This original 1981 embossed etching and aquatint by celebrated American printmaker James Shell features delicately rendered wildflowers emerging from an arched rural landscape, showcasing Shell’s masterful command of color intaglio and dimensional paper embossment. Hand-signed, titled, and numbered 116/150, this collectible fine art print unites Southern pastoral imagery, refined craftsmanship, and the evocative storytelling Shell became known for throughout his award-winning career.
Of Flowers That Bloom in the Wild is an exquisite example of James Shell’s mature printmaking style during the early 1980s, combining embossed etching and aquatint to create a composition that is both tactile and visually layered. The arched vignette frames a serene rural scene—an open sky, drifting clouds, a lone tree, and a small barn accented with a red roof—contrasted with richly colored blossoms rising from the lower register.
The flowers extend beyond the printed window, enhanced by a deep, sculptural embossment that gives them a dimensional lift from the paper. Shell’s subtle aquatint washes create atmospheric gradients, while his fine etched lines offer narrative detail and intimacy. The work is hand-titled, signed, and numbered 110/150, with Shell’s distinctive cursive signature and date “’81” visible beneath the plate mark.
Thematically, Shell often explored memory, place, and the quiet poetry of rural life, drawing inspiration from the landscapes of North Carolina and Virginia. This print is emblematic of his belief that everyday scenes—flowers, barns, clouds—could capture universal feelings of nostalgia, simplicity, and natural beauty.
James Shell (20 July 1944 – 11 July 2019) was an accomplished American printmaker, painter, and educator known for his refined intaglio, aquatint, and embossed print techniques. Born in North Carolina, Shell developed an early interest in drawing and craftsmanship, leading him to study art at East Carolina University, the Penland School of Arts and Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains—an institution renowned for shaping many of America’s leading craftsmen—and Averett College in Danville, Virginia.
Shell’s artistic influences included the American regionalists, Japanese woodblock design, and the tactile experimentation of mid-century printmakers. He cultivated a style blending precise draftsmanship, soft color fields, and sculptural embossing, creating prints that combine narrative imagery with a uniquely physical presence on paper.
Throughout his career, Shell maintained studios across the Southeast, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina, where he also taught workshops, mentored young artists, and exhibited widely in galleries, regional museums, and national print exhibitions. His work earned significant recognition, including the Pembroke Competition Prize, among other regional and national awards.
Known for his thoughtful creative process, Shell frequently sketched from life, later refining compositions into meticulously layered plates. Many works—like the present piece—draw on his personal memories of rural Southern landscapes, celebrating their quiet structures, seasonal changes, and native plant life. By the late 20th century, Shell had become a respected figure in American fine-art printmaking, with his works held in private collections, university collections, and regional institutions across the United States.
James Shell, Of Flowers That Bloom in the Wild, 1981. Embossed etching & aquatint, 12.5×7.5 in. Signed, titled, and numbered 110/150. Excellent impression with strong embossment.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: James Shell (1944–2019)
Title: Of Flowers That Bloom in the Wild
Date: 1981
Medium: Original Embossed Etching & Aquatint
Dimensions: 12.5 × 7.5 inches (sheet slightly larger)
Edition: 110/150
Signature: Hand-signed, titled, dated, and numbered by the artist
Origin: Acquired in New York City
Authenticity: Verified based on signature characteristics, edition notation, paper type, plate embossment, and known cataloged techniques used by Shell during the 1980s.
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
This work is confirmed as an authentic, original fine-art print created and signed by the artist in 1981.
Artist’s Studio, NC/VA – 1981
Private Collection, NYC – acquired soon after publication
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC – present owner
110/150
This original 1981 embossed etching and aquatint by celebrated American printmaker James Shell features delicately rendered wildflowers emerging from an arched rural landscape, showcasing Shell’s masterful command of color intaglio and dimensional paper embossment. Hand-signed, titled, and numbered 116/150, this collectible fine art print unites Southern pastoral imagery, refined craftsmanship, and the evocative storytelling Shell became known for throughout his award-winning career.
Of Flowers That Bloom in the Wild is an exquisite example of James Shell’s mature printmaking style during the early 1980s, combining embossed etching and aquatint to create a composition that is both tactile and visually layered. The arched vignette frames a serene rural scene—an open sky, drifting clouds, a lone tree, and a small barn accented with a red roof—contrasted with richly colored blossoms rising from the lower register.
The flowers extend beyond the printed window, enhanced by a deep, sculptural embossment that gives them a dimensional lift from the paper. Shell’s subtle aquatint washes create atmospheric gradients, while his fine etched lines offer narrative detail and intimacy. The work is hand-titled, signed, and numbered 110/150, with Shell’s distinctive cursive signature and date “’81” visible beneath the plate mark.
Thematically, Shell often explored memory, place, and the quiet poetry of rural life, drawing inspiration from the landscapes of North Carolina and Virginia. This print is emblematic of his belief that everyday scenes—flowers, barns, clouds—could capture universal feelings of nostalgia, simplicity, and natural beauty.
James Shell (20 July 1944 – 11 July 2019) was an accomplished American printmaker, painter, and educator known for his refined intaglio, aquatint, and embossed print techniques. Born in North Carolina, Shell developed an early interest in drawing and craftsmanship, leading him to study art at East Carolina University, the Penland School of Arts and Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains—an institution renowned for shaping many of America’s leading craftsmen—and Averett College in Danville, Virginia.
Shell’s artistic influences included the American regionalists, Japanese woodblock design, and the tactile experimentation of mid-century printmakers. He cultivated a style blending precise draftsmanship, soft color fields, and sculptural embossing, creating prints that combine narrative imagery with a uniquely physical presence on paper.
Throughout his career, Shell maintained studios across the Southeast, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina, where he also taught workshops, mentored young artists, and exhibited widely in galleries, regional museums, and national print exhibitions. His work earned significant recognition, including the Pembroke Competition Prize, among other regional and national awards.
Known for his thoughtful creative process, Shell frequently sketched from life, later refining compositions into meticulously layered plates. Many works—like the present piece—draw on his personal memories of rural Southern landscapes, celebrating their quiet structures, seasonal changes, and native plant life. By the late 20th century, Shell had become a respected figure in American fine-art printmaking, with his works held in private collections, university collections, and regional institutions across the United States.
James Shell, Of Flowers That Bloom in the Wild, 1981. Embossed etching & aquatint, 12.5×7.5 in. Signed, titled, and numbered 110/150. Excellent impression with strong embossment.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: James Shell (1944–2019)
Title: Of Flowers That Bloom in the Wild
Date: 1981
Medium: Original Embossed Etching & Aquatint
Dimensions: 12.5 × 7.5 inches (sheet slightly larger)
Edition: 110/150
Signature: Hand-signed, titled, dated, and numbered by the artist
Origin: Acquired in New York City
Authenticity: Verified based on signature characteristics, edition notation, paper type, plate embossment, and known cataloged techniques used by Shell during the 1980s.
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
This work is confirmed as an authentic, original fine-art print created and signed by the artist in 1981.
Artist’s Studio, NC/VA – 1981
Private Collection, NYC – acquired soon after publication
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC – present owner
110/150
