Turtles on a Log

During my recent paint outs at the Daniel Webster Audubon, I took several photos at the watering hole that attracts the local wildlife.  I particularly like turtles.  I think my interest in turtles comes from the fact that they were my first pet when I was about seven or eight. I have this vague recollection of losing one of them and then my mother finding it hiding under a radiator. This is either true or is something that happened in a childhood movie. I can't remember!
 
On each visit to the Audubon, there have been a group of turtles that like to bask on a log that slopes diagonally up out of the water.   As I watched, a small turtle approached and started climbing onto the log at the bottom, but there was no room, and he slipped back into the water.   He dove under the water and approached again.  This time when he started his ascent he seemed to nudge the bottom turtle, which took a couple of steps up, and one by one they all cooperated taking a step or two up the log which made room for the bottom guy.  Seem pretty mundane?  It made me smile.

I looked up these turtles to find out what kind they were.  According to the Turtle Conservation Project website, this group of turtles are Painted Turtles. The head, legs and tail are black with yellow stripes. The undersides of the marginals have bold red markings. The bright red markings contrast nicely with the top shell, log and surroundings, which I thought would make a good subject for a painting.

Here are the stages of the painting all in a row in small thumbnails.


Turtles on a Log Stage 1



Turtles on a Log Stage 2

Turtles on a Log Stage 3

Stage 1 - Blocked in shapes an the darkest darks.
Stage 2 - Refined the turtles more, especially the way the bright sunlight was whitewashing the shells on the sunlit side, and darker on the dome facing away from light. Added signature red undershell markings, nice and bright, knowing I could tone it down if I needed to.
Stage 3 - On a dried canvas, redefined the darks, the stripes on heads, legs and some undershell shadows.  Yellow accent stripes on heads.   Painted the reflections of the shells and legs in the water.  Added grasses.

Painted Turtles on a Log

Audubon Pond

Audubon Blind Shelter Set Up

It was a cold windy November day and I had my equipment box on wheels loaded up for a trek further into the Daniel Webster Audubon trails.   There is a watering hole a mere quartermile from the parking lot which usually hosts a variety of wildlife.    There are two blind shelter enclosures, one on either side of the pond and I decided to paint from inside one of them and have it serve as my wind shield.



Audubon Dead Log Stage 1

The Audubon is a nature lover's paradise and I had my choice of subjects for my painting - ducks, geese, birds, turtles or hawks.   While I mulled over which wildlife to include, I began with an immobile subject, a sunbleached log that was angled up out of the water.   The scene was light and bright with the darkest area being the log's reflection.    The colorful ripples of the many different grasses and water plants only multiplied this October's show.





Audubon Dead Log Stage 2

The openings in the enclosure reminded me of readymade viewfinders.   I maneuvered my easel around until I had a spot from which I could sight-size my subject.   It's not evident by the photos but the paint is applied very thickly with my palette knife - almost having the look of icing.






The grasses emerge from the pond in reddish sheaths turning lighter and greener as they go up.   Pairs of ducks seemed to be the most prevalent resident on this day so I added a pair knifing up and away from the log, their wake forming the familiar "v".



Audubon Pond