Oil on canvas, 16”x20”

That magnetic pause. When you’re so close to someone you can feel their breath, but nothing has happened yet… and everything is about to. There’s both nervousness and confidence, hesitation and surrender. It’s one of those rare, unforgettable moments where time slows down.

This painting captures the charged stillness in the breath before a kiss, especially a first kiss. The world narrows to a point, and nothing exists except proximity, tension, and anticipation. I wanted to freeze that feeling: the ache of wanting, the hope of being wanted back, the electricity humming just beneath the skin.

Using a limited monochromatic palette, I stripped away everything but emotion. No distractions, just light, shadow, and feeling. The close-up composition draws the viewer in, like they’ve stumbled upon something private, delicate, and fleeting.

The brushwork is fluid and soft, especially around the lips and noses, lending a sense of skin and breath. There’s a quiet contrast between precision and suggestion - some areas are sharply defined, while others dissolve into abstraction, adding to the intimacy and mystery.

This painting invites the viewer to feel that suspended, fragile space where love, attraction, and uncertainty coexist. It speaks to yearning, vulnerability, and the power of what’s left unsaid.