Judge's comments: This powerful work depicts a contemplative woman set against a sweeping cloudscape. The harmony of color, the delicate use of light, and the emotional resonance between the figure and the sky all contribute to a deeply layered and thoughtful image. The repetition of skin tones in the clouds, the upward gaze, and the light breaking through the background all enhance the mood of inner reflection and emotional complexity. This is a piece that speaks across time and circumstance—a universal meditation on being.