Mussels

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The idea was to print engravings of three species of mussels with the inside of the shells on the recto of a sheet, and the outside of the shells on the verso of the same sheet. In the background would be two views of the river from the same spot: one looking upstream, and the other down. But before I could begin engraving, I needed to meet with biologist Mike Davis for verification of the identities of the shells. He was unavailable for a few weeks, so I decided to go ahead and engrave a fractured Giant Floater (Pyganodon grandis), whose identity was certain.

 

Engraving of the Giant Floater begins on November 14.
Engraving the Giant Floater key block began on November 14…
Engraving of the key block is finished on December 10.
and ended on December 10.
A proof of the key block, drawn on with colored pencil anticipating color blocks.
A proof of the key block, drawn on with colored pencils in anticipation of color blocks.

 

mussel specimen roundup

I sorted through the 138 mussel specimens collected and selected about half of them for identity verification. Biologist Davis noted that the two Lake Pepin Mucket specimens represented both sexes. I asked him how he could tell the difference, and he pointed out the bulge in the female shell to accommodate her larvae. This was too interesting to pass up, so I decided to revise the image.

 

The top shell is from the female, and the bottom from the male. A revised drawing is underway in the background.
The top shell is from the female, and the bottom from the male. The revised drawing is underway in the background.

 

Adding my footprint to the image.
Adding my footprint (lower left) to the image.
The drawing has been transferred to the block, and it's back to engraving for awhile...
The drawing has been transferred to the block. Back to engraving for awhile…

 

 

 

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