Migration

I was combing through the illustrated book by Reader’s Digest called “Birds: Their Life, Their Ways, Their World” (1979) when he stumbled upon the image of a European Nightjar carrying its baby from danger. Included was an excerpt from an Audubon journal. The famous naturalist writes secondhand accounts of the Nightjar flying nestlings away from predators.

Inspired by the story, I placed a Nightjar in the void of space. The mother’s babies hang on for dear life, and several are on the brink of letting go. The Phoenix and Crane, among other constellations, are hidden in the stars. The image uses two rich colors – warm gray overprinted with an ultramarine-infused black.

This original artwork was designed, carved, and printed by Lyell Castonguay.  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 artwork is signed, titled, and numbered in pencil by the artist.