Oysters, Art, and Armor—The Surprising Creativity of Artist Beth Droppleman
Have you ever looked at an oyster and seen art?
Have you ever looked at an oyster and seen art?
A few weeks ago, while browsing the UGA and Sea Grant’s website for a summit I was attending, someone caught my eye—a local artist named Beth Droppleman, who creates art inspired by oysters. Her diverse creations include everything from layered oyster-shell paintings to oyster-shell armor. Yes, armor made from shells! I had never imagined anything like it.
When I discovered that Beth lives in my town, I felt an instant connection—not just through art but through our shared love of the French language and culture, which I've studied for several years. I reached out, and soon Beth and I were chatting over Zoom. Here’s the story of what happens when nature, art, and curiosity collide.
From Paris to Oysters
Before we talk about Beth’s career as an artist, it’s important to understand how she got to where she is today.
Beth taught French in Columbia, SC, for 7 years after studying in France and immersing herself in the culture and art scene there. She earned her master’s degree in Paris while working as a nanny for a few years and then got her doctorate in Florida. Her friend was an architect, so they would explore Paris, painting pictures of the buildings. Every weekend, Beth had the chance to visit art museums and admire different masterpieces.
After my own short experience in Montreal, I’d love to have an extended experience like Beth’s—living and studying in France or another French-speaking country and immersing myself in its culture and art.
Because she spoke about her experience so positively, I was eager to know why she chose to transition from teaching French to becoming an artist.
She explained that after years of commuting to Columbia, SC, with two young children, she wanted to switch to something she could do closer to home. She taught French online for a community college during this period, which was also when she began to take her art seriously. As Beth put it:
“I felt lonely while my kids were at school. I was also taking care of my mom, who had an illness. And so it was really my caretaker phase. Then, a couple of years before my oldest daughter went to college, I was like: it's time to take art seriously. I have to prepare for an empty nest.”
—Beth Droppleman
It wasn’t long before she created her first oyster portraits and became passionate about this new form of expression.
Above is one of Beth’s abstract works.
“Painting is a meditative experience. Although shell seekers often pass by the 'ugly duckling' oyster, those who look closely can see its pearly radiance.” —Beth Droppleman
Why Oysters? Discovering Beauty in Survival
While doing background research for this interview, I hadn’t been able to discover why Beth chose oysters as the primary focus of her art. Naturally, I had to ask.
She explained that oysters endure a lot—especially those along the Georgia coast, where they are intertidal. This means they spend half the day submerged underwater and the other half exposed on the shore. Twice daily, oysters face scorching sun, strong winds, acidic saltwater, as well as predators, pollution, and even collisions with boats. Despite these hardships, they endure.
“Oysters have a lot of damage to them, but they're true survivors. [At some point] you realize we all have trials and tribulations, and they leave scars. They can be traumatic, and it's exactly what an oyster goes through. But they persist, and I feel like they continue to do everything they can to thrive and do their job on this planet.
I love that about them. I think the thing that harms them [also] makes them bigger, stronger, and more beautiful.”
—Beth Droppleman
Before this, I didn’t know much about oysters—except that their shells can cut up your feet when you’re pushing your sailboat into the water. But listening to Beth talk about her appreciation for them really made me see these creatures differently. I could understand how they could inspire an artist like her.
To the left is a painting of a cluster of oysters. To the right is a painting of a single oyster shell.
Beth’s Artistic Process & Techniques
Now for a peek into what it’s like to be an oyster artist!
In my last few blog posts, I’ve written a lot about people in the tech industry—most of whom have very time-consuming jobs. Because of this, I was curious to know what kind of schedule Beth keeps. Does she work when inspiration strikes, or does she follow a routine?
Beth explained that she treats her work like a full-time job, working from 9 to 5 every day. I didn’t expect her schedule to be so structured, but structure is something that’s also been very important in my life - otherwise I’d never complete my blog posts. Beth’s routine shows her dedication to the process.
Where Do the Shells Come From?
During our interview, Beth offered to show me around her art studio. This was really exciting because I don't usually get tours during my interviews. I got to see more of her beautiful oyster paintings, but I also got to see some of her other paintings of blossoms and trees, and other nature-inspired work. It felt like a special showcase just for me. She also had several shelves full of oyster shells, which she uses for inspiration.
Since we don’t live on the coast, I wondered—where does she get all these oyster shells?
For her first few projects, Beth used farmed oyster shells (captive-bred oysters raised for eating). But as she began visiting the coast more regularly, she started collecting empty oyster shells from the beach. I know they’re easy to find because I collect them all the time for terrariums.
To me, hand-collecting the shells adds an extra layer of meaning to the work. Whenever I go to the beach and collect shells or shark teeth, the memories associated with them make my projects feel more connected to my overall experience.
Exploring Beth’s Creative World
One of the things I love about Beth’s work is how she blends abstract and realism, creating pieces that feel both familiar and otherworldly. But beyond the art itself, what stands out most is her deep love and appreciation for oysters. That passion shines through in her work and is what initially drew me to it.
Most of Beth’s art is in the form of paintings, often with multiple layers and close attention to detail.
Some of my favorite pieces are her close-up oyster portraits—she captures all the intricate details and scars that tell each shell’s life story. I especially love how she experiments with iridescent paints to reflect light, just as real oyster shells do.
Above are two of Beth’s oyster paintings.
Beth’s also made several sculptures and ceramics using different techniques. Such as the ones shown below.
To the left is “Water is Life,” a narrative jug based on Ancient Greek Oenchoe. It tells the story of the oyster’s superpowers: water-filtering, erosion protection, as well as food and habitat for many ocean creatures. The jug features oysters, mash creatures and the Altamaha-ha, a legendary sea monster living in the salt marsh where the Altamaha River meets the sea.
To the right is “Oyster Cluster,” which was fired using the Japanese technique of Raku, creating unpredictable but stunning iridescent colors. It was made with the intention of glorifying the importance of oysters.
One of Beth’s most unique pieces is titled Oyster Armor (it’s literally armor made from oyster shells). It reminded me of my first venture into fashion design in second grade. I used my hated busywork school assignments (from while I was attending public school) to create a dress for a fashion show. It felt a lot better to wear them than to be forced to do them.
My busy work pages were like my scars from public school which I turned beautiful by creating a dress out of them. Similarly, Beth showcases the beauty of the oyster’s scars when she created her oyster armor.
To the left is Beth’s “Oyster Armor.”
To the right is an image of me wearing my 2nd grade recycled-fashion project made from my workbook pages.
Beth’s Advice for Aspiring Artists: Embrace Your Curiosity
One of the questions I ask all my interviewees is if they have any advice for people who might want to pursue a similar career. Here’s what Beth shared:
“I would say, go to your favorite environment and spend as much time as possible there. Before I was going to the coast on a regular basis, I only knew a small fraction of what was happening year-round. Now that I’ve had opportunities to go once a month over the past few years, I see something new every single time.
An artist is visual—we need visuals to be able to create or recreate something of interest. So, spend a lot of time [in nature], be curious, and remember that science and art are a great combo.”
—Beth Droppleman
This advice really hit home because, honestly, all I want to do is spend time in nature. I could spend forever watching the lizards in my backyard.
Beth also emphasized the importance of supportive artistic communities and mentioned how the UGA Sea Grant for Artists program has helped foster her growth as an artist. This initiative supports artists exploring environmental themes and coastal conservation—perfect for someone like Beth, whose inspiration is rooted in the Georgia coast and its resilient oysters. You can learn more about their projects on the UGA Sea Grant Instagram page.
Final Thoughts
Before meeting Beth, the only oyster artist I knew was my grandpa, who creates whimsical feet-faces from shells collected on beaches. Now, I know two!
Beth’s enthusiasm and positivity made our interview unforgettable. Thank you, Beth, for sharing your inspiring journey—I can't wait to tour your studio in person soon!
What do you think? Which piece of Beth’s art inspires you most? Let me know in the comments below!