Q: Where Do I Begin???

A: With a blank full sheet of watercolor paper and a pencil. 

I begin with a look in mind, certain subjects, an overall design, and then colors. I sketch the design in pencil first; make a ton of mistakes and changes, then go over the drawing with a very fine point permanent marker. Next, I erase all the pencil to make it look like I drew the design that way on my first attempt. Once the line drawing is down, I begin applying layers of color using various watercolor techniques. Wet on wet techniques are great for making things look like water or appear under water. I am very keen for detail and sometimes spend 40-80 hours on just one design. Layering allows you to achieve the desired result with bold and distinctive blended colors that flow.

Once the painting is finished, it is off to be professionally photographed. This image file is then given to my graphic designer who replicates the image to fit the scarf dimensions and adds a border for the hand-rolled and stitched hem. This big fat electronic graphic file is then uploaded to the production facility and four to five weeks later, the scarf is ready for sale.

Each scarf is produced from my original artwork and designs, thus our term “Wearable Coastal Art.” I love the beach and anything on the water. Eden Shell will combine both my passion for the coast and watercolor to hopefully create designs that will bring a smile to your face and reawaken those memories from that last trip to the beach.

This is a work in progress, and I hope you enjoy the ride!