Life rushes, and we rush with it—sometimes without even noticing. This painting is about that small, crucial thing: stopping for a second to breathe out. Just exhale. It’s not about fixing everything or making the chaos disappear—it’s just that one breath that reminds you you’re still here. I painted this as a kind of reminder to myself, and maybe for anyone else who forgets, too. When everything’s overwhelming, sometimes the only thing you can do is pause—and let it go, even for a moment. Exhale is the first painting in the Whisperwild series.