Apology and From the Vault #12: Smile!

Hello Dear Reader, I've abandoned you haven't I? It may feel like it, but I do think of you everyday... almost. This past week I've been on vacation from work. Vacation being coined loosely. The upstairs bathroom is still a work in progress. It's close to done, just some odds and ends that need to be tied up. What a horrible project! It has been doomed from the start. I won't bore you with the bloody details but just know that I am taking a vow of home-remodeling celibacy until we decide to buy a new house. Hopefully that is more sooner than later.
Back in the early 2000's I was asked by a wildlife rehabilitator to do some illustrations for one of her childrens story idea (I know, what is it with rehabbers and kids books!?) She wanted to do a book on a frowning turtle named Smiley. Why was he frowning you may ask? Was it because he wasn't getting any? Was it because his other three brothers were off fighting crime and he was left to clean the sewer lair? No... he lived in squalor, apparently. He wanted a nicer place instead of the glass bowl with poor UVA/UVB lighting. Geez, sounds like my place! Anyway here are some preliminary sketches of Smiley.

For whatever reason I drew his hind legs like he was a fawn - almost Bambi like. I don't know why. Turtle legs aren't really that shape in real life, atleast not the turtles I've seen. Then again, turtles don't really frown either. Artistic license, hooray!