Reflection

When creating my piece, "Alabama Heat'', I took photos of myself and my house to use as references. I then referenced online images of deserts and droughts to draw the piece's background. My piece was illustrated through Photoshop. I intentionally kept the right side of my artwork vacant while the left side contains the main subjects. This creates a sense of desolation and barrenness. Through my exploration of the Ocean Awareness Contest theme, I learned more about the looming threat of climate change. Alabama is my home state, and it is one of the most biodiverse states in the US. However, Alabama’s rich biodiversity is being threatened by climate change. As the Earth becomes hotter and drier, many organisms within Alabama’s ecosystems are unable to tolerate these changing conditions. As a result, Alabama’s biodiversity becomes jeopardized. The arid landscape in my piece represents how empty Alabama would be without its diverse ecosystems. In contrast to the drought ridden background, the girl, plants, and sunset symbolize the hope for a better tomorrow. The goal of my piece was to raise awareness about climate change and warn people about the potential future.