Shells and Whelk Chain - Lauren M Elfring

Name:
Lauren M Elfring

Country:
United States

Web:
www.lmelfringstudio.com

Social networks:
www.facebook.com/LMElfringStudio

Title:
Shells and Whelk Chain

Species or element:
Shells (Quahog Clam, Coquina Clam, Calico Scallop, Atlantic Bay Scallop) and Knobbed Whelk Egg Chain

Description:
I made this painting while visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I collected the items depicted on the beach of Nags Head. Included in this painting are a variety of shells common to the eastern shore of North America: two Quahog Clam Shells, one showing the purple interior, the other the white exterior; three Coquina Clam Shells; two scallop shells, one a red Calico, the other a white Atlantic Bay Scallop; and a smooth piece of broken shell with pale orange stripes, possibly from a Queen Helmet Conch Shell. The most interesting item depicted is the Knobbed Whelk Egg Chain, commonly called a "Mermaid's Necklace." While this chain was empty, sometimes found chains contain many small shells. These Whelks may have emerged in the ocean prior to the chain washing onto the beach.

Category:
Handmade

Technique:
Watercolor

Year:
2016

As the author of illustration I have given permission for it to be loaded on Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0.