Turtle 1 - Canvas

"Turtle 1" by Élysé Gardner:

Glide of the Guardian
In this vibrant, symbolic work, emerging artist Élysé Gardner captures the transformation of a sea turtle—a creature slow and burdened on land, yet graceful and free in the sea. Its shell, once a weight, becomes a vessel of movement, allowing it to glide through its true element.

The release of sand beneath it marks a turning point: the surrender of control for the freedom of flow. Élysé’s swirling lines and vivid colors echo this liberation, as coral and current embrace the turtle in its rebirth.

A meditation on duality, strength, and belonging, this piece reminds us that when we find our element, even the heaviest parts of us help us rise.