Digital delights

ARTIST Seana Mercedes Mallen is mixing the old with the new and delivering a series of digital delights after creating a clever niche for her work in the kingdom's growing art and cultural scene.

Her bright canvases and her Andy Warhol-ish brilliant digital images adorn many ubiquitous walls in Bahrain's homes.

Portraits have been the theme of Seana's career which spans over two decades. Be it an oil portrait of a family, a sepia watercolour of an individual or digitally altered 'pop art', Seana's starting point are the photographs she clicks of her subject which she later translates onto the canvas creating a unique work of art.

The American artist, who has lived on the island for more than two years, said: "The computer is a clever pencil with a massive paint box. My digital work has given me new ideas about painting and vice versa.

"Digital images are very glamorous and flattering but for me painting an older person is very interesting as I can see the map of life on the individual's face which adds character to the portrait."

Seana loves to work with watercolours, which is a difficult medium to master and watercolour portraits in sepia tones have become her signature style on the island.

She has done sepia watercolours for the Bahraini royal family and has painted a number of popular individuals - Lords and Ladies, members of the House of Lords, popular figures in performing arts - in the UK.

Seana loves to get her hands dirty even when she is travelling. On her numerous cycling holidays - Sri Lanka and Jordan to name a few - she paints voraciously in her sketch book and records her visits in watercolours. "I see so many details in a scene while I'm painting which I would normally oversee while sightseeing."

The enthusiastic artist in just a short span of time has become an active member of the Bahraini art scene and certainly the expatriate society. From Manama Singers to working for the Hope Foundation and various regional charities, the 54-year-old is constantly searching for projects to channel her energy and artistic talents.

"The Open studios a couple of months ago was my idea and the Culture Vultures honed the concept. Bahrain has a thriving visual arts community and there is an appreciative audience here," she said.

Seana has developed her niche on the Bahraini art scene with her penchant for bright colours and bold strokes. The next endeavour on the energetic artist's wish list is to produce art which would have a positive impact on the island's environment.

"As a resident of this beautiful island I think it is absolutely imperative to raise environmental awareness and a good starting point is children," she said. "Billboards creating environmental awareness, art competitions, murals the options are endless...."