A Gift from the Heart: Wave Series Artwork for Waterfront Home in Anna Maria Island

Every now and then, a commission hits differently. This one? Extra special.

Back in December, I got a message from Brad—a husband looking for the perfect Christmas gift for his wife, Shannon. (Husbands, take notes!) He asked if I offered gift cards because he wanted her to choose the piece herself. Thoughtful doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Fast forward to spring: Shannon reached out, excited to start the process. She had three placement ideas for the artwork, but her favorite was in the bathroom, right above the tub. Naturally, her biggest concern was durability. Would seashell art hold up in a humid environment?

To make sure it would, I suggested skipping the linen backer and framing the piece in a custom powder-coated silver metal frame. Clean, modern, and safe for the bathroom. We landed on a 42” round Wave Series piece. Elegant, flowing, and serene.

I had the metal frame custom made at my local metal shop and arranged the shells to reflect that signature gentle movement. Once complete, I personally delivered the piece to their beautiful beachfront home in Anna Maria Island, Florida, and the crew at Tech of The Town installed it. I seriously can’t recommend them enough—Zsolt’s attention to detail is unmatched. A good install team makes all the difference.

The artwork now lives above the tub, and honestly? It’s stunning.

But the best part wasn’t just seeing it installed. Shannon, who has a collection of shells that guests sign and drop into a jar, handed me one and asked me to sign it. Such a beautiful and original tradition. And then, to top it all off, they gave me a gift with the kindest note. 

Later, I received an email that said, “The more we look at the artwork, the more we love it.”It doesn’t get better than that.

Shannon had recently completed chemo, and while I debated including this detail, it feels important. This artwork now marks a new chapter in their lives and I’m incredibly honored to be a small part of their story.