David McEown is a wonderful watercolour painter. I took lessons from him a couple of years ago, and so was able to observe him at work.
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Antarctica is a painters dream.
It's like discovering a new world of unforgiving beauty, a giant in scale, with shapes reduced to basic raw elements. Colours of ice so subtle, translucent and fragile inhabited by innocent curious creatures that have no fear of us.

David McEown

http://artistjourneys.com/recent.html

Emperors can weigh up to 90lbs and standing 3 feet tall when they stretch. They are so gentle and non aggressive, to have one look down at you eye to eye while you sit, truly is comparable to being visited by an extraterrestrial being. However realizing this is our fellow creature just trying to make a go of it on this planet warms the heart and wonder of It all!"

David McEown

http://www.artistsmagazine.com/antarctica

The rule for approaching penguins is stay within 15 feet or 5 meters, but an approach has to be done in a quiet and gentle manner. Unlike most other places, the wildlife in Antarctica has no fear or experience of humans; thus, they are great models! If I just stay still the penguins and chicks will approach me with curiosity, since they have no 15-foot rule.

--David

http://www.artistsmagazine.com/antarctica/

More information:
The emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri, is one of only two species of penguin that inhabit the Antarctic continent. Adelie penguins breed there in summer; emperor penguins breed in winter.

Males and females are indistinguishable until it comes time for the male to assume his paternal duties. The female lays one egg; the father and mother can fit only one egg (and later one chick) on their feet. The father fasts through the winter, while he is incubating the egg. He folds the egg on top of his feet and covers it with his skin for two months.

The emperor penguin feeds on shoaling fish, small crustaceans and squid. Most emperor colonies are located on what's called fast ice, which is frozen sea ice.

David McEown

Thank you for the wonderful post and the websites.
I have seen David McEown's artwork. It is lovely.

David McEown has travelled to paint and photograph some of this earth's most dynamic and sacred landscapes. The watercolour paintings depict the cycles of life and our own relationship within nature.

yoko

http://artistjourneys.com/recent.html

http://www.artistsmagazine.com/antarctica

Thank you for sharing this.
David's paintings are really beautiful, and it is so nice that the penguins are looking at him and his work.

Love,
Vicky

These paintings are absolutely lovely.
Thank you for sharing the websites.

Sue

I love this post.
Thank you for sharing David's work. This is quite amazing how the penguins admire their portraits.
What better models could one have?

Sincerely,
Gisele

Thank you for your replies.
I am glad that you enjoy David McEown's work.
It has a pure and unspoiled beauty to it.

Antarctica is very pristine, but I wonder how long before we lose its unique inhabitants.

The penguins are so curious.
These photos are absolutely lovely

. The Emperor penguin is the only penguin that breeds during the winter in Antarctica.

The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species. It is the only penguin that breeds during the winter in Antarctica. Emperor Penguins eat mainly crustaceans (such as krill) but also occasionally indulge in small fish and squid. In the wild, Emperor Penguins typically live for 20 years, but some records indicate a maximum lifespan of around 40 years. The Emperor Penguin should not be confused with the closely related King Penguin or the Royal Penguin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Penguin

There are more Adelie penguins than any other penguin species. They live in the deep south and as such frequently have to cross many kilometers of ice still bound to the continent or islands to reach land in the spring where they can build their nests. Sometimes they have to travel as much as 100 kilometers, though usually 20-40 is more usual. A long walk nevertheless.
This pair were early arrivals in spring at an Antarctic Island near the northern edge of their breeding range and only had about half a kilometer to waddle and "toboggan".

Toboganning is a way of getting around where there is smooth snow or ice. The penguin lies on its stomach and propels itself along using its feet, an efficient use of energy and one where the penguin can easily keep up with a running man.

http://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/penguins/penguin1.htm

Emperor penguin chicks are covered with a thick layer of light gray down. This covering ensures that they retain as much heat as possible, vital at this early stage when they are not capable of maintaining their body temperature. In addition, the infant emperor penguin's orbital area is covered in white downy feathers, unlike the all-black feathered head of the adult.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Penguin

Penguins seem to have no fear of humans and have approached groups of explorers without hesitation. This is probably on account of there being no land predators in Antarctica or the nearby offshore islands that prey on or attack penguins. Instead, penguins are at risk at sea from predators such as the leopard seal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin

Thank you for your replies.

Some animals leave Antarctica during its horrendous coldest months, from June until August. Animals like the Humpback whale migrate to warmer waters to reproduce after eating huge amouns of krill in Antarctic waters. Many other animals (like the Emperor penguin) remain at the South Pole year-round.

Here is a map of Antarctica

Most people will never have the chance to observe the penguins in their natural habitat.
It is wonderful that David is able to give us a picture of how these wonderful animals relate to him and his painting equipment.

I love the photos and his paintings.

Love,
yoko