Looking Back
Looking Back (2016)
18×23¾ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
The steam is rising, the water is rushing, but your attention is completely locked across the locker room. Under the rush of the hot water, the casual glances turn into something much more deliberate. You feel his eyes tracing your physique through the steam, and rather than turning away, you step fully into the stream, letting the water slick over your skin to see just how far this game will go. The heat in the room has nothing to do with the temperature. Then, the distance vanishes. Your eyes lock right through the mist, transforming a stolen moment into a mutual connection—he is Looking, and you are Looking Back.
This is the second half of my very first two-painting scene. While they are designed to be displayed together to create a palpable back-and-forth heat, I wanted each piece to stand strong on its own. When viewed individually, the mystery changes from a shared erotic connection to a question of who is watching whom. Working in pastel, I focused on the deep, rich skin tones of the subject, capturing the realistic way water streams down his heavily muscled chest and abs, against the utilitarian backdrop of the gym showers.
