Sea turtles are highly adapted marine reptiles that have been around since the age of dinosaurs. These solitary creatures can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes while actively foraging, and up to 7 hours while sleeping. The sea turtle's ability to navigate hundreds of miles back to the exact beach from where they hatched is one of the most remarkable feats in the animal kingdom. This sculpture is based on the green sea turtle, an endangered species with an amazingly beautiful shell pattern that can grow up to 5 feet. Sharks on the other hand, are terrifying predators and one of the main reasons I avoid swimming in the sea. I made this piece as a graduation gift for my son Sean. Thanks always to the Ceramic Art Studio and Shop. (Note: the wooden base in these pics is not the final version - I am working on a larger one that fits better.)
The shell serves as a nice lid.
Bisque fired
Wet clay model
Concept sketch - very rough; I worked mostly from stock images.
