Meet Karine Almir | Shell Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karine Almir and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karine, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My curiosity has always been a major driving force in my life. I am inspired every day by the beautiful world that we live in and hope to capture and bottle some of that essence in my own artwork. Just as life offers many twists and turns, I never quite know how a piece that I am creating will turn out and my curiosity in the final results motivates me to keep working. Each piece is different and during their creation, they take a life of their own, shaping themselves into something truly magical. Everyone hopes to leave their mark on the world, to touch lives and hearts. I hope to do so through my artwork, just as other artists have touched my life with theirs.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was introduced to the world of seashells as a child during my family’s summer vacations at the seaside. It never occurred to me then that seashells could be used to create wonderful works of art, or that my childhood pastime would evolve into an art form and hobby years later.

Though I graduated college with a bachelor in engineering, after moving to the USA with my husband and two small children, I became a cake decorator, making sugar flowers and bouquets for wedding cakes. These two skills came in handy years later, when I watched an episode of the Martha Stewart Show about shell art and Sailor’s Valentines. I was immediately inspired to dive into the world of shell art and started making my own art pieces in 2008. I drew a pattern and just jumped right into the work, teaching myself as I went along. It’s funny how a simple TV show could change my life so radically. The skills I had developed as an engineer and subsequent cake decorator were co-opted into use for developing intricate designs for my shell art for making flowers and birds from seashells.

In March 2009, I participated in the Sanibel Shell Show for the first time, where all three of the works I showcased were awarded ribbons. Since then I have won awards at the show each year, and have expanded my work to include other kinds of home décor, such as mirrors, picture frames and mosaics.

As a self-taught artist, I faced many challenges along the way, but my own perseverance and the support of my family, friends, and mentors have provided me the strength to overcome these challenges.

I enjoy working with seashells. Each shell is unique and tells its own story. The designs in my work strive to showcase the individual beauty of each shell, and, accordingly, the combination of those shells creates beautiful designs.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I draw a lot of inspiration from nature, and love sharing beautiful places with friends. We would start off with a trip to our local botanical gardens – Descanso Gardens, the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and the Huntington Library and Gardens. We would also make sure to visit the Getty and the Getty Villa. No week in Southern California would be complete without a visit to the beach! Laguna Beach is a wonderful place to visit, with something for everyone – from great shops, wonderful places to dine, many museums, and the beach itself. Evening tickets to the Pageant of the Masters completes a perfect day at the beach.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Bill Jordan was a very special and dear friend of mine. He was an incredibly kind and generous man, an amazing mentor and supported me through many of the struggles I faced in the early years of my artistic career. He was a true legend in the genre of shell art – a man bigger than life itself. Bill passed away in 2017, but he will never be forgotten. I was honored in 2020 to receive the Bill Jordan award at the Sanibel 2020 Shell Show.

Website: https://shellartbykarine.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinealmir/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/treasuresfromthedeep?ref=profile_header