Reflection

My painting, Smokey Horizons explores concepts of both cityscape and figure painting while conveying my climate narrative. Despite being constantly surrounded by the subtle consequences of climate change, the most significant impact I have faced was the extreme air quality levels that resulted from the Canadian Wildfires. Climate change and rising temperatures escalated the spread of the wildfires and noxious air. An unforgettable memory was the day I went to Washington D.C. for a day with my friend during summer break and the sky was completely orange and smokey. The air quality on the Weather App read over 182 - Washington D.C. was in the purple, unhealthy range. We spent the entire day feeling our lungs tightening and our breath hindering because it was intoxicating to be outside. The poor air quality in D.C. and northern Virginia went on for weeks. This painting represents those weeks full of shrouded, smokey skies. In order to convey the malicious consequences of the inferno, I painted a skull-cloud in the orange, skies. The cloud looms ominously over the city and the girl sits perched on a building, gasping for air and covering her nose and mouth. The way I felt that day in D.C. inspired the emotion and struggle of the girl in the painting - she represents the pain of being affected by the awful air quality and thick air. My message to viewers and just the human population in general is that we must be more mindful about we affect the world around us and take initiative to combat climate change.