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!)

Hanging the "Paperwork 2" show, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2015

Today I've been busy hanging the latest Fringe Art Exhibition I'm taking part in, with three artists colleagues Marion Barron, Ruth Thomas & Trevor Davies. This is our third show in the annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  Hanging is pretty hard work - physical, a lot of measuring/mental arithmetic, and trying not to fall out with each other over which piece should go where! Once we get a good final arrangement which shows off everyone's work in the best light, it is quite satisfying though. Here's hope the viewing public like it!

 

Ruth & Trevor sorting out some fixings

 

 

Marion, adjusting with spirit level 

(My trampoline drawing "Jump" visible on right)

 

 

 

Marion in the back room, arranging a mosaic style hang on one wall

 

 

 

Drawing Pelicans

As a belated follow-up to my June post regarding "Working in a Series", here is how piece of paper 4 in the series ended up - drew the pelicans on top of the painted background in white acrylic ink. I like the contrast this has created. I saw so many beautiful birds in the Florida Everglades in February this year and I love the way you can easily see pelicans floating around together on the sea there in the same way you see common or garden seagulls floating about in Scotland. 

This piece, unsurprisingly named "Pelicans", along with other works featuring in recent blog posts, will be on sale in the forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe show "Paperwork 2", at the Edinburgh Ski club premises, 2 Howe St, Edinburgh from 21st - 31st August 2015.