I was born and raised in Central New York, having spent the first five years of my life in the city of Syracuse itself. The landscape of Central New York has been a huge inspiration for my paintings, especially when it comes to our nature and wildlife.

When I first read this poem, I knew immediately that it was about Onondaga Lake. I was drawn to the imagery of the bald eagles, wanting that to be the main subject of the illustration. I allowed the lake to flow freely around the eagles, giving the piece a more graphic, yet simplistic quality.