I am aiming to convey my idea that people can be your home. They can help you find who you are and how you belong in the world, which further deepens your sense of self.   In this drawing, I used pastels on paper. I used a blend and smudge technique to try and create a more realistic image which I thought would best convey my message.  

In this artwork, I explored the theme of “home” through memory, nostalgia and connection to nature. The image is based on a real photograph taken of me in Braidwood, NSW, a town near Canberra where I grew up and visited every Easter throughout my childhood. Using soft pastels, I recreated the blurred, dream-like atmosphere of the original image to reflect how memories can feel distant over time. I intentionally made the figure appear ghostly to show my emotional connection to a place that still feels like home, despite now living in Melbourne. 

This artwork explores the idea that home is defined by people and memory rather than a physical place. It reflects personal experiences of family connections at the beach, using the setting as a backdrop for emotional meaning rather than the main focus. 

Watercolour was used as the primary medium to create soft, flowing transitions and a sense of atmosphere. Warm, slightly muted tones and low contrast were used to build a nostalgic mood, while blurred edges and layered washes help suggest distance and memory. These techniques work together to communicate comfort, familiarity, and emotional connection.

My interpretation of home is family, Brunswick and my passions. I wanted to represent home by creating an artwork of a girl who was wearing an outfit I felt I would find in Brunswick, something vibrant and confident. I was interested in this because of the proportions and perspective in the image of this girl. First, I drew boxes that represent the basic composition, then I drew simple shapes that showed the proportions of the girl. I then sketched the figure, and finally I rendered her in. My artwork communicates the idea of carelessness, confidence and self-love. This is shown by my use of vibrant colours. When making this artwork I learned how to use shapes like boxes to replicate perspective. 

My approach to the theme of home was family and land. I did this by doing a graphite drawing of my grandfather on my father’s side, Harold, on the Wimmera River. I spent some time cropping the photo differently and changing the formatting of the finished drawing. I did multiple rough blockings of the composition in my art journal to see what positioning fit the best.