Lambis Digitata

This painting reminds me of a seashell painting by Comer Jennings which was in my best friend's home when we were growing up. The painting caught my attention at a young age and made me want to become an artist. His painting has inspired me my whole life, long before I painted seashells.

Lambis Digitata On White
38" x 48"
acrylic
sold

Where the Sky and the Earth Meet 3

Another piece inspired by Luc Leestemaker.

Where the Sky and the Earth Meet 3
24" x 24"
acrylic

Where the Sky and the Earth Meet 1

This painting was inspired by one of my favorite artists, Luc Leestemaker. Luc is so talented at simply painting space, and making it mean something. The ambiguity of this painting lets the viewer ask, "Where am I?"

Where the Sky Meets The Earth 1
30" x 30"
acrylic

Summer Music

This abstract painting is an unusual style for me, but it is one of most favorite paintings I have ever done. I did this painting in one, very long, studio session. I just couldn't stop. The paint was flowing, and like magic, came together to create this perfectly complete composition. I don't even dare try to repeat it.

Summer Music
30" x 40"
acrylic
sold

Coral Series

Coral Series: Red, Black, and Turquoise

8" x 10"
sold

Bay Scallop Mix

The incredible combination of colors and patterns led me to this painting. Shells to me are like nature's own textiles. The seashell mix includes an Arrowhead Sand Dollar, Bay Scallop, Miter Shell, Marble Cone, a Conus Tessellatus, and a Drupa Morum.

Bay Scallop Mix
24" x 36"
acrylic
sold

Orange Miter Shell

The Miter Shell is named because of their resemblance to the peaked caps, sometimes worn by popes, bishops, and other ecclesiastics. They are said to represent mediating for peace and seeking harmony. Most live in warm shallow seas and use their long retractable snout to feed on clams and marine worms. Usually elongated in form, they feature vibrant color patterns. Attraction to this shell encourages a more conscious evaluation of one's spiritual values.

Orange Miter Shell on Turquoise
10" x 30"
acrylic

Orange Miter Shell on Cappuccino
10" x 30"
acrylic

Arrowhead Sand Dollar With Orange Miter Shell

Turquoise and orange is probably my favorite color combination. When I was on my drive out to California, I bought a turquoise and orange coral necklace in Santa Fe. The necklace still inspires me today...years later:)

Sand Dollars are said to represent the connection between the divine and one's own role in all life experiences, both good and bad.

Arrowhead Sand Dollar With Orange Miter Shell
40" x 40"

Strawberry Turbo On White

I wanted to try a strawberry turbo on white. I think it would look soft and lovely in a light, white beach house.

Strawberry Turbo on White
11" x 14"

Strawberry Turbo 2

This was my second try at a Strawberry Turbo. The pinks are so yummy, I couldn't stop painting this shell and had to remind myself not to"guild the lily."

Strawberry Turbo 2
24" x 24"
sold

Turbo Door

"As warriors of Shambhala we find ourselves shedding tears at the same time we are smiling. We are crying and laughing at once. That is the ideal Shambhalian mentality: we cry and laugh at the same time. Isn't it wonderful? A flower needs sunshine together with raindrops to blossom so beautifully. For that matter, a rainbow is made out of the tears falling from our eyes, mixed with a shot of sunshine. That is how a rainbow becomes a rainbow ---- sunshine mixed with tears. From that point of view, the Shambhala philosophy is the philosophy of a rainbow. "

Turbo Door
24" x 36"

The Red Turbo

This turbo shell just simply sits there with confidence. It somehow reminds me that we have to leave ourselves time to just be. It is important to remember to smile, even if no one is watching, and just to give yourself a good time.

Red Turbo
24" x 30"

Pink Turbo On Midnight Blue

This shell looks beautiful whichever way you turn it.

Pink Turbo On Midnight Blue
36" x 36"

Blue Turbo

I love how this painting looks like something from outer space. You want to just crawl inside it!

Blue Turbo
36" x 36"

Coral On Red

It is wild to think of coral as an animal, but it is. It has grown on the bottom of the ocean floors for more than 25 million years. Since live coral are always competing with mollusks for the calcium in their surroundings, coral is said to represent "competition."

Coral on Red
8" x 10"

Marble Cone On Red, Coral on Red

This was the very first seashell I painted! It makes a great set with the Coral on Red piece.

Marble Cone On Red
8" x 10"

Marbel Cone On Midnight Blue

Marble Cones are fascinating because they are so beautiful, but at the same time possess a poisonous dart that they use to harpoon their prey.

Marble Cone On Midnight Blue
40" x 40"
Sold

Copper Turbo On Alizarin Brown

I photographed this shell with the sunlight coming through it. It produced an amazing copper, orange effect. It was so gorgeous, I couldn't wait to paint it.

Copper Turbo On Alizarin Brown
36" x 36"

Colorful Turbo On Wood Floor

This little 9" x 12" painting is a little gem.

Colorful Turbo On Wood Floor
9" x 12'

Colorful Turbo Large

The South African Turbo is one of the most sought after by shell enthusiasts. This is especially true once polished to reveal the attractive nacre (mother of pearl) of the inner layer.

Nacre appears iridescent because the thickness of the aragonite platelets is close to the wavelength of visible light. The interference of different wavelengths of light results in different colors of light being reflected at different viewing angles.

Colorful Turbo
18" x 24"

African Turbo Chocolate Brown

This was the second turbo shell I painted. I love the unmistakable shell markings and coloration. The silvery purple and blue mother-of-pearl deposits, combined with its natural rusty oranges and browns make the shell simply fascinating.

African Turbo Chocolate Brown
24" x 30"

African Turbo 2

This was my second try at the African Turbo, only bigger. Supposedly, this shell teaches us to shed beliefs we have regarding who we are based on other people's perceptions of us. By ignoring these impositions, we can get rid of false concepts of ourselves and dig down deep to find our unique, individual truth.

African Turbo 2

30" x 48"

The Jade Green Turbo

This Jade, Green Trubo resembles my Turquoise Turbo on Brown. I was so happy painting it, I had to do two of them.

Jade Green Turbo
40" x 30"

The Turquoise Turbo On Chocolate Brown

Turbo shells are said to represent, "Peeling away the outer layers to find inner light." Turquoise is absolutely one of my very favorite colors, and I love combining it with chocolate brown. The colors in this shell are so mouth watering, you want to eat it.

Turquoise Turbo On Chocolate Brown
24" x 36"
sold

The African Turbo

This painting is one of my favorite. I stare at it all the time on the wall and can't remeber how I did it. I have lots of turbo shells that sit on the edge of my tub, so I can study them while I take a bath. The iridescent colors combined with the bold oranges and reds makes me feel inspired to paint. the shell's boldness really appeals to me.

The African Turbo
40" x 30"

The Strawberry Turbo

The Strawberry Turbo painting began my seashell series. I love the hot pink pigment that dances on the surface of the shell.

The Strawberry Turbo
18" x 24"
sold