This is a piece I painted while on a summer program tagging turtles at the Cape Eleuthera Institute in the Bahamas. It is based on a photograph I took of one of the juvenile green sea turtles that our team caught (we scooped them up by hand when they grew tired of swimming). I had the chance to tag, biopsy and take measurements of each turtle we worked with, and these data were added to the Institute’s database to be used for future research. I chose to paint this turtle because I feel that the intersection of conservation and visual art is a great way to spread awareness and engage others. There seems to be a gap in interest/ knowledge between the general public and those working in marine conservation. With a planet covered mostly in water, the group of people studying it is astonishingly small. I think that art provides the common ground that brings us a step towards bridging that disconnect, and gives nature the recognition and praise it needs to reach a larger demographic.
