This mixed media artwork elevates a California Blue Mussel shell to the status of fine art through a sophisticated blend of traditional oil painting and contemporary presentation. The artist breaks from convention by mounting the hyper-realistic image on a uniquely cut wood panel, which is then layered over a larger back panel. This innovative structural approach creates an engaging three-dimensional effect that challenges the boundaries between painting, reality and sculpture. Through this piece, the artist invites viewers to reconsider both the framework through which we view art and the overlooked beauty found in nature's simple forms.