Raymond Sheppard and turtles

I keep an eye on many websites and one I enjoy for its discoveries in a specific area is The Linosuarus or "a blog on the lesser Gods and Goddesses of linoleum and woodblock printing" as the sub-title calls it.  The particular article that spurred me on to share these pictures is one called "Herbert Bolivar Tschudy (Judy) in the old New York Aquarium". The web does not appear to have much about this artist so you can see why I love these little discoveries.


It was this particulate picture that struck me becuase the colours were so similar to some of Raymond Sheppard's.

Herbert Bolivar Tschudy in the old New York Aquarium

In the photos of Sheppard's paintings of turtles below - taken crudely by myself of framed pictures - you can see the light colours - and even with my crude attempt to represent Sheppard's beautiful work, the lightness of touch in these watercolours is beautiful and very reminiscent of H. B. Tschudy above.

Raymond Sheppard Turtles

Raymond Sheppard study for his turtles picture

Transfer sheet?

The above is interesting in that the lines look to be of ink or is this a transfer sheet for the watercolour above?

Raymond Sheppard Turtles

Raymond Sheppard: Turtle

Raymond Sheppard: Turtle

Study for the above watercolour

Used with permission*
© Raymond Sheppard Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Three turtles swimming underwater (Picture #10295584)

Due to the kindness of Christine (and Michael) Sheppard here are some more studies that you might enjoy. Sheppard concentrates on the shape and then the construction of a turtle shell and its head. In the second we see how the head and shell come together and a detail of a flipper and its scales, and lastly a rough outline of a swimming turtle.

Turtle studies by Raymond Sheppard

Turtle studies by Raymond Sheppard

In one of his books ("How to Draw Birds") Sheppard talks about how to capture birds on paper and how some people deem it difficult to do so due to the animal or birds' quick movement. He suggests that to draw the animal, or bird, that we often see the details and miss the general form. The above outline shows how a quick sketch can capture life. It's a beautiful outline full of movement - showing the angled turtle and the flipper appears to sweep through the drawing.

Turtle studies by Raymond Sheppard

Turtle head by Raymond Sheppard

Turtle flipper by Raymond Sheppard

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* Please contact Mary Evans Picture Library for any commercial licensing for further reproduction of the image supplied above