The Artist's Blog

The first night I spent in the Maldives was under a full moon. We arrived at Tari Village, a surf resort on Kanuoiy Huraa island in North Male Atoll. 

After a full day of wonderful surf, the night air with its cool breezes beckoned us to walk the lagoon’s beaches under an amazing starry sky. Trails led from our bungalow under lush palms and fragrant greenery to the beach only a few minute’s walk away.  Shadows dappled the white coral sand as the moonlight filtered through with a brilliance that made it almost as bright as daylight. The soft sand was raked and groomed by the caretakers daily, yet here and there were what appeared to scattered shells and coconuts brought up by the shifting tides. All was magical and surreal…then a bit eerie as the shells began to move… all of them… large and small… moving imperceptively, away from the water, onto the trails.. they were skittering everywhere. Hermit crabs of all sizes, claiming shells as large as coconuts were moving around darting in and out of the shadows. The ground was teeming with life, and we were hesitant to continue for fear of crushing someone… so made our way back to the bungalow.

It became clear to me that evening that Nature wastes not and shells are best left on the beach. Empty shells are happily recycled by hermit crabs as they are constantly “upgrading” to larger abodes. Bits of seashells are used as camouflage for other creatures to hide. And all shells eventually contribute towards making sand on the beach. 

"Tropical Treasure - Maldives Triptych"

My travels to some of the world's most beautiful surf destinations have revealed to me that many beaches have now become marine reserves. Increasingly fragile habitats that prohibit any kind of collection. And in many places, such as the islands of Hawaii, shells, corals and rocks are considered sacred to their islands and should remain there. 

"Sea Urchin"  8" x 8"   Oil on Panel

Nowadays if I see a beautiful specimen, I’ll keep it as a memory with a photo from my phone, as I am loathe to rob a hermit crab of his or her home.

"Luna Shell"  8" x 8"  Oil on Panel

View Caroline's entire new shell collection in her Cabinet of Curiosities. This collection, along with other recent paintings, are available at Caroline's Laguna Beach gallery Atelier del Corvo.