Two Harbors artist finds niche in egg art

• Egg art

Two Harbors artist Lisa Kosmo uses emu eggs to make carvings of the Split Rock Lighthouse and other scenes. Photo by Catherine Hannula.
• Lisa Kosmo

File photo.

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At first Two Harbors artist Lisa Kosmo started experimenting with eggs as a potential Christmas gift for family members. But now she’s selling them in stores.

She began working on the eggs in November of last year. But after Kosmo took them to Duluth consignment gallery Art Dock, the gallery began to sell them. Kosmo said they were “excited” and saw the eggs’ selling potential. Kosmo says she did not realize just how popular the eggs were going to be. “I’m surprised,” she said. “I didn’t expect it to move along as fast as it did.”

Kosmo is originally from the Twin Cities and worked in desktop publishing before transferring to Two Harbors. She has been an artist for about 20 years. While she normally devotes her time to painting, she says she “loves doing” the eggs. “I like to carve,” she said. “This is a physical type of thing.”

Kosmo first procures her egg shells from farms that blow out the inside of the egg. Then she carves the outside of the egg using a Dremel drill and drill bits. One egg can take anywhere from half a day to a week to fully create. Kosmo uses chicken eggs, goose eggs, and emu eggs as her canvases. While Kosmo cites chicken eggs as the most difficult to work with because they’re so fragile, she is very enthusiastic about her favorites: emu eggs.

Kosmo says the green color of the emu eggs lends itself well to her work since she carves different layers onto the egg. Emus are large birds usually found in Australia but can be found in the United States. Different parts of the egg are turquoise or white depending on far Kosmo drills. The emu egg itself is heavier than most eggs and feels the most solid. “They can handle the most complex designs,” she said.

Kosmo uses images of the Split Rock Lighthouse on her eggs. The gift shop at the Split Rock Lighthouse intends to start selling Kosmo’s artwork in May. Kosmo said the Lighthouse is inspiring and is rewarding to carve because of the ridge details she can add to the design. “I think it’s beautiful,” she said.

Kosmo’s home is also her studio. She said she appreciates the support her family gives her. “I think they’re excited,” she said. “They like anything that involves the arts.”

Currently, Kosmo’s work is available at Art Dock in Duluth.

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