Since moving to Key West in August, I've developed an almost daily habit of looking for shells, sea glass, coral, etc. along the water's edge. Some would say that my collection is getting out of control. (Perhaps a family member or two HAS said that....) But, as I find more and more specimens of a certain shell, I go back through and return some of the shells to the shore, keeping the ones that have best color, are largest or smallest, etc.
When I found this shell, I thought they were juvenile olive shell. The shell book that I got for Christmas (Florida's Living Beaches by Blair and Dawn Witherington) corrected me. I find the Atlantic and the White-spot versions of the marginella in the line of seaweed and such on a regular basis. I don't think I've seen the Orange version yet, but I'll keep looking!
All of the shells that I will be painting are from my own collection. I did a photoshoot with dramatic lighting for most of my reference photos, even though I have the shell in front of me while I paint. I'm experimenting with painting lost and hard edges in some of the paintings.
I hope you will return each day and see what I've come up with!
5 comments:
Beautiful watercolor, I love the light you captured. I remember the days of collecting shells on the beach as a child, I think my inner child needs to do that again.
Very beautifully done and your story stirs up days at the beach
Simply beautiful, Nancy - I just love it and can't wait to see more of your work for this challenge.
Thanks for reading and commenting. I'm very excited about all the shells I'm going to paint.
Really beautiful :) I have the same ''obsession'' as you, I also allways bring home pockets filled with stones and shells and sea glass when I have been at the beach :)
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