12 x 12
Original Artwork
Oil Paint on Natural Horseshoe Crab Shell with Painted Sandpaper Background Mounted on Wood Panel, Framed in a Natural Wood Frame
This hand painted Horseshoe Crab Shell is a unique piece of art, inspired by the natural habitat of the horseshoe crab. My Tidal Series delves into imagery contrasting the undulating ocean waters above, the sea life usually obscured beneath and the shifting shoreline sands. These compositions describe the forms, patterns, shapes and myriad colors found on our beautiful coastlines. Exploring at low tide and into tide pools gives us a peek into the hidden world otherwise masked by the ever-changing seas.
This piece of artwork will display beautifully in any setting, from a beach cottage to an urban apartment. I used both water-based oil paint and acrylic paints to create this original shell painting. Please note, this artwork is the shell only, the driftwood background is just for photographic display.
All my shells are first prepared for painting by a thorough cleansing process that removes the ocean odors and detritus. Then the shells are fitted with inner supports made of Fire Island driftwood, which stabilize the inherent fragility of the dried natural shell. A leather loop is affixed to the driftwood to provide a hanger for this unique objet d'art.
All my painted Horseshoe Crabs shells have been found washed up on the beach at Davis Park, Fire Island, their life force long gone from them. No horseshoe Crabs have been harmed in the creation of these works of art!
Giselle Simons creates three-dimensional, mixed-media paintings using natural horseshoe crab shells as her canvas. She has produced a number of abstract and interpretive series inspired by nature, the art of ancient cultures and the fragility of our oceans and seas. Though born, raised, and still residing in New York City, the imagery, organic forms and materials found in the natural world have always been integral to Giselle’s artwork. After receiving a BFA from Cornell University with a major in photography she worked professionally in studio photography, architectural design, graphic design, and illustration; currently she devotes all her time to her art. Giselle’s paintings have been exhibited at Art At Leeds Gallery in Leeds NY, as well as at annual art shows on Fire Island. For the past 8 years she has been selling her work through her website www.dunetimearts.com and in her Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/dunetimearts.
