Trying too hard to look wistful is adapted from a photograph taken during the same nature walk that inspired On Blue. I was aiming for a serene, natural pose, though I remember feeling somewhat self-conscious at the time, which adds a curious paradox - feeling a bit out of place while surrounded by nature.

I wanted to explore the self within a natural environment. While On Blue was a brief and experimental return to surrealism, Trying too hard to look wistful abandons all but a lingering trace of those surreal touches.

I wanted to convey a quiet, contemplative mood, and while I was initially uncertain about whether I had fully achieved the sense of calm I was aiming for, I feel that it captures an authentic moment nonetheless.