What appeared to be ordinary, soulless objects scattered in nature -- pebbles, seashells, coffee beans, twigs -- are turned into unique artworks made from stones, shells, and more, thanks to the creative inspiration of 39-year-old artist Tran Thi My Hanh.

Born and raised in a rural village in Hoa Vang District, Da Nang, a place with both mountains and rivers, Hanh developed a deep connection with nature from an early age.

Over time, this love grew stronger, becoming a thread that linked her to the simple materials of the earth.

“As a child, finding a beautiful seashell or a nice stone made me feel like I had discovered a treasure,” Hanh shared.

“As I grew older, I still admired these small, beautiful things and wanted to turn them into paintings.”

With over 20 years of experience in painting, Hanh has spent the last six years focusing on pebble art, a genre that combines various natural materials such as stones, wood, shells, pine cones, and coffee beans.

Most of the materials she uses are collected and repurposed from things that others would typically discard — branches after pruning, wood scraps from sawmills, or seashells washed up on the shore after a tide.

“What others see as waste, I see as a piece of nature,” she said.

“Each piece is unique, none are the same.

“It’s this imperfection that makes them special.”

After gathering the materials, Hanh carefully processes them.

Large seashells are soaked in saltwater overnight to remove the flesh, while smaller shells are buried in sand for about three months so ants and insects clean them, preserving their natural colors.

Pine cones are selected when fresh, dried thoroughly, and then cut in half, as damp ones will shrink and deteriorate.

Twigs are sanded smooth, and she chooses only unroasted coffee beans to preserve their aroma and prevent mold.

The paintings are hand-drawn on coarse fabric with acrylic paints.

After attaching the materials using silicone glue, Hanh adds details and finishes with a protective coat of varnish.

The time to complete a painting depends on its complexity and the materials used.

Some paintings can be finished in a day, while others may take up to a week.

Each piece is a small, intricate world, containing the artist’s soul and the unique story of each material used.

Through social media, Hanh has shared her passion for creating art with natural materials, inspiring many art lovers and advocates of green living.

“I believe art is not something unreachable,” she said.

“With careful observation, effort in gathering, and a love for simplicity, anyone can create beautiful things.

“And by doing so, we also contribute in a modest way to reducing waste in the environment.”