Mangrove Magic – Abstract Painting Inspired by Mangrove Trees at Lake Weyba
- Apr 17
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Mangrove Magic is an abstract painting on paper inspired by time spent observing and sketching these remarkable trees at the edge of the lake.
There is a quiet kind of magic where the land meets the water at the edge of Lake Weyba. Along the shoreline, and in the small creeks that feed into the lake, mangrove trees gather in loose communities, their roots reaching down into the sandy mud while their branches stretch upwards toward the light.
The environment is in constant motion even on a seemingly still day; a breeze rustling the leaves, and rippling the reflections across the water, clouds scudding across the sky, birds weaving between branches and the shadowy glades of ferns responding to the filtered sunlight
Mangroves exist in a threshold space; neither entirely on land land nor in the water and this sense of in-between is something I wanted to explore in the painting. Their tangled root systems, layered foliage and intricate branching patterns create a natural complexity that feels both random and balanced at the same time.
| Abstract Painting with Patterns & Rhythms
Rather than depicting the mangroves literally, the painting moves toward an abstract landscape, taking visual inspiration from my en plein air sketches. Shapes, lines and patterns echo the rhythms I notice when I'm standing among the trees. Colour and gesture become a way of translating the atmosphere of the place rather than . illustrating it directly.
Mangroves are extraordinary ecological communities. They stabilise the shoreline, shelter fish and birdlife, and quietly filter the water that flows through their roots. Spending time near them brings a heightened awareness of how many lives are interwoven in this landscape.
| Layers of Life in the Mangroves
In Mangrove Magic, that sense of layered life and interconnection becomes part of the visual language of the painting.
Making this work on paper gave me a sense of freedom, immediacy in the process and permission to explore interpretations of the motifs I developed in my sketches.
The under painted surface created a harmonious variations in underlying texture and subsequent layers of colour as the painting evolved.
The more time I spend observing the landscape around Lake Weyba, the more its patterns, structures and energies begin to reveal themselves.
Mangrove Magic is one response to that ongoing conversation with the land and water at the edge of the lake as I spend time drawing and printing in this special environment.
| Mixed Media Inquiry as Part of the Threshold Series
This abstract landscape painting is a paper based inquiry as part of my current Threshold Series of paintings in which I'm exploring the idea of transiting through the the liminal space that exists between one place and another; more specifically where I have come from and where I am now. This series is ongoing, with new works evolving as I continue my sketches inspired by Australian plants and explore compositions referencing the field barns of my childhood environment in the Yorkshire Dales.
| Join My Art Community
Subscribe to receive studio updates and be the first to hear about new original artworks and Limited Edition Print releases.
Enjoy $10 off your first Limited Edition Print, along with invitations to exhibition openings and early previews of new collections.
My Studio Diary newsletters offer you a glimpse inside my working studio; sharing the stories behind my paintings, insights into my creative process, techniques, materials, and the ideas that shape each body of work.
You’ll also receive blog articles, painting videos and studio vlogs that explore the thinking and inspiration behind my art.
Stay connected, discover new work first, and become part of my creative community!
#contemporaryabstractart #charlottewensleyart #abstractart #artvideo #artprocessvideo #abstractartprocess #australianart #contemporaryart #modernabstractart #modernart #charlottewensley #artblog #abstractartblog #artblogs #gelliprinting #gelliprint #artmakingvideo #artvideo #artmaking #newabstractart #abstractpaintings #gelliprintcollage #abstractartist #abstractartblog #mixedmediaart #mixedmedia #mixedmediaabstract #abstractmixedmedia #mixedmediaartist #mixedmediavideo #collageart #collage #modernabstracts #sketching #australianartist #artforinteriors #artistsvlog #abstractpainting #colouranddesign #originalabstractart #buyoriginalart #buyabstractart #artinnoosa #queenslandartists #noosaartist #australianartists #australianart #brisbaneartist #brisbaneart #melbourneart #artgalleries #artprints #surfacedesign #productdesign #homedecor #wallart #framedartprints #artprintoncanvas #botanicalprintmaking #artprint #botanicalgelprints #landscapeart #abstractlandscapepainting #wallartprint
