avoidance and escape: how two paintings reveal an unexpected connection

Sharing the meaning and connection behind my two art pieces, the kitchen & there is only one way out

Despite being created four years apart, the kitchen and there is only one way out are deeply connected; not just by their place within Raspberry Gloom but by their exploration of the tension between avoidance and escape. However, they approach this theme from opposing angles: one defeated in oblivion the other in motion toward the unknown.

to the left: there is only one way out (2024). to the right: the kitchen (2021)

When I created the kitchen, I was drawn to the irony of self-sabotage, visually representing the act of turning away from salvation. I often found myself in situations that could have been so much better if only I had made that turn. As the years passed and more lessons unfolded, I began to see the kitchen as a strange, almost psychic piece; one that mirrored my own life in ways I never could have predicted. Somehow, it was always there. This serves as a quiet reminder that what is within us will always find a way out, someway, somehow. We should make it as good as we can. When we learn to control our responses rather than succumb to impulsive reactions, we gain the clarity to truly face the exit and move toward something far more beautiful.

It’s an introspective piece, created during a time when my artistic style was still fluid and undefined. But this was a piece that solidified a certain style for me. The process challenged me to lean into symbolism, using composition and various subjects to tell a story of avoidance. Most of it came very naturally as I’ve found ways in these creative journeys to get close to my shadow self and then express that outwardly, onto a canvas, or digital canvas, in this case.

the kitchen (2021)

A few years later, there is only one way out became an evolution of that same theme, but instead of choosing to not turn towards the exit, it captured the urgency of escape. This acrylic painting carried a different kind of weight. It emphasizes the idea of taking your opportunity to take a different path, even if you’re bleeding out (think 8 of Swords, 9 of swords, and 10 of swords in tarot).

And unlike digital work, where I could endlessly refine details, working with paint forced me to embrace imperfection and trust the process. I painted there is only one way out on a whim with no idea where I’d end up with it. The bold textures and colors allowed me to push my style further, transforming my storytelling into something more visceral and immersive.

there is only one way out (2024)

Despite their differences in medium and execution, both pieces reflect pivotal moments in my creative journey. the kitchen challenged me to use digital art as a vehicle for deeper meaning, while there is only one way out pushed me to embrace the physicality of paint and the unknown. Together, they serve as milestones; evidence of how my artistic voice has sharpened over time, yet still carries the same underlying themes of struggle, transformation, and the choices we make when faced with ourselves.

Thank you for reading ♡

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If you’d like an art print of there is only way out, click here.

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Have a beautiful day :)