Migration

Date: 2019
Edition: 9
Size: 36″x24″ (excluding margins)

My woodblock prints reflect a deep respect for animals, especially birds. I created this image of a European Nightjar after reading about them in textbooks and listening to the whip-poor-will’s song. This piece illustrates how human activity has made bird migration increasingly complex over the centuries. I used two colors for this print: a cool-toned gray and an ultramarine-infused black. Hidden among the stars are constellations of birds, including the Phoenix and the Crane.

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