Turtle!!

One of my earlier fully shadowed and detailed animal sketches, was back in 2017.

Back in August 2017, while living in Aotearoa (New Zealand), I had only ever seen turtles on TV, on the internet, or in aquariums. Naturally, I longed to witness them in their natural habitat. Every snorkelling trip in Hawai'i since then, starting from my first time in Maui in 2018 to my years on O'ahu from 2021 to 2024, brought me closer to these magnificent creatures. Despite my efforts to maintain a respectful distance, the turtles seemed unfazed by human presence, creating unforgettable encounters in which they seemed to soar centimeters from the front of my face.