X-RAY MAG: Tell us about yourself, your background and how you became an artist.

CA: I have always had an interest in art. I had studied advertising and graphic design before entering the workforce and worked in various facets, including newspaper layout, political cartoons, illustration and cartoon city maps. I eventually transitioned to sales and marketing, while keeping art as a hobby and part-time business.

"Not all of my works have meaning behind them. Sometimes, I just tend to create them because the creatures have their own beauty, which I want to emulate with the hope of inspiring my fascination with them in others." — Dave Clarke

X-RAY MAG: Tell us about yourself, your background and how you became an artist.

Green, clear, and brown are the most common colors of sea glass, but other colors from pink to red to amber to blue are rare finds, since most of the glass bottles produced since the early 1900’s were of the three common colors. Although it can be found world wide, sea glass is becoming more rare as beach combers around the world have been hunting for sea glass, often for their entire lifetimes. Sea glass has been further reduced by the introduction of plastic bottles and glass recycling, so less glass has found its way to the ocean as trash.

Jessica Lee

The subtle beauty of this necklace belies the creative energies behind its creation. Handcrafted by Oregon artist Jessica Lee, this piece showcases seven sea glass stones weathered by the forces of nature. They are encased in sterling silver, and held together by a sterling clasp adorned with semi-precious stones. Adjustable from 16 to 17.5 inches, this necklace is exquisitely designed for earth-loving individuals. Price: US$90.00.  www.greensceneshop.com

West Coast Sea Glass

Genuine sea glass jewelry created by serious sea glass hunters and trained jewelery artists of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Mary Beth and Lindsay. Emerald Green and Aqua Blue Earrings and Pendant (above) have short stacks of aqua and limey green sea glass hanging on sterling silver earwires and feature a bright pewter sea star. Pendant on 16” sterling chain. Price: US$74.00 www.westcoastseaglass.net

Sea Sapphire Collection

Utra Rare Red Orange Pair

Sea Glass & Leather for Him

Sisters Jennifer Reed and Terri Reed-Boyer’s business of sea glass jewellery originates from their passion for pairing sea-glass jewellery in sterling silver and 14k gold. This they do beautifully, utilising their knowledge gained from a college education in metalsmithing and art. Throughout their lives, they hold firm to this passion, integrating this into their family life. The sisters, from Pennsylvannia, believe in using sea glass as it has been found on the beaches of Lake Erie, without any alteration or polishing.

Spirit of the Sea

Imagine wearing this delicately designed bracelet on your wrist. The light tones give it an airy feel, so it easily complements any outfit or beachwear. The single red gem (you won’t believe it’s actually sea glass!) stand out amidst the line of seven icy white sea glass stones fitted in sterling silver. Framed by real freshwater pearls and glass beads, this 8.5 inch cuff bracelet comes without any sharp edges. The company gets their sea glass from the East Coast of North America, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. Price: US$295.00.

HL Sea Beach Glass Jewelry

With a simple yet handsome design, this illusion sea glass pendant works well for him or her. Professionally drilled and handcrafted with strong beading wire and stirling silver findings. Also available on leather string or sterling silver chain in various lengths. Price: US$35.00 www.hlseabeachglassjewelry.com

For this number, beach glass of green, blue, brown, sea foam, red and clear colours show off your vibrant personality. Looking dynamic enough to leap off your finger, the beach glass nevertheless will stay put on the 8mm sterling silver ring. Price: US$210.00.  www.relishinc.com

Dreamcatcher

Artisan Tina Lam of Ecstasea in Hong Kong has been collecting seaglass for almost ten years and started making sea glass jewelry two years ago. Hong Kong is one of the busiest Asian cities blessed with beaches, she said. “Visits to the beach are walking meditations for me. Seaglass found on these trips remind me of nature’s amazing ability to turn humble glass shards into prized gems. I saw them as gifts from nature to those who love the sun, sea and beaches, because these are the elements that crafted them.

The wave bracelet features a beautiful aqua color of sea glass that is slightly curved to fit perfectly snug on your wrist. Tina has complimented its wavy shape with a series of hammered sterling silver waves, giving a unique, dynamic character to this bracelet. The seaglass is drilled on each end and strung with dark brown leather straps and sterling silver toggle clasps. The bracelet is 7.5 inches long. The seaglass is 1 3/8 inches long by 5/8 inch at widest. Price: US$21.00 www.etsy.com

Sea Glass Bouquet

This beautiful sea-glass bouquet necklace by Katie Carrin of Berkeley, California, features a rare piece of orange sea glass from the North Sea of England, faceted carnelian gemstones and creamy white freshwater keishi pearls hanging from a sterling silver necklace. Each individual gemstone and pearl is hand-wrapped in sterling silver to create this unique flower bouquet centerpiece. Price: US$350.00   www.katiecarrin.com

Sea Horse

This darling one of a kind genuine sea glass seahorse (above) by Svetlana Rasuleva of Palmeras features teal colored sea glass wrapped by hand in sterling silver wire with sterling silver beads and white topaz gemstones. Pendant measure 8.5cm (3.3 inches) long. Comes with a sterling silver chain 70cm (27.5 inches) long with sterling sliver clasp, adorned with white topaz micro faceted gemstone rondelles. Price: US$240.00 www.etsy.com

Palmeras Sea Glass

Svetlana Rasuleva of Palmeras, an artist and collector of sea glass living in Mallorca (Balearic Islands), has been collecting and making sea glass jewelry for almost four years. “All my sea glass is genuine and handpicked by me on the shores of the Balearic Islands of Spain. Each piece of sea glass jewelry is inspired by the beauty, colors and nature of the Mediterranean and holds a unique history.” One-of-a-kind, the Turkish Delight bracelet (above) is inpired by Turkish black coffee, turkish delight sweets, caramel and turquoise gemstones.

X-RAY MAG: Tell us about yourself, your background and how you became an artist. Are there mentors or artists or other sources of inspiration that have influenced you, your art or artistic process?

X-RAY MAG: Tell us about yourself, your background and how you became an artist. 

SG: I have always been inclined towards the arts since I was small. We had a GREAT arts program in high school, after which I attended Savannah College of Art and Design for a degree in painting. I really fell back into ceramics by chance when I needed a dinner platter for myself and couldn’t really afford the one I wanted. I decided I would make one and it turned out to be a hit!

I have always been fascinated by aquatic creatures. It’s like there is a whole new alien world right under the surface.

 — Shayne Greco

JH: When I became director a few years ago, I requested a tour of all our collections. We have vast collections here. It’s literally millions, more than 20 million specimens of one sort or another. And in the course of receiving a tour of our invertebrate animal collections, I was shown several shoe boxes and other small boxes of glass animals, which were absolutely remarkable. I had not known that we even had these things.

...they really are extraordinary specimens. They are anatomically correct, if you will; they’re made exactly to life; their colors are accurate. They’re exquisite.

— Professor James Hanken