Meet the Artist

My name is Shea, and I am the artist behind the studio practice, Dark Whimsy. I’ve always had a deep love of nature, the outdoors, and the quiet, enchanting beauty of moths. That connection is at the heart of my work and guides my creative process.

My practice is inspired by romantic surrealism, blending the delicate and mysterious, the familiar and uncanny. I began this work in 2023, originally experimenting with resin and dried flowers. Over time, it evolved into three-dimensional mixed-media assemblages, allowing me to explore texture, depth, and the storytelling potential of objects. Each piece becomes a small, intimate world, carefully composed to invite deep thoughts.

I work with real dried florals, paper moth and butterfly specimens, crystals, and found objects, often placed in antique frames or glass cloche domes. The combination of fragile, ephemeral materials with preserved objects reflects my fascination with impermanence, transformation, and the tension between life and decay. Inspiration and themes are rooted in vanitas symbolism. Through these works, I aim to create moments of wonder, whimsy, and quiet reflection, where beauty coexists with transience.

Sustainability and accessibility remain core values of my practice. I use paper specimens, found objects, and antique frames to ensure every piece is one-of-a-kind, vegan, cruelty-free, and accessible. These choices shape both the meaning and the making of my work, reflecting the reverence and care I bring to every creation.

Current Works

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you use real butterflies and specimens in your work?

All moths, butterflies, bugs, and specimens are paper hypperrealistic illustrations to give the feel and look of real specimens. Vegan, cruelty free, and sustainable. No insects or animals are harmed in the making of my art pieces.

Do you use real animal bones in your art?

No, all skulls and bones used in my art pieces are either made out of resin or 3D printed to look like real bone. Vegan, cruelty free, and sustainable. No animals were harmed in the making of my art.

Why don’t you use real/dead specimens in your art?

My entire life I have loved all types of insects and animals. I wanted to create art pieces that were accessible to everyone. Art is meant to invoke emotion and I want my art to invoke that sense of whimsy while still being sustainable and accessible to the every day person.

Do you use real flowers?

Yes, all my flowers are pressed or whole dried.

The only time I do not use real flowers is on my Fairy Mirrors. I use faux flowers for longevity purposes.

Where do you source your crystals?

All crystals are hand selected by me and most are imported from Brazil. I focus on securing high quality AAA crystals from a single source.