‘Ambergris Caye, Belize’ Nautical Chart Drawn and painted by hand, with India ink and watercolor on D’Arches paper.

This ink drawing was the beginning of my charts, mermaids and sea monsters. At the time, there were no maps of Ambergris Caye available to the public. So, I talked with the local fishermen to obtain the names of the bays and small islands surrounding the caye. And for details, a commander in the RAF procured a satellite map of the area for me. Still, with this bird’s eye view, I used a bit of artistic license in the lagoon and mangrove areas up the west coast. The mangroves are a web of canals and not a solid shoreline but look solid from space. Canals were cleared through the mangrove to harbor ships during storms and cut by pirates to hide their ships. Many are in use today to bird watch and see the American Crocodiles.

Mr. Woods, a local historian, provided me with information on the old merchant ships and schooners that plied the waters off the coast, and a list of known shipwrecks. The two scrolls (center left) are a record of historical events and a list of a few of the known shipwrecks along the reef. I was so into the history: I created this map using a crow quill pen. Modern tech pens seemed taboo.

*The Imagekind watermark is not on the print. To view my artwork without it - visit my website savannaredman.com This artwork is also available as custom murals on kiln fired tile. Visit savannaredman.com for more information.