Alyssa Monks has spent years painting figures behind steam-covered glass and water—but her work is undergoing a quiet metamorphosis. Far from the bustle of the city, Monks is going outdoors in search of new inspiration. "I'm starting to understand that what I really want to paint about is connection, is stillness," she says in this short film by Trent Jaklitsch. The tone and style of Jaklitsch's piece perfectly captures Monks reclusion, and her search for quietness and connection. "It's really nice when people say that your work is beautiful, but that's not enough for me," she says. "What I would really love is someone to say, 'Oh, I understand this.'"