*   indicates that drawing is available as a card

  Kit Hoisington

These shell paintings were done in late 2003- early 2004.  The shells were picked up from the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico at low tide.

I find them to be very beautiful sculptural objects, but they are also, of course, the remains of the live creatures that created them.  The animals could have been as much as 25 years old, to create shells of this size (close to a foot long). 

Then the empty shells have rolled around the bottom of the Gulf for some time to get worn down like this,  which could mean many more years,  before my husband stubbed his toe on them and pulled them out of the water.

Set of 4 paintings called "Old Beauties, 1,2,3,& 4" (2003)     each 12" x 12"        oil     SOLD 

shell series

After a visit to the Rembrandt house in Amsterdam, in 2004, where I remembered how much I love his etchings, and fine-line black & white etchings and drawings, I started working on pen & ink drawings of Sanibel shells which are, after all, nature's small, exquisite sculptures. 

Junonias    pen & ink,  2005  *

Apple Murex    pen & ink,  2005  *

Alphabet Cones   pen & ink,  2005  *

Horse Conch & Air Plant   pen & ink,  2005

Small Horse Conch   pen & ink,  2005

Nutmeg Shells   pen & ink,  2005 SOLD

Moon Snails   pen & ink,  2005  *

Olive Shells   pen & ink,  2005  *

Lace Murex   pen & ink,  2005

Small Conch Shells  pen & ink,  2005

Lightning Whelks    pen & ink,  2005

Lightning Whelk   pen & ink,  2005