Tidal Shift 

Artist Statement: 

For the Tidal Shift competition, we worked on art addressing the pressing issues brought about by the climate crisis. Personally, I was excited for this project as climate change is something I have always been passionate about, and it has been the focal point of my sustained investigation throughout the year. The chosen theme for this piece was the oceans, which bear the brunt of some of the most severe consequences of climate change. Opting to spotlight a marine species, I decided on the octopus, employing its tentacles to articulate a powerful message – "S.O.S," symbolizing the urgent plea to "save our seas." 

For this project, I began by painting a black gouache background so the octopus would stand out. I then began researching images and sketching. Finally, I went in with orange and purple gouache for the octopus. 

Before creating this piece, I researched images of octopus to help make the piece more realistic. I also had to play around with the facial features to give it more expression in its face. I also played with pushing my contrast so that the final piece would stand out, something I have struggled with in the past.