Do not attempt to do this at home with your turtle!

Many of you may remember that back in December, I entered a contest called 'operation turtleblog'. Contestants had to write a blog entry about Koopa the Turtle, then add a link back to the artist's website (turtlekiss.com) where the contest details were posted. In January, I learned that I had won one of Koopa's paintings. Kira and I had kept in touch via e-mail since then, and one day in February, she sent me pictures of Koopa... painting my painting!

I asked Kira, sort of an e mail interview, how Koopa went about his painting business, and how much input she added. After all, I knew someone had to build the canvas, and squirt the paint onto the canvas... that was a given. I had provided input about colors, and Kira used her artistic expertise to place the colors on the canvas in a manner that would, hopefully, prevent the effect of mud. To Koopa, mud would have been the perfect color.

Kira also assured me that she uses non-toxic acrylic paint, and gives Koopa a warm bath after every painting. I asked her how long it takes him to complete a painting, generally. She said about ten or fifteen minutes. You can read more about Koopa and how Kira first discovered Koopa's natural talent as a painter at their website, turtlekisses.com.

I'm a believer that pictures speak more than words, so here are some of the photos she sent me of Koopa at work on my painting.

First the basic layout, using words I had sent. The words are simply a creative way for Kira to add the colors. She also added symbols for the dragonfly and cicada because the words would have been too much paint. '1981' was the year we built our home.

                                  

Kira also added colors she needed to make sure there was the right balance of lightness and darkness between the colors. The canvas she painted orange in the middle because if she had added it as a wet color for Koopa to crawl through, most likely we would have ended up with a muddy, brown  picture (try mixing orange and blue sometime!). Although, that color would have reminded me of my pond, it was not something I wanted to hang on my wall!

                                  

Koopa takes his first step onto the canvas. Notice the word he is standing on. You can tell he's got a plan, and knows exactly where he wants to go. An artist usually starts out with some kind of plan, but as he works, he could possibly change his mind, or discover something about the composition that might look better done another way. I'm thinking Koopa does that sometimes!

                                    

See what I mean about a plan? There he goes... this little guy has purpose. He's walked across  'frog' and is heading straight for the word "pond."

                                  

Kira told me that often Koopa walks straight across the canvas and off it. She just turns him around so that he'll walk back on again. If I was Kira, I'd be pretty scared at this point.

                                   

Here you can see what is happening to that brilliant light blue. You can't really tell how beautiful that color is through this picture. When I saw the actual canvas I could see it had a luminescent quality... it shimmers.

                                   

I was looking at these pictures in the email a few weeks before I actually got the painting, and I'm thinking, oh my goodness... what if I don't like it? What will I do? This photo did not do the final product justice. But look at that turtle paint!

                                   

Kira sent me a photo of Koopa sleeping beside his heated box-house. You can tell this turtle is well pampered (by Kira).

Before I go on about the finished painting, you must know this about Koopa. He is not doing well this month, and it has nothing to do with painting. Kira is at her wit's end worried sick about Koopa. He won't eat, he won't come out of his turtle house. She took him to the vet, and some bloodwork was done. It didn't sound good.

Here's what Kira wrote in  her blog:

"He was treated for a respiratory infection as a precaution, but neither his health nor behavior has improved. Koopa received x-rays, had blood work done, and was tube-fed earlier this week. The x-rays showed nothing unusual, but today the vet called with the results of the blood tests. Koopa’s liver values are elevated, which could indicate cancer, liver failure, or a tumor."

As a result of this diagnosis, Kira retired Koopa. He is no longer painting. She is terribly upset, and I am telling you this because I hoped some of you would visit her website and read her entries. Leave her a comment. She could use the support as she watches her little friend struggle for his life.

You will see his other paintings, the ones that are still for sale. Koopa is world famous, and has painted "827 gorgeous original paintings hung in all 50 U.S. states and 9 different countries. There are only a few paintings remaining to be offered on eBay."

This sad news came about the same time that I learned from the vet that our other dog, Misty, has elevated liver numbers as well. Our vet said basically the same thing: it could be old age, and to be expected... on the other hand if the liver values increase rapidly this month, we are looking at either a tumor or liver cancer. At her age, surgery would be out of the question.

                                   

One day, after we got home from our trip to Georgia, this is what I found leaning up against the wall outside our door. I had been expecting it, and before I even unpacked the car, I opened the package.

Below you can see the painting in two different lightings. The first is taken outside with natural light on a semi-cloudy day. The second one is taken inside with flash. Neither one truly shows the beauty of the colors in that painting. There is a layer of varnish on the paint to protect and preserve it, and that's what is giving off the shine. I'm going to keep trying until I get a picture that shows it the way Isee it.

                                                    

                                                  

I may need to ask Greg (Photo Trek) for some photographic tips. Help me Greg!

I love my new painting. I titled it "Pondering," in memory of our koi pond which had to be filled in about two years ago. We miss it very much.

The painting is at school in my classroom for now. I've been showing it to my students, and telling them about Koopa. I haven't decided where to hang this one of a kind abstract, but believe me, it will have a home in one of my rooms.

Please go by and visit Kira. All you have to do is click on one of the links in this entry. You might even want to bid on one of Koopa's paintings at eBay.

Thank you, Kira and Koopa, for the painting... I love it!

Tags: Koopa, painting turtle, turtlekisses.com,