Girl in a Mangrove Forest

Going back to Edinburgh Art College in a couple of weeks, for my final year (eeks!). Will be doing the degree show next year, which is exciting. Been thinking about ideas for new paintings, sticking with the theme of "figures in the landscape"for now. Further to my travels to the Florida Everglades earlier in the year, I am still feeling inspired by the mangrove forest we kayaked through and the feeling of being in right among such an amazing natural phenomenon.

I did the below watercolour painting for my current show "Paperwork 2" , in the Edinburgh Fringe. (It's now sold, yeah!), but am thinking about some larger acrylic paintings inspired by the mangroves.

"Coming through the Mangroves"

(watercolour, acrylic ink & gouache)

Been working on a little drawing this week, of my youngest daughter when we were in a mangrove forest next to a small beach. I like this theme - it's kind of a metaphor for the challenge of navigating through life. Here's how it took shape - starting with a sheet of watercolour paper on which I dropped and sprayed some shades of green watercolour. I then drew on top with a black fineliner and also some black ink applied with a small stick and a brush.

Finally finished it off with some white ink applied with a drawing nib, and some white gouache (and blue watercolour pencil) on the T-shirt, to make it sing out.

"Girl in a Mangrove Forest"

(watercolour, pencil, ink, gouache)

I can see possibilities for a larger painting. Watch this space...

(UPDATE 2016 - I made a large body of work in late 2015 stemming from this little study: please have a look on my website at www.sheilachapmanart.com to see final paintings!)