Oysters

Oysters #4 Rosette, Charcoal, Acrylic, Pastel on Arches Paper, 22.5 x 30 inches

Oyster Fossils, Watercolor and Sumi Ink on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches
Blue Periwinkles, Watercolor and Gesso on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches
Oysters and Sushi Grass, Watercolor and Charcoal on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches

Shoal Creek Fossils, Watercolor and Charcoal on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches

Emeralds, Watercolor, Gesso and Charcoal on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches

Oysters #8 Reef, Charcoal, Acrylic, Pastel on Arches Paper, 22.5 x 30 inches. Private Collection.

Oysters #10 Blue Willow, Charcoal, Acrylic, Pastel on Arches Paper, 22.5 x 30 inches

Gold Oysters, Watercolor, Gesso, Charcoal and Sumi Ink on Fabriano Paper, 17 x 15 inches
Oysters Smeared, Sumi Ink on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches

Chasing, Watercolor and Charcoal on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches

Oyster Traces, Watercolor and Charcoal on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches

Oyster Blots, Watercolor and Charcoal on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches. Private Collection.

Oysters #2 Division, Charcoal, Acrylic, Pastel, Watercolor on Arches Paper, 22.5 x 30 inches

Ilymatogyra Fossils, Watercolor, Gesso and Charcoal on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches

Oysters #6 Blue Oysters, Charcoal, Acrylic, Pastel, Watercolor on Arches Paper, 22.5 x 30 inches

Three Green Oysters, Watercolor, Gesso, Charcoal and Sumi Ink on Fabriano Paper, 15 x 17 inches

Oysters #3 Lagoon, Charcoal, Acrylic, Pastel, Watercolor on Arches Paper, 22.5 x 30 inches

Oysters #1 Spats, Charcoal, Acrylic, Pastel, Watercolor on Arches, 22.5 x 30 inches
In the bright lights of climate change, oysters are first responders in an environmental cleanup, and oyster middens are important defenders of our coastlines. I also chose the oyster as subject matter for the pure pleasure I found in returning to gesso, charcoal and paint as appropriate mediums with which to draw out the textures and intricacies of oyster shells. To their primitive shapes, examined one by one or in groups, I bring references to oyster farming, Blue Willow pottery, and the jewel tones of Neruda’s Piedras del cielo. I made each of the paintings and drawings by first picking up one oyster shell and drawing its form somewhere on the sheet of paper. I then used mixed media including paint, pastel, and charcoal to build shape on shape and color over color, until the work was completed. There was never a preconceived idea of how the painting would look when finished. That was always determined by process.