Plush Turtle - Still life by Tess (grade 4)

When I mentioned to students that I would like them to create a still life arrangement of their own, Tess knew exactly what she wanted to do.  As luck would have it, she had brought a beautiful plush turtle to school that day;  after placing a sea shell beside it, she was soon busily drawing.  Notice how effectively she captured the plush texture of her subject!  When I asked Tess what she planned to do for her background, she told me the turtle would be pictured swimming free in the ocean --- hence the watery blue environment.  There is a real feeling of happiness in this picture.