Darci Shea Studios

My creative journey as a cloisonné enamelist is inspired by a life at sea. Originally from California, I spent my childhood living aboard a sailboat, sailing throughout Central and South America with my family. Those formative years were filled with exploration, trekking through jungles, diving coral reefs, and wandering historic cobblestone streets. I devoured books about explorers, sketched sea life, collected sea glass and shells that I transformed into jewelry to sell to fellow sailors.

Eventually our travels brought us to the East Coast, where I attended Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. While earning a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration, I was introduced to metal-smithing and immediately fell in love with the craft. Though my degree focused on illustration, jewelry-making remained close to my heart.

After graduation, I moved to New York City with dreams of becoming a professional illustrator, creating vibrant paintings inspired by the world around me. Life, however, led me in a different direction, and before long I found myself working as a boat captain along the Eastern Seaboard.

California eventually called me home. Back in Santa Cruz, I continued my maritime career, teaching sailing, assisting with whale-tagging research projects, and guiding great white shark tours. Throughout those years, I remained dedicated to my artistic practice and continued searching for the medium that truly resonated with me.

In 2015, I had the opportunity to apprentice under Master Enamelist Merry Lee Rae and learn the art of cloisonné enamel. Completing my first piece was transformative. I was captivated by the craftsmanship, color, light, and illustrative possibilities of the medium. It felt like the perfect union of my passions for art, storytelling, and the natural world.

Today, I create cloisonné enamel jewelry inspired by the wildlife and landscapes I encountered during my years at sea. Through fused glass and precious metals, I aim to capture small worlds that reflect the wonder, beauty, and fragility of nature. Much of my work focuses on conservation, immortalizing endangered species and encouraging deeper connections to the environment.

Since beginning my journey in cloisonné enamel, my work has been exhibited in museums and galleries, collected internationally, and recognized with the AJDC Jose Hess Award. I also teach the craft, passing on the knowledge and opportunities that were generously shared with me.
As a former sailor whose life has been shaped by the sea, I look toward a future of creating enamels that document the environmental challenges of our time. Like the ancient cloisonné works preserved in museums today, I hope my pieces will endure as lasting records of the natural world and reminders of what is at stake if we fail to protect it.