Representations of women can agitate for a cultural shift. Wrestling with themes of nostalgia, memory, and femininity, I chronicle the complexities of growing up in the American South. Based on staged photos of two friends at the edge of our pond, I wanted this painting to reference Manet's Le Déjeuner Sur l'herbe (1863) and Cezanne's Luncheon on the Grass (1869). I set it up to look like a picnic, using props that were all given to me over the years: a teapot, champagne, a quilt, and a picnic basket. These familiar items allowed me to weave personal memories into a setting that is the manifestation of leisure and bounty. In contrast with the natural realism, visual disruption and fluorescent color create a discordant scene that tilts the viewers' relationship with the subject. In addition, by leaving men out of the image, I emphasize the empowerment, independence, and camaraderie of women.