Stephen H Kawai, PhD
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stephenhkawai.bsky.social
Stephen H Kawai, PhD
@stephenhkawai.bsky.social
1.3K followers 450 following 800 posts
Scientist (chemistry/biochem) | Visual Artist (sculpture/drawing) | Educator | Obsessive Shell Collector | Gardener/Designer | Rabid Habs Fan! | Prematurely semi-retired workaholic and perpetual single dad 🍁
www.shkawai.ca
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stephenhkawai.bsky.social
The first snow in Montreal. It brings a mix of joy and horror!
#snow #montreal
Snow covers a side street and parked cars. Tree branches hang downwards, covered by wet snow.
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday !
The Golden Volute (Provocator mirabilis) is a lovely, deep water (150-200 m) shell found off New Zealand. This one measures just over 100 mm
#mollusk #seashell #sciart #invertebrate
A pale orange shell lacking any pattern sits in a display case containing other specimens. The smooth shell is elongated, with a graceful contour. The aperture is slightly darker in colour.
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
Even though it's November, the foliage in this client's garden is still amazing! It must be said that most of these trees/shrubs are not native (Japanese Maple, Eunonymus, Cotinus).
🌱🌿💚
Trees and shrubs on a slope display some intense colours! The intense red one is a Japanese Maple. In front of it is a Eunonymus (Burning Bush). The orange tree to the right is a large Smoke Tree (Cotinus). The tall yellow trees in the back are native maples.
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday !
The 'panerythra' forms of Map Cowries are gorgeous pink/red shells. In some cases, the base becomes callous with a white colour. Such specimens are said to have a 'candlewax' base and are highly prized!
#mollusk #seashell #sciart #invertebrate
A pinkish Map Cowrie sits on a blue background. The end is red in colour. A view of the base of the shell. The overall colour is pink. The base shows a milky white overcast. Orange teeth line the aperture.
November 3, 2025 at 9:59 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
This REBUILD will be done soon too!
#GoHabsGo
A wall of a duplex is being rebuilt/repaired. A large Habs flag hangs from the upper balcony of the building.
October 28, 2025 at 6:09 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday !
I just received the rarest of all the Map Cowries - Leporicypraea mappa admirabilis from Tahiti. This specimen measures 71.4 mm and shows the typical dark blotch on the base.
#mollusk #gastropod #seashell #invertebrate
A light-coloured cowrie sits on a black background. The teeth are orange. A very dark blotch, typical for this subspecies, is present on the columelar side of the base. Dorsal view of the shell on a white background. A fine brown pattern covers the specimen. The ends are pale purple-grey.
October 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
Good game. Happy with result. I did find it very slow... faceoffs took forever. #GoHabsGo
October 21, 2025 at 3:17 AM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
After months of delays, I was finally able to finish the Farnham Memorial garden yesterday. An event is planned for Nov 9th. The perennials I just planted will be dormant shortly, so I will take a photo next season. Overall, I am happy with the results which look like the plans I made! 🌱 #montreal
A drawing of the proposed garden. The nearly completed garden. Large rocks fill a semi-circular garden bed. Small perennials (various Hosta, Hakonechloa, Astilbe and Iris - the two latter, not visible) are planted in the soil between the rocks.
October 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday
Du Savel's cone (Conus dusaveli) is a large and stunning seashell known for it's beautiful colour and pattern. Once extremely rare and expensive, it is much more accessible nowadays. This specimen measures 75 mm and was collected off Balut Isl. in PI.
#mollusk #gastropods #seashell
An elongated cone shell sits on a white background. Alternating bands of different colours (dark brown, lavender and orange) cover the body of the shell. White markings are randomly dispersed over the series of bands. A view of the aperture showing the deep yellow colour of the interior.
October 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
WIP... happy with the progress so far. I am enjoying the metallic gouache! #art #artist #fineart #contemparyart #canadianart #drawing
A drawing on paper (in progress) is clipped to a drawing board. Two hazel eyes rendered in coloured pencil sit in the middle of an a seashell-derived pattern painted using gold-coloured paint (gouache). The work measures 18" x 24".
October 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving (Canadian!). That's a delish pumpkin, pear and leek soup being served to my mom by my sis-in-law... The turkey was great as usual!
A lovely Thanksgiving table. A pumpkim being used as a soup terrine!
October 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday
The Atlantic Deer Cowrie (Macrocypraea cervus) is the largest of all cowries. These two specimens are both over 120 mm in length. They are native to Florida through to Brazil.
#invertebrate #mollusk #seashell #gastropod
Two shiny cowries lie on a white background. They are brown in colour with white spots. The shell on the left shows dark brown teeth lining the aperture.
October 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
Happy with the progress...
#art #fineart #drawing #contemporaryart #traditionalart
A detail of a work in progress. The drawing shows a hazel eye rendered with coloured pencil and graphite.
October 9, 2025 at 4:46 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
So it begins...
I've started another drawing/sculpture portrait.
#art #finerart #contemporaryart #sculpture #drawing
October 7, 2025 at 4:31 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday
The aptly-named Scorpion Spider Conch (Lambis scorpius) is a common shell popular amongst collectors. These specimens are from Cebu, Philippines.
#mollusk #gastropods #seashell
Three spider conchs sit on a white surface. They bear curved digitations giving the shells the appearance of scorpions with curved 'tails'. They are pale beige to orange in colour. The apertures have fine, purple stripes.
October 6, 2025 at 3:32 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
The hardscaping for the Farnham Memorial project went very well today! It helps when it's 30°C in October! I will plant the perennials towards the end of the month. 🌱🌿
Workers weed a section of a park along a semi-circular walkway. Large rocks and soil fill the semi-circular bed.
October 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday !
Hexaplex duplex is a stunning murex from West Africa. The colouration of the aperture is striking. This large specimen (over 160 mm) was taken by Senegalese fishermen.
#mollusk #seashell #gastropods
A spiny murex is held in my hands. The aperture is a mix of dark orange and pink. The rest of the shell is pale beige. Spines line the opening which is blocked by the dark operculum.
September 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
A stunning new addition for #molluscmonday !
Leporicypraea mappa curvati (Beals & Lum, 2017) 62.3 mm, from the Marquesas. This is a very rare polynesian subspecies of the common Map Cowrie.
#mollusk #seashell #sciart
A cowrie shell shows intricate, dark patterns on the dorsum. The outstanding colouration of the base. A black blotch covers much of it. The teeth are deep orange. The margins of the shell show nice spotting on a pinkish background.
September 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
I was surprised to find this. Just a plain old glass...
The visible spectrum from a glass sitting on a white, quartz countertop. Other random things are partially visible (other glass objects, tomatoes
September 15, 2025 at 11:31 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday #molluskmonday
New Caledonia is an important locality for cowrie collectors. Some specimens become dark, nearly black at times. Such shells are said to be 'niger' forms. This is most common in the case of Mauritia eglantina (bottom = normal shell).
#gastropods #seashell #cowries
Four cowrie shells (Mauritia eglantina) sit on a white surface. The top three are very dark - almost black. These are the 'niger' form. A normally coloured specimen, much lighter in colour and showing a typical pattern, is at the bottom.
September 15, 2025 at 9:37 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
A few shots of the TRACES show. We took the expo down after a short but successful run!
#fineart #contemporaryart #sculpture
Drawings hang in an art gallery. A beautiful ikebana arangement sits on a plinth. Mobiles incorporating rocks hang in an art gallery. Artwork hangs a wall behind them. Drawings, both colourful and black (graphite) on white hang on the wall of an art gallery.
September 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluscmonday #molluskmonday !
Gauguin's Cone (Conus gaugaini) is a rare shell native to the Marquesa Islands. This much sought-after species is prized for its outstanding colour.
#seashell #seashells #conidae #gastropod #gastropods #marinelife #sciart
Two cone shells lie on a white background. They are a deep red-brown colour. The spire is decorated with black markings.
September 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
I have prisms (leftover party favors) near some of my windows. It's nice to find colours in random places!
September 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
#molluskmonday #molluscmonday
The united colours of arabica! (Mauritia arabica, Linné, 1758)
The pink one on the middle is exceptionnal!
#seashells #mollusc #sciart #gastropods
Shiny Arabian Cowrie shells (Mauritia arabica) sit on a white surface. They range in colour from dark purple, grey, pink and pale blue to bright orange ('rusties').
September 1, 2025 at 6:34 PM
stephenhkawai.bsky.social
I rewatched this film last night - forgot how intense it was! It remains one of my favorites, although I think I will wait until I watch it with my boy. It makes Breaking Bad look like something put out by Hallmark! #filmsky
August 31, 2025 at 7:06 PM