Artist Shelby Stroud creates gorgeously emotive portraits. These hyper-realistic images are even more impressive up close—all her pieces are collages composed of natural materials like seashells, rocks, fossils, and feathers.
Several years ago, Shelby felt guided to create one of her most spiritually daunting projects yet: a portrait representing the countenance of Christ.
The final image, A Sure Foundation, contains over 3,500 elements, including rocks, fossils, shells, petrified wood, and driftwood. These natural materials might seem rough and sharp on their own, but together, they illustrate a remarkably inviting depiction of the Savior’s steady and all-encompassing love.
LDS Living reached out to Shelby to learn more about the intricate image. Glimpse the miracles that went into the unique portrait with these behind-the-scenes photos and insights.
What inspired you to create this image of the Savior?
To be honest, I had no plans—nor confidence—to attempt something like this. Up until then, my artwork had been created entirely from seashells. I had briefly considered depicting the Savior’s feet walking on a stormy sea, which felt fitting for shells. But a full portrait of Him in that medium felt like it didn’t match. I dismissed the idea. It felt too overwhelming, too sacred, too beyond me. But the prompting kept coming. I’d feel it … then quickly push it away, thinking, “No way. That’s too much.”
Then one day, the idea of using rocks came to me—and everything changed. I felt an undeniable confirmation in my heart. It suddenly made sense. Christ is my rock. He is the rock. The symbolism was perfect. And though I didn’t feel qualified to portray the Creator of the world, I trusted that if the prompting was from God, He would make up the difference. And I feel like He did.
Why do you think shells and rocks work well as a medium to depict the Savior?
Rocks are constant, strong, and reliable. Climb atop a boulder, and you get a longer view and a better perspective. In the parable of the wise man, he built his house upon a rock and was therefore able to withstand the storms. During the storms of my life, it felt as if there was a hand reaching down to pull me up on that Rock.
When I lost my dad at 17 and my sisters-in-law since then, my vantage from the Rock showed me that my family is eternal and that I would get to be with them again. I knew Jesus Christ had felt everything I would be called on to endure, and like a rock, He wasn’t going anywhere. He would be with me through it all. The times in my life where I have felt despair have always been when I have climbed down off that rock to sit in the soggy sand of worldly pursuits. From there, I only see what is right in front of me. It is lonely and shifty. I’m so grateful that once I realize what I am doing, I can repent and get back on that sure foundation where there is always peace and an eternal view.
That’s why rocks feel so fitting as a medium for depicting the Savior. Not just for what they are—but for who He is.
What do you hope people feel when they look at the image?
It’s interesting—because I live with the original piece, I see it from almost every angle in my home. In person, the Savior’s expression feels a bit softer, a little more joyful. I think it’s the way the emeralds and obsidian catch the light in His eyes—they seem to twinkle. That quality didn’t fully translate to the prints, but I still hope people can feel it.
More than anything, I hope people see into His eyes and sense both His absolute power and His absolute mercy. I hope they feel His kindness, His constancy, and His love. If even one person feels more seen, more steady, or more hopeful because of this image, then it’s done what I prayed it would.
How did the process of creating this image strengthen your personal testimony of Christ?
This experience taught me so much about the Savior and about what He can do with our small offerings. I often think of the miracle of the loaves and fishes—how Christ took something simple and insufficient and used it to bless thousands. The fish didn’t perform the miracle; it just gave itself to God. That’s how I felt with A Sure Foundation. I knew I wasn’t enough on my own—not skilled enough, not ready. But I offered what I had, and I did my best to stay close to the Spirit.
Did you run into any challenges creating this piece?
There was one moment I’ll never forget. I realized I’d mismeasured the wood and didn’t have enough space to position Christ the way I’d planned—slightly off-center, with more of His shoulder showing. It would’ve been a better composition by artistic standards. I tried to fix it by cutting one side of the board to attach it to the other. But when I removed that piece, something powerful happened—He was suddenly centered. Looking straight out. Right at me. It stopped me. I knew it wasn’t a mistake. It was direction.
That moment, and the whole process, reminded me that the Lord doesn’t need us to be perfect—He just needs us to be willing. My small “fish” offering, my limited time and skills, became something so much more in His hands. And now that this image is in homes around the world, I feel that truth even more deeply. With Christ, our offering—however small—can become part of a miracle.
See more of Shelby’s art here.
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