Smooth Spider
Conch The original acrylic painting
was done on a sand-colored piece of acid-free mat board. The specimen I
sketched is from my personal collection. The Smooth Spider Conch, Lambis lambis, is a widespread
Indo-west Pacific species common on reef flats, coral-rubble bottoms, and in
mangrove areas usually associated with the fine red algae on which it feeds.
Often occurring in colonies, it is found in shallow water from low tide levels
to a depth of about 5 m. Local legend has it that each spine of the shell
actually points to another spider conch. The animal's shell is large, thick, and heavy with a moderately
high pointed spire and large marginal spikes on the strongly flaring lip. Outer
coloration of the shell is variable, cream to tan, often with various patterns
of brown, purplish tan, or bluish black. The glazed ventral side, however, is
rich pink, orange, or purple tan, sometimes whitish.
The original acrylic painting
accompanied by a small glass box containing sand and shells are presented
in a 1.25" wide gold wood frame (triple matted marbled seafoam blue, mauve, and
cream on seafoam blue on mauve with an outer dimension of 19" x 16"). The
framed artwork is available for $995.00. Limited edition prints and note cards
are also available.
Click here for
availability and price. |