Blackpool artist's snail of art through lockdown

Snails snails everywhere. From gardens to walls the strange common snail is rather an odd creature and a pest for plants but for one amateur Blackpool painter, the snail has been his muse through lockdown.
By Nicola Jaques
Published 25th Jun 2020, 12:30 BST
Updated 25th Jun 2020, 13:20 BST

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David Sullivan's snail art - one of the snails looking up at Blackpool TowerDavid Sullivan's snail art - one of the snails looking up at Blackpool Tower
David Sullivan's snail art - one of the snails looking up at Blackpool Tower

David Southwell set about his latest art project at the outset of lockdown, painting one or two watercolours a day.

He has now amassed a collection of more than 750 snail paintings with the mollusks showing up in several places from the local park on a walk with Captain Tom Moore, enjoying VE day to looking up at Blackpool Tower.

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The 53-year-old teaching assistant, who works at Lytham High School, says there was no reasoning or logic behind how the snails came to represent his experience of isolation but has given some explanation for his inspiration in one of the paintings.

Amateur artist David Sullivan has painted more than 730 snails as part of an art lockdown projectAmateur artist David Sullivan has painted more than 730 snails as part of an art lockdown project
Amateur artist David Sullivan has painted more than 730 snails as part of an art lockdown project

Some of the pictures are accompanied with short quirky captions and descriptions

The former baker, who lives in Blackpool, said of his unusual choice: "Maybe subconsciously I thought they were small. They have a hard shell but are soft and vulnerable underneath - they have to have that protection of the shell.

"They still need love - like the swan who gracefully swims but underneath goes like the clappers to keep going. I'm not entirely sure if this is the reason but maybe we're all a bit like snails and we need to be there for each one."

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In one of the poignant paintings one of the snails talks of self isolating all the time only to come out of his shell to 'enjoy the moment.'

A snail at Stanley Park painted by Blackpool amateur artist David SullivanA snail at Stanley Park painted by Blackpool amateur artist David Sullivan
A snail at Stanley Park painted by Blackpool amateur artist David Sullivan

David has been sharing the watercolours daily on his Facebook page 'Look Closely Art' and added it was touching to see despite the subject people had resonated and enjoyed the daily feed of paintings.

"So many people have commented on how the pictures cheered them up and made them smile - I think in part that is what has kept me going. I didn't set out with a planned project, no ideas. I just started drawing and painting each day and one or two images would just come to me now I have 730.

"At some point it would be nice now to put them in a book as some people have suggested to do - who knows what I'll paint next."

Take a look at more of David's snail art at https://www.facebook.com/pg/lookcloselyart/

Related topics:BlackpoolTom MooreBlackpool TowerFacebook

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