Guy Harvey mentors Ernest Ward student, aspiring marine artist

From North Escambia

Nolin Godwin, an incoming sixth grader at Ernest Ward Middle School, recently spent time painting a mural at Sea World in Orlando with world renowned conservationist and artist Guy Harvey.

Nolin, now 12, has been obsessed with the ocean, sharks and saving the environment since he was about two years old. The aspiring artist started drawing sharks at a very young ago. Four years ago, the Godwin family vacationed on Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean.

Harvey has a home and an art gallery on Grand Cayman. Nolin met Harvey and showed him some of his paintings. Harvey invited Nolan to draw with him in his gallery, inspiring Nolan to continue his love for the ocean, drawing and learning to paint. The family has continued yearly summer vacations back to Grand Cayman to see Harvey. They spend two to three weeks at a time to allow Nolin time in Harvey’s gallery.

He has also participated directly with Harvey multiple years in a Sting Ray City project, tagging and researching the ocean creatures.

When Nolin broke his arm at age 8, his Aunt Ruth Harrell bought him paint and canvases. Nolin sold his paintings, raising enough to donate $1,000 of  to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. With the money, Harvey tagged a Mako shark and named it Nolin.

Nolin was invited recently to help Harvey with the mako shark mural at Sea Wold. Nolin signed the painting, with Harvey signing below wince he helped with touch-ups.

Nolin is the son of Gordon and JoLynn Godwin.

For more photos of Nolin and Guy Harvey painting, click here for a gallery.

For more on this story go to: http://www.northescambia.com/2017/07/guy-harvey-mentors-ernest-ward-student-aspiring-marine-artist