Beautiful Animal Sculptures From Seashells Found at the Beach

For the past twenty years, I have been a jewelry designer in New York, USA. Like many others, I didn’t expect Covid lockdown would ignite a new passion and set me on a different path a year later. With little work, idyll hands and lots of creative energy, I found solace at my local beach along with my ten year old daughter. A simple idea to create a sea turtle in the sand with seashells as decorations sparked my curiosity and the plan to create twelve sand and seashell sculptures to fill a calendar. By fall, my mission was completed so I transitioned to a new creative vision, developing a process to make my ephemeral art into a permanent collection.

I have worked with a range of mediums in the past from precious metals to wax, stone, clay and fabric. Nothing feels quite like sand and water, the most basic of materials, raw and simple. Just like building a sandcastle, I create my bas reliefs sculptures with my bare hands and they are transformed into permanent art after all the seashells are in place.

If sand is my canvas, then seashells are my inspiration, my gemstones, my paint and brush strokes as an artist. Their shapes and textures form my visual vocabulary, one that comprises jewels overlooked by collectors, broken and visually unassuming. Their unyielding character gives my work energy and a distinct personality. I do not alter the seashells in any way so for them to nest seamlessly together, it’s akin to finding the right piece for the puzzle. The result looks effortless but the task is more daunting than the eyes can tell. In essence, my work relies on working in harmony with nature and what it provides, bringing attention to the beauty that goes unnoticed. ~ @annachandesign