My MFA Thesis body of work Hopeless Romantic : Painting Cinematic Desire in an age of Digital Intimacy examines how contemporary ideas of love are shaped by the visual language of romantic cinema. Drawing from scenes in well-known romantic comedies, my body of work translates cinematic stills into a series of paintings that explore intimacy, vulnerability, and emotional performance. By isolating quiet moments of touch, hesitation, and closeness, these paintings slow the rapid pace of film and allow fleeting gestures to linger in the viewers mind….