Held Breath — Original Artwork

Original Artwork by Ashley Kingswell; 90x60cm gouache on canvas unframed and ready to display in your home. Included is a certificate of authenticity.

Held Breath captures the brief moment when breath is paused to allow for precision. In musical performance, that split second of stillness is often necessary before sound begins. This painting focuses on that quiet tension rather than the performance itself.

While working on this piece, I became very aware of my own breathing. I kept catching myself holding my breath during more controlled strokes, especially when painting the instrument and its reflections. That physical pause became part of the process and ended up shaping the work.

The figures are intentionally secondary, with the instrument taking up most of the space. The focus is on control, restraint, and the stillness that comes just before movement; a moment that feels small but carries a lot of weight.