First Contact
First Contact (2025)
24×18 Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Available
It may be his first time with another guy or the first time with THAT guy, the one he’s seen at work or the gym. Finally it’s the right place and right time for hands to explore, lips to touch, to feel skin against skin. It’s that titillating moment of First Contact.
For this piece, I wanted to lean into the steamy, intimate atmosphere of a shared shower setting. The background is kept soft and enclosed, focusing on the frosted glass door, the texture of a hanging white towel, and the subtle condensation building up on the glass pane to enhance that private, humid environment. For the two men, the dual perspective allowed me to play with how moisture interacts with the skin. I used a strong, focused overhead light to make the water droplets glisten across their bodies, highlighting the deep definition of the chest and abs on the left, while catching the powerful contours of the back, shoulders, and triceps on the right as the two share an intense, close connection.
