After months (actually I think it’s been over a year) of having scrapbook paper taped to the wall to “hold space” for my creativity (ha!), I executed the simplest art project and hung a collection of found seashells on the wall. And I couldn’t be happier with this “art installation”! This DIY shell art collection gallery wall is the perfect modern complement to this vintage piano. Plus, I love the originality and personality it adds to our living room!
It actually took me longer to hang these frames than it did to create this collection. Symmetrical gallery walls…..there’s a reason you don’t see them too often in my spaces. 😉
Anyhow, if you have a collection of shells and want to recreate this look, here are the DIY details:
- I used E6000 ~ (The best glue for a project like this in my opinion. It has a strong bond once completely cured, allows for wiggle room with the initial application, and it dries clear. The bonus is you won’t accidentally glue your fingers together. 😉 ~ and a small old paintbrush to glue the shells directly to the front of the glass in these frames.
- Using these simple black 11 x 14-inch frames matted to a 5 x 7, I started by painting the inside backs of the frames with black paint. This created a nice backdrop for high contrast with the shells. And it created a shadow box effect with the white matte.
Speaking of shadow boxes, I toyed with the idea of them but ultimately decided on simple black frames with white mattes. I think shadow boxes would have felt too heavy above this dark piano, and I also feel like the texture and unique color of each shell would have gotten lost a little inside a box.
It’s hard to capture the texture of these shells in a picture, but I really like the effect of them on the outside of the glass. The dimension and interest are so pretty, especially in a gallery.
And being that the shells are glued to the glass, these should be easy to dust as well. But I mainly opted to glue them to glass rather than to a canvas board because this wall is directly across from a large sliding glass door, and I wanted the glass to bounce some light back into the space.
I really like the look of the glass juxtaposed with the ridged, matte texture of the shells!
It might have taken longer than I anticipated for creative inspiration to finally strike, but I really love how this shell gallery looks. And the memories these collected shells bring to mind……just love!
I think art should make you feel something. I don’t think it needs to be expensive. I have always believed that the walls of our homes are the perfect place to tell our unique stories.
Our living room is slowly coming together. It’s always the space that takes me the longest to “finish” because I love a collected look so much……and collecting takes time. But there’s so much joy in the process of curating a space that feels like home.
Now off to makeover this piano bench!
