Crystal Harling

Black Abalone 8x8in

I found this amazing blue abalone shell on a minus tide at Point Lobos in early January. Black abalone are smaller than most abalone.They used to abundant on the West Coast of North America. Now it is classed as Critically Endangered. They can live up to 30 years or more and feed on bull kelp.

I was so surprised to see the  turquoise blue color shining up from the tide pool. I asked a employee at the Monterey Aquarium if she had seen one before and she said she wasn’t familiar with them. I was lucky not only to see this one but to get a beautiful photo of it.

I found new material to paint in this exceptional low tide. The colors and movement in the tide pools was mesmerizing.