This project began in 2015, when I captured a close-up photograph of an Orinoco crocodile’s eye at Zoológico Leslie Pantin, a Venezuelan conservation center run by my family. I have always been inspired by animals when it comes to drawing, so this image stayed in my head for years. In 2020, inspired by this photograph and the importance of its background, I tried to create a digital painting on Photoshop, where I dedicated a whole week to bringing this detailed portrait to life. Two years later, with a deeper understanding of digital art and stronger Photoshop skills, I revisited the piece — retouching and refining it to enhance the composition and bring out more details. This artwork reflects both my artistic growth and my deep connection to my roots, and the memories I aim to tell through my art.