Suzy Nolan Fine Art

The "model" for this portrait is my Eastern Box Turtle, "Guinness". The name describes her perfectly; she is stout-both in personality and constitution. Box turtles are protected by law in the state of Indiana. A possession permit and microchipping is required to own them; it is illegal to buy, sell, or trade them. My box turtles are all previous pets that cannot be returned to the wild. I provide them with as natural a life as possible in a large outdoor habitat. Here in Northwest Indiana, they hibernate for almost 6 months due to our long winters. Their coloration can range from bright yellow to orange blotches all over the head, shell and legs. This breaks up the outline of their body as they move through leaf litter and dappled light of the woodlands they call home.

24"x18"x1.5" oil on gessobord