Presented to students were, washed up hollowed out, skeletal Crab’s claws and shells, collected from the rocky shorelines of West Clare. I have collected these for years, always fascinated by their beauty. My intention for these intricate structures was to bring students on a journey of drawing discovery with the aim to develop observational drawings into interesting designs fit for lino reduction printmaking. Students began by blind drawing the objects, an activity to encourage students to focus their eyes on the detailed outline of these shells, analysing all the unique lumps, bumps and cracks. To further investigate the primary source, students carried out a number of drawing exercises, directing their attention on capturing the shape and the physical form of the objects in front of them. Considering imagery appropriate for lino printing, students extracted elements from their observational drawings and employed principles of pattern and design. This stylising technique resulted in distinctive imagery students could use for their lino reductions.