A Landscape To Remember

  

  Though the sketch may be bad, the memories aren't. For this class exercise of drawing a landscape we love, only one to mind more clearly than the others. 

    This sketch is of the boardwalk on the way to the beach next to my grandparents house. Their house, which is only a few minute walk from the beach, holds some of my most fond memories as a child. From helping my grandmother cook to watching the fireworks on the 4th of July as a family, this place holds an incredibly special place in my heart. Some of my earliest memories include standing in the kitchen at their house talking and walking to the beach and swimming in the Atlantic all day.

    Once we crossed the street, we walked onto the boardwalk, which was almost completely shaded by vegetation. Once we made it to the dunes, the landscape opened up and led to a sandy walk. Then, before you know it, the dunes open up and you can see the dark blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There you can find shark teeth and shells (much more than you can find in the Gulf of Mexico.) 

    Many of my memories here tend to remind me of times playing in the tidal pools, running with my Dad to the water and submerging in the cold water, and attempting to learn how to surf (I ended up with a huge bruise on my knee.) 

    The love of this landscape pointed me towards landscape architecture. My grandfathers' talent of writing led me to the love of writing. As I get older,  I can see more clearly than ever how important this place is to the things that inspire me. I realize how fortunate I am and how all of these memories created a place for me to become who I am. All the things I am passionate about in life have a direct link to the places I've been and the memories from my childhood. 

    How fortunate is that? If I could relive those childhood moments I would. Those weeks of my childhood are absolutely irreplaceable, and I know I'll think of them for the rest of my life. 

    This is why I chose this place for this assignment. As old as I'll hopefully get, this is the place I will think of when I wonder what landscape has the biggest impact on me. For the memories and for the significance of the deep blue Atlantic Ocean that has been engrained in my memory as long as I can remember.