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Artist Turns Real Seashells into Trinket Dishes That Look Like Pieces of Sunken Treasure

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

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From micro paintings on tea bags to little masterpieces on butterfly wings, many contemporary artists are rejecting the traditional canvas in favor of smaller, unexpected items. One artist to do so is California-based crafter Mary Kenyon who uses real seashells to create decorative jewelry dishes that look like pieces of ancient treasure found on a sunken shipwreck.

The self confessed “crafts addict” found her love of all-things artsy from her father, who was a talented oil painter and leather carver. “After he passed, he left me with all his oil paints, acrylic paints, canvases, leather and hundreds of leather tools,” says Kenyon. “Being surrounded by so much inspiration and creativity is what has led me to this path in my life.”

Kenyon’s stunning, vintage-inspired shell art designs are made by decoupaging an image onto the shell’s surface. Kenyon then hand-paints decorative details using gold gilding paint, and adheres three-dimensional embellishments such a brass and colorful Swarovski rhinestones. From Renaissance-style fairy and mermaid paintings to dragonfly and peacock motifs, each opulent trinket looks like it could have belonged to an aristocratic lady from the early 17th century.

You can buy your own shell trinket dish on Etsy.

California-based crafter Mary Kenyon uses real seashells to create decorative jewelry dishes.

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Her stunning, vintage-inspired shell art designs are made by decoupaging an image onto the shell’s surface.

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Kenyon then embellishes each design with gold gilding paint and colorful Swarovski rhinestones.

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Each piece looks like ancient treasure found on a sunken shipwreck.

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Shell Art Jewelry Dishes by Mary Kenyon

Mary Kenyon: Etsy | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Mary Kenyon.

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Amazingly Detailed Paintings on Tiny Canvases

Beautiful Skulls Carved and Painted on Mother of Pearl Shells

Woman Recreates Classic Works of Art Inside Delicately Cracked Eggshells

Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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