Local artist draws on oceanic inspiration for shell art

Artist Janet Peavy recently held a meet-and-greet event at Three Island Monkeys after debuting her shell-based artwork at the shop.

By Dana Kampa
| 12:09 p.m. November 28, 2025

Artist Janet Peavy draws inspiration for her art from oceanic nature, often letting the shells she finds guide her work. She recently debuted her newest pieces at Three Island Monkeys.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Janet Peavy told attendees of her recent meet-and-greet at Three Island Monkeys that she often lets the shapes and colors of the seashells she uses in her art guide her vision.

"I've always been intrigued by anything to do with the ocean," she said.

Peavy recently debuted her work at the Longboat Key shop. From the intricately layered scales of a mermaid tail to the circular suction cups of an octopus, meticulously placed shells make up the core of her artwork.

Artist Janet Peavy painted a variety of ornaments for her debut at Three Island Monkeys.

She has lived in the Lakewood Ranch area for the past year and a half, and she often travels all along the coast, on beaches and in shops, in search of shells for her artwork.

"I remember the first time walking into Darlene's Shells, I was like a kid in a candy shop," she said.

Peavy also has a more personal supplier. Her daughter often dives in the area, and anytime she finds a sand dollar shell, she picks it up for her mom.

One of her favorite seasonal projects lately has been painting shell-based ornaments featuring herons, flamingos, and other figures from nature.

Peavy has fully embraced her new career as an artist after retiring from being a shipping logistics coordinator, reigniting a love she's had since winning a high school art contest.

"I never really did anything with it, because I got right into the working world," she said.

She said she finds it therapeutic to sit down with her materials and let nature's beauty inspire her.

Peavy is still new to the local art scene, considering she didn't find the timing right to launch her work in the wake of last year's hurricanes. But she started dabbling in local art shows over the summer and was glad to connect with shop owner Brigette Kubin through them.

"I never thought it was good enough for someone to tell me they wanted to sell my work in their shop," Peavy reflected. "It is very validating and nice."

Fans of her work can keep up with her latest creations on social media by the name Ocean Inspired Creations.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.