If you haven’t yet passed by to see the new art exhibition at the Art & Soul Gallery, it is a MUST! Especially, if you still have some christmas shopping to do… The new exhibition is called Tales of the Tides and displays the work of talented local artist Sandy Mott. As you will see from the paintings on display, Sandy’s work is heavily influenced by the beauty and the mystery of the ocean. The natural world, mythical creatures and nautical history are all woven together in this exhibition to present a magical perspective of the world above and below the sea.
Most of the pieces are done on wood, with a mix of paint and ink pen. Often there are parts left unpainted to allow the beautiful pattern of the wood grain to show through. One of my favorite pieces in the exhibition is a reproduction of a map of Costa Rica created in 1665. It is incredibly detailed and beautifully recreated, incorporating sailing ships, sea creatures and smoking volcanoes.
The map is actually of ‘Guatemala’, which was the name given to the Spanish colonial territory that incorporated present day Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. You can see Cabo Blanco, the tip of our peninsula, marked on the map. This is not only a beautiful art piece, but a fascinating piece of history. It leaves you contemplating the tumultuous history of the land in which you stand and imagining the intrepid explorers and wild conquistadores who created the original map.
Many of the pieces were sold on the opening night of the art show. However, there are still some amazing paintings left on sale, as well as limited edition prints that cost between $15 and $50. If you have an ocean and art lover on your christmas shopping list, it is well worth stopping by the gallery to take a look at Sandy’s work! You will find the Art & Soul Gallery at Plaza Royal, Santa Teresa, next to Kina Surf. You can also take a look at Sandy’s work at her Etsy page – The Sea Wench.
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