Abalone Shell Study 1 (2026) Original Watercolour by Yuliia Prokopchuk

This watercolor celebrates the remarkable beauty of an abalone shell—one of nature’s most extraordinary marine treasures. The composition presents both the exterior and interior of the shell, revealing the contrast between its softly textured outer surface and the luminous mother-of-pearl hidden within.

Over the years, my husband and I have collected seashells during our travels, bringing them home from different parts of the world. Each shell carries memories of a place and a moment in time. This abalone shell became the inspiration for this painting, allowing me to preserve not only its remarkable beauty but also a small fragment of those journeys.

The painting was created using professional watercolor paints, with the addition of special pearlescent watercolor pigments applied primarily to the inner surface of the shell. These pigments create a delicate iridescent shimmer that changes with the light and viewing angle, faithfully reflecting the shell’s natural nacre while adding depth, realism, and elegance to the artwork.

The abalone shell is renowned for its luminous mother-of-pearl interior, where shifting iridescent colors create one of nature’s most captivating optical effects. Through careful observation and attention to detail, I sought to capture both its scientific beauty and its quiet poetry.

This painting is the first work in my ongoing Shell Study series, dedicated to the fascinating forms, textures, and hidden brilliance of seashells collected over years of travel.

Materials used:

watercolor

Details:

• Watercolour on Paper
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 26 x 40 x 0.2cm (unframed) / 10 x 16cm (actual image size)
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Photorealistic
• Subject: Landscapes, sea and sky