By Elaina Covey, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology ‘22

This is a digital painting I drew that was inspired by the importance of clean water on our planet. I painted this with my iPad Pro using the latest version of Procreate. The girl, who is the subject of this drawing, is meant to represent life on Earth. I stuck to a color palette consisting primarily of greens and blues to reflect nature and the planet. I was also inspired by a quote from American educator, Loren Eisely, who wrote in an essay titled “The Flow of the River” that “if there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” For this reason, I wanted to make a piece that evokes a feeling of magic and wonder. However, there is also a sense of danger. The girl, who is nearly drowning, serves to remind us that pollution in the form of oil runoffs, plastics, agricultural waste, and acidification threatens our oceans daily. Additionally, as carbon pollution increases and annual temperatures rise, sea levels are rising as well. The girl’s drowning may also serve to remind the viewer of the danger faced by many species who rely on our planet’s ice caps for survival. I hope this piece can inspire others to recognize the importance of protecting Earth’s amazing biodiversity.