Once I drew extensive sketches of my dead baby turtle. Because, you know, she was being still! My ex-girlfriend said I was a monster...O.o

Hey, this is what you do to learn!

Does she know artists often go into morgues and draw dead people? >:)

She should have, we were in art school...O.o

"Monster" indeed. I'm sure you mourned for the lil' beast.

Sketching dead things is a long-established artistic tradition. When you draw dead things you're following in the footsteps of Leonardo and Raphael!

*cues Pomp and Circumstance*

And we do these things to improve! We are set on a course for continual study and refinement. Thus we must engage ourselves whenever the opportunity arises!

Never falter! Never surrender!

...hey, look, there's some roadkill!! *swerves off the road*

I had three baby turtles the size of quarters. Two died, as they often do, early on in life (their little sister survives, big and surly, to this day). I honored the late one's death by inducting her into the artistic-scientific community!

And I'd rather follow Michaelangelo if I had the choice...he hides the pizza.

Didn't realize there was such high turtle mortality issues. They are such cool-lookin' critters. I remember going into a snazzy Chinese place in downtown Seattle and spotting the soft-shelled turtles in a big pot. I had to turn around and leave. :/

One must always follow the one who hides the pizza. Who knows where it made lead?

Baby terrapins don't usually survive infancy...but if they do, you're stuck with the little monsters for decades! I love turtles. <3

And turtles obviously love you!

As well they should. *nods*

The turtle, Espresso, lives in a kiddy pool in the basement.

She has her own pool. I don't have my own pool. Now that's love.

Espresso, the turtle. Man, that's better than Jumbo Shrimp!

...how big is she, now?

She's about seven years old (her max is approx. 30 years) and she's around six inches long and as thick as a damn hamburger. The females get really big and fat as they mature--if I keep her as spoiled as she is, she'll likely top out around thirteen inches. :D

Wow. That's one big handfull of snappy turtlehood. Pictures, please! :)

It's like puppy spagehtti :D
Jubilations!

*laughs* It's called "Berbie's out of practice, so he does a lot of fishing." :)

I had a pet mouse that died once, so I took the opportunity while he was still pliable to pose him in different ways & draw him.

Other than pets, I find that roadkill & dead birds/wildlife make outstanding subjects!

I really like this piece. :) +fav

Indeed they do! Dead things are marvelous to draw. Up until the moment they really start stinking, at least.

*hugs*