This unique sea turtle and ocean kelp design was achieved with cast glass that was then etched
The people of coastal Orange County - including Laguna Beach - generally have a deep appreciation of the ocean and all of its inhabitants. Throughout my career as a glass artist I have designed and created many unique and functional works of architectural art that tap into this sentiment, and this cast and etched glass gate panel is a one such example.
This piece was designed and fabricated for an existing metal gate frame. It was created by first casting the outline of the sea turtle and the kelp backdrop into the glass gate panel. The turtle then received detail and shading by masking and etching the glass as needed.
The finished look provides a measure of privacy and gives you the sense of entering an aquarium as you pass through it, and the owners of this home are quite satisfied with the result.
Jay
Some Fun and Interesting Facts About Sea Turtles:
Sea turtles are among the oldest surviving reptiles in the world. Fossil records indicate they have existed more than 150 million years. They are also the longest living vertebrates on Earth, with life spans greater than 100 years.
There are seven species of sea turtles:
- Loggerhead
- Green
- Leatherback
- Hawksbill
- Kemp's ridley
- Olive Ridley
- Flatback
Although each of the sea turtles is unique, they share many general characteristics. Sea turtles are reptiles and therefore are ectothermic (cold blooded), lay eggs, and have scaly skin, claws and lungs. Unlike terrestrial turtles, sea turtles have flippers instead of feet. This allows them to move quickly through the water. To help them swim, sea turtles shells are very narrow and hydrodynamic. Because of their streamlined shape of their shell, a sea turtle cannot pull its head and flippers into its shell like a terrestrial turtle.
