andrews Bay

Pacific Spirit Regional Park

David McEown

1 Comment
categories Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Uncategorized, Vancouver, West Coast Rainforest
tags British Columbia, large watercolor, rainforest, Vancouver, Watercolor, watercolour

Denali, Watercolours from Alaska

David McEown

Denali Sunrise
Denali Sunrise

In early September, autumn is well on its way in Denali National Park, Alaska.  While hoping to capture a glimpse of Denali, North America's highest mountain, i focused painting on site trying to capture the mountain light and weather played out on the multi-hued tundra. The following 3 minute video highlights the painting process.

The main base to work from was at the Wonder Lake Campground where one is dropped off by park bus as there are no cars permitted in the Park.  However, for a different view and excellent food, rest, and knowledgeable guides, we also stayed at the beautiful Camp Denali for 3 nights.

"Denali #2" 12 in. x 22 in. watercolour
"Denali #2" 12 in. x 22 in. watercolour
Painting Mirror Lake
Painting Mirror Lake
Denali, North Face
Denali, North Face
4 Comments
categories Alaska, Arctic, en plein air, Landscape painting, Northern Landscapes, watercolor, Watercolour
tags 140lb cold press, Camp Denali, Denali, Denali Nationl Park, en plein air, Reflection pond, Watercolor, watercolour, Wonder Lake

Lake Superior Paintings

David McEown

The painting is one of a few recent large commissions inspired by Lake Superior’s coastal trail in autumn. The complexity and technical challenges are exciting to take on and are sometimes over the top!

This 26 by 62 inch watercolour was painted on 140lb Arches cold press that comes on a roll of 44 inches by 10 yards.  Cutting off the roll allows custom sizes in which in the past I have done watercolours up to 72 by 176 inches.  Not cheap, but when framed with non-reflective UV90 museum glass the results can be wonderfully rare and transcendent.

Coastal Trail, Lake Superior
Coastal Trail, Lake Superior

Often large works have some sort of plan going, and being a studio piece photo reference is used. However I like to leave room for  the image to evolve and use memory and imagination, thus I do not pre draw to much. When it comes to rocks, each one is a portrait interrelated to another by wear and reflection if wet, so they have to be well seen to be believable. I love the natural spirals and inner rhythms of a boulder beach. Even though it is a representational painting I basically just paint a dance of light and dark coloured shapes that grow and interlock with each other that hopefully create a hierarchy of entertaining focal points that sing a reverent song of place throughout the illusion of space.

Gichigami
Gichigami
2 Comments
categories Algoma, en plein air, Lake Superior, Landscape painting, Northern Landscapes, Watercolour
tags 140lb cold press, Arches, en plein air, Group of Seven, Lake Superior, Lake Superior Provincial Park, large watercolor, Watercolor, watercolour

Antarctic Peninsula

David 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.
Painting from the lookout above Neko Harbour.
"Lemaire Channel Sunset" 7in x15in watercolour
"Lemaire Channel Sunset" 7in x15in watercolour
5 Comments
categories Antarctica, Art Workshops, en plein air, Landscape painting, Peninsula, Watercolour
tags Antarctica, art workshops, en plein air, Watercolor, watercolour