2010
Merilyn Chappel
Out of Africa
Out of Africa
I was born in South Africa and even though I have spent two thirds of my life in Sydney and feel well and truly Australian, I still yearned to return to Africa one day to go on safari. And naturally, a spectacular safari in Zambia resulted in a new series of artworks! I still paint giraffes to this day as with their comical body shapes of long necks and spindly legs, not to mention their quirky facial expressions, what is there not to love!
My giraffes come in all sizes. Large pieces have adorned lofty foyers while smaller ones in crisp white frames have been the perfect additions to childrens’ rooms. One client ordered a series of giraffes for a cheerful boost of colour and a sense of fun on a large family room wall. Do you know that the collective noun for these tall, comical animals is a tower of giraffe? Perfect.
Artworks
Artist
An interior designer and journalist, Merilyn Chappel has been painting for over 25 years. Initially a watercolour artist, her work has evolved to encompass other mediums including acrylics and inks, but more recently mixed media. This foray into mixed media has resulted in uniquely textured, impressionistic works but these still exhibit Merilyn’s dramatic use of colour and design. Merilyn’s subject matter varies considerably from large dramatic landscapes to small interiors; from bold and colourful fruits to sensitively painted flowers; from Australian stockmen to French villages; from African giraffes to Australian dairy herds; from Sydney sailboats to outback towns – even shoes, hats and teacups have a look in!