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Florida Softshell Turtle

Florida Softshell Turtle line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Florida Softshell Turtle full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Florida Softshell Turtle was completed on 10.24.2010. This turned out to be more tricky than I expects - as usually reptiles, and turtles especially, are very conducive to the style of illustration I use. But for some reason I struggled with the shape of the shell, and it took a lot of work to make it look convex rather than concave. All in all I'd say the drawing works, even with the difficulties I had. Softshells seem to have this humorous, indignant look about them I find pretty amusing. The drawing is based on a photo by Pierson Hill.

Information about the Florida Softshell Turtle:

The Florida Soft-Shelled Turtle is a species of reptile native to the Eastern United States, found mostly as the name implies in the state of Florida. It it the largest of the New World softshell turtles. Like other softshells, this species generally lives an aquatic life, only coming out to lay eggs or to bask. They feed on fish, frogs, ducklings and crustaceans. This turtle is sometimes kept as a pet.