Reflection

When I first learned of the theme "Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside", I immediately thought of my frequent walks to the beach near my house. Every week I always walk there along a trail through the trees with my trusty camera, where I take pictures of the ducks and geese that come near the edge of the water. This hobby served as the main idea of my piece. I wanted to convey the beauty of wildlife and our waterside environments through this piece. I used a sunset on the beach as my setting, and I incorporated literal photos in the piece. I also featured myself riding a duck, camera in hand, traveling out of a photograph into the sky. I think going outside for walks always manage to lift my spirits up, and that was what I was trying to express in the piece. I had previously done digital art (in Procreate), and I think it is a medium that easily lets you explore ideas. I enjoyed being creative, playing around with different compositions to make the piece more interesting. My message for viewers is to go on walks often, both for better physical and mental health and to appreciate nature.