Creating the Collection: Shells

There are two kinds of people in this world, people who love the beach and sociopaths.

Kidding, of course! Most of us don't live super close to the beach, so it's a special treat, a few days away from reality, where you can relax, feel the warm sun, sand between your toes and crashing cool waves. I have a lot of really fond memories of the beach. My parents live on the Cape and had a place in Florida for a short while, so I have had the opportunity of frequent beach visits. And when I visit, I prefer to spend time combing the beach for shells. I could be out there for hours. Not sure why exactly, but it never gets boring to me... I have probably collected a thousand shells, most of which are in jars above the fireplace in my living room. Shells as small as a grain of sand, all the way up to my favorite find, a 14-inch-long Horse Conch I found in Florida.

Shells have long been something I have wanted to paint. I have had a couple of small collections over the years, but this newest collection has been really special to create. It started quite by accident... when trying to paint a flower petal, I created a shape that looked like a small clam shell. I tried the petal a few more times, but every time it looked more like a shell than a flower petal. So, I leaned into it and just started painting shell after shell after shell. I was using acrylic paint, which is something I don't often use, on kraft paper... and I just fell in love with the simplicity of it all. Simple colors, simple shapes, the rough paper. It really snowballed from there to try watercolor, acrylic on paper, on panels, adding in texture, drawing with pencil. I am calling this a sketch collection because the work has been really organic... following my gut, no real planning. just a simple and natural progression of working without fear of failure - much like I do in my own personal sketchbook.

I hope you enjoy this work, that it reminds you of your own time of the beach, family or friends, warm sun and sand, a place to let your hair down, relax and have some fun.