Hand Painted Zentangle Designs Whelk Conch Seashells

Painting and crafting with seashells is something that I enjoy doing. I’ve been working with shells for over 30+ years. I use them to make windchimes, garlands, Christmas tree ornaments, centerpieces for tables, party favors, candle holders, trinket dishes and they’re great for outdoor yard art! You’ll find over 150+ seashell craft projects right here on the TCC blog.

** Post contains affiliate links.

Zentangle is an art form that anyone can do. It’s basically doodling and doing abstract type of art on a surface. You can paint on a variety of different things: ceramic tiles, smooth river rocks, art canvases, seashells and more! I was first introduced to this type of art back in 2017 and have loved it ever since. Great for beginners and those with experience.

Recently I’ve started painting on 4″ to 6″ long Whelk Shells. Some people call them Conch Shells but they’re really Whelk Seashells that I’ve collected from the beach. When collecting shells…ONLY take empty shells! You never want to kill an animal to just obtain a shell. EVER!!! Please make sure they’re vacant and ONLY take a few!!!

Wash the whelk shell in warm soapy water using Dawn Liquid Dish Soap. It does a great job at removing sand, debris and fishy odors. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Lay it out to air dry overnight.

Take it outside and spray it with 1-2 light coats of white acrylic paint. You need a white base layer which will help all of the colors “pop” once applied onto the seashell. Let dry.

Section of areas on the shell in various shapes or odd shapes like shown in the photos. I do that with a pencil. You can use a paint brush with acrylic craft paint or acrylic paint markers to color in each section. Work your way around the entire circumference of the shell until you have that completed.

Now it’s time to doodle and decorate it! You can do your doodles all in one color or in multiple colors. Do what appeals to you. There are really no rules when you’re making your own art. I like to use BETEM Acrylic Paint Markers and Tooli-Art Acrylic Paint Markers with fine tips to do all of the doodling, shading, coloring and outlining. Let the pain dry until it’s no longer tacky.

You need to seal the painted design to protect it from chips, cracks and from the vibrant colors from fading. You can spray 1-2 light coats of a Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer over-the-top or you can brush-on 1-2 coats of Clear Mod Podge Sealer. I like using ones that give them a glossy finish. Let dry for 1-2 days to allow everything to cure.

* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!