Featured Excerpt from Adventures of a Young Naturalist. Read the fully story here.(https://buymeacoffee.com/naturalistadventures/oysters-art-armor-the-surprising-creativity-artist-beth-droppleman)
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.
