AP 2-D ART AND DESIGN
Alyssa Fletcher
Eternal Spring
Greenbrier High School, Evans, Georgia, USA
Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
Height: 8.5", Width: 11", Depth: 0” | Idea(s): Wanted to capture flowers suspended in ice in a scenic, unnatural, emotionally still manner | Material(s): Frozen flowers/foliage on black backdrop with reflective water to enhance color and mood | Process(es): Used saturation, pink tones, and directional lighting to craft a vivid, earthy, cinematic focal point | Digital Tool(s) used: iPhone Camera App | Curatorial Note: This elegant photograph uses shallow depth of field to draw focus to the vivid, frozen petals suspended in ice. The bold colors and delicate textures invite reflection on transformation, impermanence, and the beauty of change held momentarily in stillness.
STUDENT STATEMENT
How did you bring together different ideas, influences, or inspirations in this artwork?
I wanted to capture the delicate tension between beauty and stillness by freezing flowers in ice, a moment where life and time seem suspended. Drawing inspiration from nature’s vulnerability and the quiet emotion of still photography, I combined natural and artificial elements to create a scene that feels both serene and unsettling. The reflective black backdrop and water surface intensify the vivid tones of the flowers, contrasting warmth and coldness to symbolize preservation, transformation, and the ephemeral nature of life and memory.
Which materials and processes did you combine, and how did they work together to strengthen your ideas?
I combined natural and digital materials to explore memory and transformation through stillness. Real flowers were frozen in ice and placed on a reflective black surface to heighten contrast and mood. Using my iPhone camera, I experimented with lighting, saturation, and composition to capture fragility and suspended motion. The process mirrors my theme: holding onto beauty and happiness like a frozen moment, while acknowledging that change is inevitable and memories, like ice, will eventually melt.
How did synthesis in this artwork make it more meaningful or impactful for viewers?
By combining frozen flowers, reflective surfaces, and controlled lighting, I created a visual synthesis that embodies transformation and emotional stillness. The integration of natural materials with photographic techniques mirrors how my father’s illness changed him and affected me. Freezing beauty in time conveys acceptance, reflection, and perseverance, inviting viewers to feel the tension between fragility and resilience. The work aligns with my broader investigation of how personal change can be both painful and illuminating.
How did you decide which artworks to include in your Selected Works submission, and what qualities made them stand out?
I chose artworks that carry layered, nuanced meanings, pieces that invite interpretation rather than reveal everything at first glance. Each work explores growth, change, and emotional transformation, reflecting how a loved one’s illness can alter one’s sense of self and perspective. I wanted the collection to feel both personal and universal, showing how pain, resilience, and renewal can coexist. The Selected Works stand out for their emotional depth and visual subtlety, revealing more the longer you look.
What do your Selected Works show about your growth as an artist?
My Selected Works demonstrate how I’ve learned to accept and reflect on change rather than resist it. Experiencing my dad’s illness, I moved from anger and grief to understanding and perseverance. Artistically, I grew by using symbolism, lighting, and composition to convey emotion with greater subtlety and intention, allowing my work to express both personal experience and universal themes of transformation.
Student Quote: I wanted to capture the delicate tension between beauty and stillness by freezing flowers in ice, a moment where life and time seem suspended.
Alyssa Fletcher