Diane • 15 • Dublin

12-15 Category   •  2026
My artwork explores adaptation in nature. This piece is mixed media, and I created it using watercolour, oil pastels, acrylic paint, and colouring pencils. I find the idea of adapting and evolving really interesting, which is why I chose to focus on it.I chose a deer as my central subject because deers can live in many different environments, showing how well they can adapt. Placing the deer in the ocean highlights this theme even more, as deer are land animals.This shows how nature can adjust and survive despite changes. I used some brown paper and stuck it on the deer to add more depth and texture to make it stand out . This can also symbolise how the deer has adapted to its new environment .Swimming above the deer are koi butterfly fish , I chose these fish because they symbolise transformation which also connects to the theme of adaptation. At the bottom of the piece, I included dandelions. I chose them because they can grow almost anywhere, even in difficult places. This makes them another symbol of resilience and adaptation in nature. Overall I enjoyed this project a lot. I have never done surreal art before and I would definitely like to do this more in the future as I really enjoyed being creative. I also really enjoyed working with the different mediums. I am happy with how this piece turned out but I do feel that I could do better . Thank you for your time .