I completed this piece in a workshop with the Archibald Prize winner, Daniel Butterworth, who encouraged us to experiment with the idea of artistic freedom, particularly with scale and brushwork technique. Working large scale taught me that being thoughtful, yet careless with my brushstrokes helped me to spend less time worrying about the finer details and more about catching the personalities of my subjects. The two figures in the painting are of me and my exchange student from France, a person who means a lot to me as we became close friends within the span of a few weeks. As I do not often have the chance to visit her, this piece provides a reminder of our strong bond, despite the time difference, in order for me to remain connected to her and to never forget the life-changing experiences we had together.