My inspiration was a combination of the harvesting of clams and pearls, symbolizing the life and beauty we take from the ocean to profit our own greed, and Venus, the goddess of beauty depicted in the famous “Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli. I strived to depict the subtle balance between despair and hope, especially in the subject’s eye. This Contest has helped me understand and relate to the struggle of the ocean by putting myself in her shoes, feeling her emotion and beauty.