Low Rider

Low Rider features a snail cruising along the forest floor. Leaves, sticks, and camouflaged insects surround the subject. Snails have beautiful swirled shells. I wanted to highlight the elegance of this form by carving it in detail. I also enlarged the snail shell to a comical degree. Size matters in the animal world. No one will mess with this plucky mollusk! The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey inspired this piece. A snail takes up residence on the author’s nightstand. Bailey chronicles snail behavior and relays facts about these unusual creatures. It’s an excellent book.

Lyell Castonguay designed, carved, and printed this original artwork. Ink is applied to a carved wooden block and hand-pressed onto Strathmore 300 Series paper. Multiple carved blocks layer colors, resulting in a dramatic effect. The artist signed, titled, and numbered the edition in pencil below the image.