Paintings and Drawings by Savanna - Nautical Charts and Maps

Detail of the Caribbean Chart

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:22:05 CDT

Detailed close up cropped view of the nautical chart. Mixed Medium, Pen and Ink Caribbean Chart on D’Arches paper.

Detail of Ambergris Caye Nautical Chart

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:22:05 CDT

a small crop to show the detail in this drawing.

Detail of the Mundo Maya Belize map

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:22:05 CDT

Mundo Maya Belize (world of the Maya - Belize) A clip from the Antique style chart, I created showing the mainland of Belize and the locations of the Maya ruins. Bordering the map are Mayan glyphs and animals found in the rainforest of Central America.

Gulf of Thailand Nautical Chart

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:17:52 CDT

The Thai script I have written above the lotus flower (bottom left) reads 'My Thailand' in the native words (as Thais do not call their country Thailand). Local friends loved that I made it a map they could enjoy - as well as the gang at the Koh Samui International Regatta and the divers who venture out to the islands of Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan with Marita and Nui (owners of the Easy Diver Shop in Chaweng and on Lamai Beach).
Koh or Ko (the older way) means island.
This long boat was tied to a coconut palm each evening, and out fishing before dawn every morning, I sketched it while watching the sun set one evening on Maenam Beach.
Like all of my work, this map holds memories of wonderful people and a beautiful country. With the dragon and white elephants protecting it, I can't help but feel it is infused with good Karma.
Thank you to; Poppies, Coco's, Easy Diver and the pool sharks at the Barracuda Bar - for continuing to sell my work, and a special thanks to Sam and Chris at the Rainbow and Hennis at the Morning Glory, for taking good care of my rescue dog Toto.

Virgin Islands Nautical Chart Ink Drawing

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:56:39 CDT

The Virgin Islands
My newest Pen and Ink Nautical Chart was completed just in time for the BVI Spring Regatta. Hand drawn in India ink.
Mermaids and Sea Monsters, Old Sailing Ships, Pelicans, Frigatebirds, Trade Wind, Dolphin, Caribbean Fish and Turtles, Palm tree… just to name a few design elements on the map - and most all of the bays of the British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands.
If you know the Virgin Islands, you may enjoy re-charting your course, and remembering your favorite bays. Fine art Giclees and Signed Artist Proofs are available.

Mundo Maya Belize

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 06:10:54 CST

Mundo Maya Belize (world of the Maya - Belize)Map
Antique style chart, I created showing the mainland of Belize and the locations of the Maya ruins. Bordering the map are Mayan glyphs and animals found in the rainforest of Central America.
Originally started as a companion map to the Ambergris Caye Chart, it soon took off with an energy all of its own - as my projects often do.
I simply wanted to know the meaning of a few glyphs to include as markers for the many Maya Ruins scattered across Belize - that are partially excavated and open to the public.
That led me to Herman Smith, an Archaeologist living and working in the country. Herman loaned me reference books and soon I was so hooked on the artwork and hieroglyphs of the Maya people - that I thought I’d never finish the map. It was the beginning of a life long hobby that like many things - the more I learn the more I realize that there is so much more to learn…
For fun if you are interested - to catch you up on a few of the glyph's meanings that I've included; the hieroglyph by the Keel Billed Toucan is a combination of earth (bottom cartouche) and new growth, spring or new start - on the top half, loosely translating into fresh new earth, or new beginning for the earth or renewal, depending on the context. The strange animal hanging from his tail, in the center, is Xul. The god of thunder and lightening, he is a Jaguar, always a symbol of great power for the Maya. He is hanging from a sky band representing night and the heavens, (I love this guy, later he was recreated into a painting on silk - to stand alone as art on his own right, about 2000 years after the original artist painted him). Several others also represent the jaguar, in different context, from pictograph (image representing a word or idea) to hieroglyph (representing words or sounds). The half dark, half light, almost floral glyph (center lower left)is a symbol for eclipse. The god of the North in on the compass, the center is the sun glyph (though the compass itself is mine not Mayan - a stretch of my artistic license). More gods and animal glyphs pepper the map… you can see why having to know names can be a detriment at times… the research can take me way off course. A modern example of the pictograph is our no smoking sign… in 2000 years will anyone understand what that stick with the curlicue above it and the circle with a bar through it means? In addition to studying glyphs, I was sitting in the jungle or at the Belize zoo drawing animals that I wanted on the map. This map was a true labor of love…

Caribbean Nautical Chart

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 06:10:53 CST

Islands of the Bahamas and West Indies
Mixed Media original $1,400
I created my pen and ink nautical charts because I wanted a current unique chart of the places I sail and dive, with the ports of call of today, but in the mermaids and sea monsters of the old days.
These charts are completely my own style, a mix of imagination and reality, and a labor of love… they evolve.
*Not for navigational purposes, use your G.P.S., polarized sunglasses, watch the grog intake and do not blame a mermaid.

Ambergris Caye, Belize - Nautical Chart

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 06:10:53 CST

I lived in the beautiful country of Belize for 10 years, (previously known as British Honduras) in Central America. This pen and ink was the first in a series of charts that I was to create, merging the charm of the old world nautical style with the facts we have available today.
The two scrolls (center left) are a record of historical events and a list of a few of the known shipwrecks along the reef. The iguana between the scrolls - posed daily on my desk and on the window ledge in front of me, he was my beautiful rescued Caribbean Green Iguana – Stanley, (who had a long and happy life after having a run-in with a Tern - being injured and dropped on the deck of our dive boat off of Half Moon Caye).
This chart was the beginning of my mermaids and sea monsters. When I started drawing it there were no maps available to the public. I talked with the local fishermen to get the names of the bays and small islands surrounding Ambergris Caye, and a Commander in the RAF procured me a satellite map of the area to get the accurate island details. Mr. Woods, a local historian, provided me with information on the old merchant ships and schooners that plied the waters off the coast and the list or known ship wrecks. I was so into the history of the island that I felt I had to create the map using a crow quill pen - modern tech pens seemed to be taboo.
Where the sea monsters come from, is a dark corner that we may not want to look into, they are simply fun to release into existence... Some have ventured so far since their release they have been found decorating the backs and biceps of a few daring souls of the British Army and RAF.
The original prints were sold as black ink on ivory paper, but I've had so many requests of a color version... the original old, traditional black and white, has mostly been retired. This one is a mixture of watercolor and pastels over the original ink drawing.