Recent/Blog

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

Alaskan Brown Bears, Moms and Cubs

July 22, 2026David McEown

We’ve just returned from an unforgettable photo and sketching adventure with the majestic brown bears of Lake Clark, Alaska. Throughout our journey, we were treated to incredible wildlife encounters, witnessing a remarkable range of mother bears with their playful cubs emerging onto the tidal flats to dig for clams at low tide. During the day, we observed them peacefully grazing on lush sedges, giving us a rare glimpse into the rhythm of their lives and interactions.

While I sketch I take video to help me understand the wildlife behaviour, changing light and as a story telling part of my art with watercolours. (Video and artwork by David McEown)

Thanks to Daisy Gilardini (daisygilardini.com), for organizing this trip and bringing together such a nice group of creative photographers!

Brown Bear Mother and Cub, 11 × 14 inches, watercolour

Slope Mountain Study, 11 × 14 inches , watercolour

Galapagos Islands In Depth

July 17, 2026David McEown

We have just returned home after an inspiring three-week adventure in Ecuador, highlighted by an unforgettable photographic and sketching journey to the Galápagos Islands. This video captures some of the highlights and wildlife encounters we had with tortoise, waved albatross, Galapagos penguins and many more creatures from above and below the oceans surface. Thank you to Daisy Gilardini for organizing this intensive and well organized itinerary for our group, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the unique wildlife and landscapes. (Video by David McEown and Daisy Gilardini.)

“Galapagos Penguin,” 14 x 11 inches, watercolour.
Another highlight of our recent trip to the Galapagos Islands was seeing the endemic Galapagos penguin. It is the only penguin that lives near and just north of the Equator and has adapted to the warm climate, although it relies on the cooling Humboldt current. It is listed as endangered, so conservation efforts are crucial for protecting these penguins.

“Galápagos Tortoise” – 11 x 14 inches, watercolour, painted on location in the Galápagos, May 2026 (sold).
Spending time painting and sketching these magnificent giant tortoises felt like stepping back in time. Capturing their slow, deliberate movements and the textures of their weathered shells was both a challenge and a joy.

“Waved Albatross,” 11 x 14 inches, watercolour.
One of the many highlights of our recent trip to the Galapagos Islands was visiting the breeding site of the Waved Albatross. The choreography of the mating ritual was stunning to photograph and sketch. These birds are listed as critically endangered, and most only breed in the protected area of Española Island.

“Bartolomé Island”, 11 x 14 inches watercolour. Painted from the lookout view of this uninhabited 1.2 square kilometres volcanic islet with great views of Pinnacle Rock catching the sunrise.

Antarctica and South Georgia Island in Watercolour

February 15, 2026David McEown

Videos merge into paintings during an expedition to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. (Watercolours and video by David McEown, additional video by Daisy Gilardini)

We have just returned home after an incredible trip to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands, which took place from December 2025 through January 2026 aboard the M/V Sylvia Earle. The voyage marked the 20th anniversary of my first painting expedition to Antarctica, and conditions were nearly perfect for every landing, with beautiful light inspiring watercolour painting, photography, and citizen science. I am now working on larger studio paintings and look forward to sharing updates soon. Many thanks to the crew and staff at Aurora Expeditions for taking us there!

Many watercolours are completed on location, whereas others are done on a moving ship with sometimes rapidly changing foreground in which case I sketch in 3 or 4 compositions on a large piece of paper and take colour notes to finish the series later, either from memory or with additional photo reference.

On landings, we all abide by strict IATO biosecurity protocols to avoid bringing in any foreign items, plant seeds, or viruses that may affect the wildlife. All my gear stays on my back, or I hang my pack on a tripod so that when returning to the ship, the boots and tripod pole are sanitized. I have an empty water bottle for waste water from mixing paint to bring back to the ship.

Lemaire Channel Sunset n.1, 7 × 15 inches , watercolour

From Port Charcot

From Petermann island, Antarctic Peninsula.

Painting on Christmas Day 2025

Bongrain Point

Lemaire Channel Sunset n.2

Lemaire Channel Sunset n.3

South of the Circle

Antarctic Calm

One highlight of this trip was having time with the iceberg named by scientists A23a. It was the largest iceberg in the world and has been on a journey for nearly 40 years since it was released from Antarctica. I have seen it in the distance in previous trips, but this year it is melting fast. The massive ice block creates its own weather patterns and microclimate. From the ship, I had time to put down some marks and pay homage to this piece of history and ancient ice that is rapidly released back into the ocean.

“Iceberg A23a”, 11 × 22 inches, watercolour

South Georgia Island

The King Penguin Colony at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia island is one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles. From a moraine viewpoint one can witness 100’s of thousands of adults with their woolly brown chicks, surrounded by peaks and glaciers. There is not paper large enough for such a scene , so I often hinge sheets of paper together to record the panorama. These studies on their own are finished paintings but all contain indispensable information for a larger studio work.

Sketching on Location at St. Andrews Bay

King Penguin Colony Detail

“King Penguin colony at St. Andrews Bay”, 11 × 42 inches triptych in watercolour.

The waterfall from Stromness

Art Workshops

On this trip, I was invited to provide art programming and enrichment presentations to complement the expedition team’s informative lectures and citizen science program. The ship was very comfortable and well-stabilized, which allowed for cosy drawing sessions in the lecture theatre/lounge and watercolour sessions in the Sylvia Earle Science Centre, which is equipped with sinks and workstations with a view. I was impressed by the level of participation and talent on board!

I look forward to sharing more workshops later this year during back-to-back Ross Sea expeditions with Aurora Expeditions . Dates listed on my Events page.

Antarctic Painting Locations by David McEown 2005-2026

Photos By David McEown, Nikon Z9 and Z8

Klahoose Impressions with Canadian Geographic

December 07, 2025David McEown

I’m excited to share new video and photos from my recent trip to Klahoose Wilderness Resort with acclaimed photographer Daisy Gilardini on a special Canadian Geographic trip on the Pacific Northwest coast of Canada. We were greeted by whales just 10 minutes into the journey!

At the lodge, we were welcomed by the Klahoose with traditional song, warm smiles, and delicious food. Over the next few days, we patiently waited for grizzly bears upstream from the Toba Inlet and were rewarded with several encounters, along with bird sightings, breathtaking landscapes, and rides alongside Pacific white‑sided dolphins.

Evenings were filled with photo reviews and cultural demonstrations. I even had the chance to give wildlife drawing lessons, paint, and celebrate my birthday with wonderful guests!

There’s no shortage of inspiration for new paintings from this trip, and I look forward to sharing more soon. A huge thank‑you to the our guides and staff at Klahoose and Canadian Geographic for making this adventure possible!

(Video, photos and watercolour by David McEown and additional video by Daisy Gilardini)

Svalbard Autumn Impressions in Watercolour

October 09, 2025David McEown

We just arrived home after an inspiring photo and sketching trip in Svalbard. The Following three minute highlight reel features video and watercolour paintings merging to showcase the stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife encountered during an autumn expedition to Svalbard. (art and video by David McEown, with additional video by Daisy Gilardini). It was wonderful to experience the autumn light and fresh snow, which illuminated and enhanced many incredible wildlife encounters. Many thanks to Amazing Views Photo & Adventure Tours and Daisy Gilardini Photography and our guests and crew who made this a special trip!

The following selection of painting were sketched on location as our small ship navigated its way through ice and some completed later in the studio . These plein-air sketches are indispensable captures of the complex and surreal colour and light effects cast by glaciers and drift ice.

“Smeerenberg Glacier”, 8 × 15 inches watercolour

svl25_02j01.jpg

Spitsbergen Sunrise

Hamilton Bay

First Light, Spitsbergen

Sunrise, Wahlenberg Fjorden

Sunsrise, Wahlenberg Fjorden n.2

Photos by David McEown, captured with a Nikon Z9 and an 800mm Nikkor lens; Aurora shot on an iPhone 16.

The following studio paintings are examples of work inspired by trips in Svalbard. To view more artwork 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 Shorelines”, 29 x 40 Inches watercolour

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

“High Arctic Summer", 22 x 30 inches watercolour

Southeast Alaska with Canadian Geographic

August 17, 2025David McEown

This three-minute video features highlights from our trip, including my watercolour painting process on location. Paintings, video, and photography by David McEown, with additional video contributions by Daisy Gilardini.

“Baranof Island”, 7.75 x 22 inches watercolour

In August 2025, we embarked on a Canadian Geographic expedition aboard Maple Leaf Adventures' converted historic tugboat, MV Swell, exploring the secluded corners of southeast Alaska with 10 other adventurous guests and hard working crew.

It was inspiring to have access to hidden tidewater glacier fronts, lush rainforests, and brown bears fishing for salmon. I produced many plein air watercolour paintings during repositioning transits or early in the morning before we lifted anchor, only to be delightfully distracted by the abundance of humpback and orca whales!

I look forward to working on more sustained, mountain-inspired paintings inspired by this trip in the future.