This is a photo of a silk scarf I painted about 18 months ago. It is an adaption of a black and white shell design I saw in a book entitled "Designs for Coloring: Seashells", written and illustrated by Ruth Heller, published by the Penguin Group (USA). I asked for and received permission to adapt her design. I try to be scrupulous about asking for permissions, whenever needed.

Copyright is a fragile thing and oh, so important to any creative person, no matter what medium. Although a work is considered copyrighted once you have completed it, the work must be registered with the national copyright office [fee required] in order to be able to claim damages and lawyer's fees, should any court case ensue from infringement of one's work. I believe it's possible to register a group of works as well as an individual piece.

I've always loved seashells. On long-ago trips to the U.S. Virgin Islands and to Tahiti, it was a joy to observe them in their natural sandy ocean habitat, knowing they were 'alive' with a sea creature tucked inside. I've had an idea for quite some time of a painted quilt of shells...