I picked up the paint brush for the first time in months, and decided I wanted to paint something that made me feel happy. Good memories, golden light, the sweet scent of flowers wafting through the summer heat. The reference picture I chose was from my summer at Smith College. I wanted to capture the wildness of being away from home for the first time, but with this shield of peace that I found in the garden across the street from my dorm at Talbot House.