14. Tumbling Creek Research

Abstract

Tumbling Creek Turtles

UNG shares land with innocent, wonderful animals. For the Summer 2018 Semester, I painted two 4ft x 3ft acrylic paintings based on observations of Tumbling Creek’s Eastern Box Turtle residents. I have continued my research for this Spring 2019 Semester, and am creating an 8ft x 5ft acrylic painting depicting a littered pond at Tumbling Creek.

Last summer, Dr. Mook and Dr. Hyslop, biology professors at the UNG in Gainesville, invited me to track live Eastern Box Turtles with them. When I got to see a turtle up close and in person, the eyes were mesmerizing. I had to paint the deep brown, reddish pinks and innumerable details in the turtles’ irises. Hence, my painting, Eye Like Turtles, was influenced by the turtles’ beautifully saturated eyes. My second painting, Trippy Turtle, is based on patterns and shapes found on the turtles’ skin, shell and scales. The form, textures and colors of the carapace (the top of the turtle’s shell) were joyous to capture.

This Spring 2019 Semester painting depicts another Tumbling Creek Woods native, the Musk Turtle, in an aquatic environment. Dr. Mook took me early one morning to observe a pond on campus, where we found several water bottles and pieces of plastic in the water. Saddened, I was inspired to make a painting where a Musk Turtle and water bottle face each other. I will install the painting by vending machines inside UNG Gainesville’s Science and Engineering Building. Hopefully, the painting will compel viewers to properly dispose trash.