The secret knowledge of turtles

Victoria Hall, Turtle Tea Time. 2026, watercolour and pencil on fine art watercolour paper, approx. 20 × 20 cm. (Work in progress)

International Turtle Day seems like an excellent excuse to draw and paint turtles. Not that turtles appear particularly concerned with calendars. They have survived for millions of years without Outlook invitations or productivity hacks, which already suggests they may know something we don’t.

I’ve always loved their peculiar combination of sturdiness and vulnerability. Armoured like tiny tanks, yet somehow permanently gentle.

They carry their homes on their backs, move at their own pace and seem blissfully uninterested in the human obsession with getting somewhere faster.

These little watercolour turtles began as loose pencil lines before acquiring their muted greens, ochres and sweet personalities.

I wanted them to feel less like scientific specimens and more like characters quietly getting on with the important business of tea.

There is something rather lovely about celebrating a creature whose entire philosophy appears to be, ‘keep going, take your time, and carry what you need.’

Perhaps International Turtle Day is as good a day as any to borrow the idea?

x Victoria

About Victoria Hall

Victoria Hall is an English-born, Australian-based writer and illustrator. She is the creator of three picture books for children, Penny Prickles at Coogee Beach, Eggy Peggy Has Lost Her Leggy and The Fairy Beasts. For more updates, follow Victoria on Instagram or check out her bio here