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This series includes portraits of friends and family engaged in activities at various lake settings, drawing from both recent photos I’ve taken and nostalgic childhood memories. Growing up, I spent many summers at a lake in Minnesota, and as an adult, I find myself returning to lakes across the Midwest. Some of my fondest memories are of swimming, floating, diving off docks, and boating on pontoons with loved ones—simple, grounding experiences that have become deeply tied to my sense of well-being.
This experience is widely shared—whether at the Great Lakes, Minnesota’s “10,000 Lakes,” or the Lake of the Ozarks, lake life is a defining pastime of Midwestern culture. Yet in an age of digital distraction and constant pressure, these unhurried gatherings by the water feel increasingly rare and precious. I want to capture not just nostalgia, but a reminder: that slowing down, spending time with loved ones, and being in nature are essential to our collective mental health. My source images include both lively moments—swimming, boating, floating—and quiet ones, like campfires, stargazing, and nights by the water. The series will depict both the action and stillness of lake life, celebrating the everyday beauty that helps us feel human again.
Tanya at the Lake of the Ozarks
36” x 48”
Acrylic on Canvas
2025
Anna at Lake Travis
48” x 60”
Acrylic on Canvas
2025