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Artist Turns Real Seashells Into Decorative Jewelry Dishes That Look Like Long Lost Treasure
Nowadays, many contemporary artists are looking for new ways to express their unique art in a different manner to others. They are abandoning the traditional art mediums and instead of using sometimes smaller but unexpected things. One artist who is actually famous for this is crafter Mary Kenyon from California.
She uses real seashells and transforms them into beautiful decorative jewelry dishes. Her works of art are very detailed and look like pieces of an ancient treasure that can be found on sunken ships. She is a self-taught artist and her creative ideas come from her father, who was a very talented oil painter.
Curious how her beautiful artwork is made? Kenyon's detailed art is made by decoupaging an image onto the real seashell's surface. Then, she carefully paints small decorative details in brass or Swarovski rhinestones. In this way, her art projects look like from the Victorian era, perhaps belonging to an aristocrat.
So scroll down the page and check out her amazingly creative artwork that looks like an ancient treasure you might find at the bottom of the sea!
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
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Sandra Kelley 6 years ago
I love peacocks, and this painting lends itself to them. Magnificent!
Deedee Daydream 6 years ago
Can anyone please tell what are the embellished/jeweled metal pieces called (so I can try to find some and work on some shells of my own)
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sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago
Extremely impressive, I love the Victorian era, incredible detail, includes nature !!!
Karen Chaddock 6 years ago
This dragonfly painted shell is my favorite one of all these shown here.
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Connie Martin 6 years ago
Thank you. Wracking my brain to remember the poem...
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Alex Bailey 6 years ago
I love this painting. This and The Magic Circle (also by John William Waterhouse).
sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago
Just a thought, could you take a photo of a loved one, copy, print on plain printing paper to add to the shell ???
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Alicia Fox 6 years ago
This is her etsy, but it looks like there aren't any seashells for sale right now. Maybe request one? https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/rtistmary/items
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Nightingale9 6 years ago
I love this one😍😍!! The colors are so simple and the flower is so elegant, it’s a true masterpiece😄😄😄😄😄!!!!
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Meredith Gladwell 6 years ago
That's not Narcissus, it's "Hylas and the Nymphs", by John William Waterhouse
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Donna Vogel 4 years ago
This is my favorite so far! I do shells with napkins. Of course nothing like yours.
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Nightingale9 6 years ago (edited)
so bright and colorful, I love all the little fish swimming around her.
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Ivy Crawford 6 years ago (edited)
The way you bounce around from style to style is incredible! Your skills are superb!!!
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What do you think ?
Brenda Pereira 6 years ago
I love your ideas! Will be sending you an message on etsy. If you are interested in purchasing some, I had to dig a little, but found her shop on etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/rtistmary/items?ref=pagination&page=1
John Louis 6 years ago
Please understand she did not paint these images. She cuts and pastes them onto shells. This is more of a an "arts and crafts" project than original works of art.
Signe Manat Hansen 6 years ago
Yeah, no. It's art. A painter is still called an artist even though they don't make their own art.
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karen snyder 6 years ago
Treasure, huh... So, I guess I'm the only one who isn't impressed by decoupage and a hot glue gun? and, I'm pretty sure the gold "detailing" is done with a paint pen. I really fail to see why so many people are gooing over these, or this "artist," (technically a crafter,) who seems to be better at cutting, pasting and shopping than actually creating anything unique or even useful. For those of you asking about the legality of her property infringement, many of these paintings are NOT public domain as the artists have not been dead for more than 120 years. Credit should still be given to the actual artist, even if they were.
G13 6 years ago
I think they're lovely, and they have insane detail and remind me of the renaissance. No matter how it's made, the artist put valuable time and effort into their craft and it's wonderful
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Terri Lee 6 years ago
These are beautiful, but...the appropriated images might be copyrighted. Any intellectual property attnys out there have an opinion?
Kiki 6 years ago
I'm pretty sure those paintings are public domain by now.
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P.Brux FHell 6 years ago
Too kitschy, and also: decoupage is not "painting". It's pretty much cutting and pasting.
Phynix Caskey 6 years ago
I would be more impressed if these were actually painted and not modpodge images on a shell. I am sadden that she is just taking art from others and putting it on these.
Brenda Pereira 6 years ago
I love your ideas! Will be sending you an message on etsy. If you are interested in purchasing some, I had to dig a little, but found her shop on etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/rtistmary/items?ref=pagination&page=1
John Louis 6 years ago
Please understand she did not paint these images. She cuts and pastes them onto shells. This is more of a an "arts and crafts" project than original works of art.
Signe Manat Hansen 6 years ago
Yeah, no. It's art. A painter is still called an artist even though they don't make their own art.
Load More Replies... karen snyder 6 years ago
Treasure, huh... So, I guess I'm the only one who isn't impressed by decoupage and a hot glue gun? and, I'm pretty sure the gold "detailing" is done with a paint pen. I really fail to see why so many people are gooing over these, or this "artist," (technically a crafter,) who seems to be better at cutting, pasting and shopping than actually creating anything unique or even useful. For those of you asking about the legality of her property infringement, many of these paintings are NOT public domain as the artists have not been dead for more than 120 years. Credit should still be given to the actual artist, even if they were.
G13 6 years ago
I think they're lovely, and they have insane detail and remind me of the renaissance. No matter how it's made, the artist put valuable time and effort into their craft and it's wonderful
Load More Replies... Terri Lee 6 years ago
These are beautiful, but...the appropriated images might be copyrighted. Any intellectual property attnys out there have an opinion?
Kiki 6 years ago
I'm pretty sure those paintings are public domain by now.
Load More Replies... P.Brux FHell 6 years ago
Too kitschy, and also: decoupage is not "painting". It's pretty much cutting and pasting.
Phynix Caskey 6 years ago
I would be more impressed if these were actually painted and not modpodge images on a shell. I am sadden that she is just taking art from others and putting it on these.
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