Seychelloise Artist - Frances Chang Him.

FRANCES CHANG-HIM

I would like the viewer to experience a sense of gratitude towards the amazing beauty of the environment that surrounds us

Frances’ subject of choice is tropical islands, beach and forest scenes, she creates painstakingly accurate renditions of lush locations around the Seychelles Islands.

My core concern is definitely the reflection of nature and the manner in which nature enriches humanity.

FAIRYLAND 2004 Acrylic on paper 50x40cm

Frances is also concerned with the protection of the Seychellois Heritage and often portrays cultural elements in her paintings; you will often find women in traditional Creole dress and  figures performing activities unique to the Seychelles way of life.

I think we are losing a lot of our traditional activities because of our modern way of living. Thus I would like to keep them ‘alive’ through my paintings.

DAYDREAMING 100X80cm 2015 acrylic on canvas.

Aside from landscape and scenic vistas Frances also ‘zooms in’ to capture close-up environmental studies, examining each rock, petal and leaf and transposing them with great skill, as with 'Morning Dew'.

MORNING DEW 2015 acrylic on canvas  50 X 90cm

By getting up close to her subjects and discovering the minute details that are otherwise not normally noticed Frances hopes to present these details to the viewer in a way that deepens their appreciation of the subject and thus become more aware of the intrinsic beauty that can be found in all we have around us. 

Normally when commencing a composition I would start with the background, where I would paint a few washes and work my way to the foreground, adding more details. Because I am more-or-less a self-taught artist I don’t always stick to the traditional methods. It all depends on the subject I am working on and what kind of mood I am in at that moment. If I feel like tackling the more exciting bits first then I go for it and move onto the next section of the painting as though I were fixing a jigsaw puzzle.

TAKAMAKA SCENE in progress!

TAKAMAKA SCENE 2015 acrylic on canvas  100X80cm

I use only my own photographs to resource my paintings. Most of the time I already have an idea of how I would like it to look on the canvas.  However, if I have to combine several subjects from different photographs to produce a complete composition then I would do one or two sketches to know how to place them on the canvas. When I am satisfied I then make simple line drawings on the canvas and start painting in. I stop when I am satisfied with the whole piece and feel a sense of accomplishment.

PORT GLAUD RIVER 2016 acrylic on canvas 30X30cm

I haven’t really thought of a specific label for my work. Personally, I try to get as close as possible to the source so I am quite happy with just being described as a realist. I must say that many people have commented on how much my paintings look like real photographs so this always makes me feel like I have accomplished something.

TAKAMAKA AND ORLANDA acrylic on canvas 2016 60x50cm

One part of the creative process I enjoy the most is colour mixing. I just love obtaining the right colours I need to produce a rich and detailed piece of work. It is amazing how the right colours can make a painting come to life and look so real!

SERENITY 2016 acrylic on canvas

I would like viewers to feel a sense of peacefulness and happiness when they see my work. I have had comments such as “when I look at your painting I feel like I am walking through it and like I am actually there” or “your painting helps me to unwind after a very hectic day”, which is exactly the kind of effect I want viewers to experience.  

Frances regularly exhibits her work at the Eden Art Space Gallery on Eden Island, Mahe. 

See Frances painting live in the Eden Art Space Gallery HERE

Frances Chang Him 

For more information about Frances Chang Him artworks, commissions and prints contact us HERE

To discover more Art from the Seychelles - Check out our Facebook page HERE