One of the last paintings I finished over the summer, Shell with Pipestem, oil/canvas panel, 8" x 10", was another opportunity to explore play in the context of nature. I was messing around with some of Stella's shells collected during beach trips along with a package of pipestem cleaners I had bought to entertain her (I seem to recall making little bees with them). As the heat wore on around here I found myself drawn to those shells, ubiquitous relics of summer, to their sandblasted forms and memories of waves. I've already posted two of my other shell studies: Shell Stack I and Three Shells in Dirt with One Shell Missing, but I wanted to offer a third for a little beach therapy as we enter cooler weather and begin our holiday preparations. I can hear the waves now and a squealing toddler running after them!
