Born from a need to quiet the noise of the outside world, Take a Breath is a profound exploration of stillness and spiritual depth. Patricia Qualls describes the creation of the Presence series as a full-body meditation, due to its total engagement of the body; it forced her to stretch and breathe, allowing spiritual depth that went far beyond her own thoughts. The piece echoes Patricia’s childhood memories of lying on the dirt of her family farm and watching the clouds until she felt completely transported. With its soft, ethereal palette, the painting serves as a visual sanctuary, inviting the viewer to step away from the chaos of the mind and simply exist in the wonder of the present moment.