Helen Beck has been
working with shells since 1978. The Sailor's Valentine, as we know it, is a sea
shell mosaic worked into a single or double octagonal box.
Helen Beck goes a bit further in doing sea shell mosaics as
actual sea shell mosaic paintings using shells in their natural colors. They may be
in octagonal boxes or any other kind of box to make the painting.
In her valentines, Helen often makes use of symbols to give
meaning to her work. Her shell paintings look real -- such as a ship coming toward
you, ballet dancers in position, whaling scenes and portraits.
Since 1978, Helen Beck's Sea Shell Mosaics have won
hundreds of awards including: Best in Show, Exhibitor's Choice and Master's
Awards. Her work has been exhibited in the National Maritime Museum in Haifa, Israel
and currently in the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum in Sanibel, Florida.
As an octogenarian, Helen Beck still enjoys making and
surprising her audiences with new sea shell masterpieces.
We hope you enjoy examples of her work.