Farmington woman uses eggshells in unique artform

Naoko Sears with one of her eggshell mosaics. Another is on display at the Rochester Fair. (Harrison Thorp photo)

You might say Naoko Sears of Farmington, N.H., is a little eggs-centric when it comes to art.

Sears uses painted egg shells to produce stunning images that she mounts and frames. 

One of her works will be on display in the Exhibits Building at the Rochester Fair when it opens later today.

Sears said she learned the artform, called “mozaiku,” or eggshell mosaic, as a fourth-grader in her native Japan, and decided a year and a half ago to re-emerge herself in its breathtaking beauty.

Sears said making an eggshell mosaic is all about the process.

First, you have to clean the shells and let them dry, she said. 

“Then I look at a picture that I want to do,” she said. “Then you paint the eggshells, then crack them – some little, some small – and put them on top of the picture.”

She said making an eggshell mosaic is an exacting task and can take seven to 10 days to complete.

Some of Sears’ works were recently on display at the Portable Pantry restaurant on Hanson Street in Rochester. 

She won first place for one of her creations at last year’s Rochester Fair. Her work on display this year is an image of a loon on a lake.

If you’re interested in talking to Sears about her works you can contact her at 603.859.6121.

To see a “You Tube” video on eggshell mosaics, click here.