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Texas Tortoise

Year completed: 2009
Medium: Ink Line Art Illustration with Digital Tinting
Description: Fine art drawing of a Texas Tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri)

Hand-signed limited edition fine art print (500) of a Texas Tortoise. The illustration is reproduced on high-quality acid free stock. Dealer inquires are welcome.

Limited edition fine art print:
8"x10" (20.3 x 25.4cm) $17.95
11"x14" (27.9 x 36.6cm) $22.95

Print is in stock and ships in 1-2 days.

This illustration is also available as stock art.

Artist's notes:

texas tortoise thumb The Texas Tortoise was completed on 9.21.09. This marks the 3rd of the North American tortoises I've drawn. That leaves only the Giant Mexican Tortoise left. The shell patterns on tortoises are lovely but challenging to render. The carapace is usually a blend of 2-3 colors which are then either highlighted or muted by the pattern of the shell. Understanding this is critical to successfully rendering the complex pattern. The drawing is based on a photo by Mike Jones.

Information about the Texas Tortoise:

The Texas Tortoise is a medium-sized reptile found in the dry scrublands and grasslands of southern Texas into northern parts of Mexico. It is one of four native tortoises in North America. It is also sometimes called 'Berlandier's Tortoise' in honor of the Belgian naturalist who first surveyed the area. The Texas Tortoise feeds on succulents and cacti such as the prickly pear. In Texas they are a protected species and it is illegal to harm or collect them.