83-year-old minister paints tiny shells, hands them out for free

Gil Ames, an 83-year-old ordained minister in Dansville, Michigan, keeps at least 50 hand-painted seashells in his shirt pocket. He does not sell them. He gives them away for free.

Ames started painting the shells about six months ago. He says he is running low on a specific size. The smaller the shell, the more he can fit into his pocket. He has stopped counting the total number he has distributed, but he passed the 1,000 mark early in the habit.

Painting is a long-running part of Ames's life. He spent 25 years as a long-haul truck driver. During that job, he began painting wooden eggs because they were easier to transport than canvas. He also paints wooden eggs, thumbtacks, and even his own thumbnail. Every piece features an angel.

His home in rural Ingham County is filled with his artwork. The walls display paintings on canvas, all of which he made himself. He crafted every frame. Some pieces imitate famous works like Blue Boy. Others focus on his faith, such as Christ at Gethsemane. His Chevy Equinox, which he calls a $34,000 canvas, is covered in paint, including tigers on the side.

Ames has also served as a Red Cross volunteer at 52 national disasters. That work included a trip to ground zero in New York. His wife, Orma, has been with him for 58 years. She says he is a true artist who must constantly change his medium to stay interested.

"If it doesn’t move, it gets painted," Orma Ames said. "He’s a true artist, because an artist gets bored and they have to change and do something different."

Ames often stops for lunch at the Big Boy in Mason. That is where he hands out shells. Recipients say the gesture brightens their spirits. One woman at the restaurant said, "It makes me feel loved." Another said, "Thank you so much and God bless you." Ames says the laughs, hugs, and thank-yous are his only reward. "They’re not perfect, but they’re not bad either," he said. "The price is right."