I am interested in making art that explores the relationship between art and science, more specifically nature and the textures that exist within living organisms. The Diamondback Terrapin, more specifically my pet Terp names Squirt, and photography are the subjects for my artwork. The Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys Terrapin is species of aquatic turtle with a deep history. Many people know it as a “Terp” due to its popularity as the Maryland state animal and as a mascot. The name “terrapin” comes from a word meaning “edible turtle”. In the 18th and 19th century the terrapin populations were decimated due to the popularity of Terrapin soup. The Terrapin is unique because of the structure of their shells. Their shells are segmented into scutes (plates) consisting of a diamond shaped pattern that is unique to each turtle, much like a human’s fingerprint. Their skin is tan or silver filled with dotted or dashed black designs, also unique to each animal. It is these unique designs that were the inspiration for this series of artwork.

The textures and shapes formed on the Terp’s body are artistic in their original form, but I choose to push these designs further with my art. I do this through photography, digital art and sculpture. This series is meant to be an analysis of photography as a medium and process. Simply taking a photograph, collapses a three-dimensional space into a two dimensional image. I further flatten the photograph into a digital graphic design. Then I expand the process once more to make a new three-dimensional representation of the graphic image based on the original photograph. I do this through the use of segmentation in multiple different forms to create sculptures.