I created these pieces as a series to represent different mental health coping mechanisms. Each piece focuses on a specific response to emotional struggle. One represents self-destructive tendencies, another is codependency, and the third is isolation. Instead of depicting these ideas literally, I wanted to communicate the emotional atmosphere of each and how it feels internally. Through symbolism and visual metaphor, the works aim to make invisible psychological experiences more tangible. The inspiration for this series comes from my personal experiences growing up in a family where many of us have struggled with mental health challenges. Experiencing different ways that people cope in ways that can be healthy or sometimes self destructive shaped my understanding of how complex these responses can be. I wanted to represent how people attempt to protect themselves emotionally, even when those protective behaviors ultimately create more harm or distance. This series reflects my attempt to process these feelings and behaviors and transform them into visual storytelling. A key part of creating these pieces was combining visual concepts from nature, humans, and the use of technology. Combining technology with traditional methods of art is something that I've always liked to explore in my work and this piece really pushed that exploration forward for me. To make this, I had to learn how to use the laser cutting machine provided by my school, which was a learning curve. I also used Photoshop to initially photo bash my ideas for the project before laser cutting and finally drawing on the wooden pieces. The materials themselves also play an important conceptual role. I created the work using colored pencil on wood, intentionally pairing an organic surface with a delicate drawing medium. To me, the wood represents something grounded, natural, and enduring, while the colored pencil reflects the vulnerability and emotional nuance of the human experience. The texture of the wood interacts with the drawing, reinforcing the idea that human emotion and natural processes are intertwined. Through this series, my goal was to create art that invites reflection and empathy. Mental health struggles often exist beneath the surface of everyday life, and art offers a way to visualize and communicate those hidden experiences. By turning complex emotions into symbolic imagery, I hope these pieces encourage viewers to consider their own coping mechanisms and to approach conversations about mental health with greater understanding and compassion. One of the reasons I chose this as one of my favorite pieces I've created is that someone told me that seeing this specific piece gave them the first real emotional response they've ever had to visual art and I've never felt more accomplished in my life