In Too Deep

Drew S.

Acrylic paint and paint pen.

• Artist Statement

  This painting depicts a woman smoking a cigarette underwater, acting as a metaphor for the desperate and dangerous lengths addicts will go to. I used acrylic paint and paint pens to create a surreal environment that contrasts harsh lines with an abstract, flowing sensation. This image initially portrays an enticing vision, but it’s unrealistic to exist in this fantasy world. The cigarette is symbolic of things that have been romanticized but aren’t sustainable. The fire burning in the water further emphasizes the unnatural and unsafe habitat that confines people who are unhealthily addicted to something. Her eyes are closed, while her air bubbles start to reduce, which shows that she doesn’t even realize it’s killing her.

• Creative Statement

  Reativity is the ability to warp reality and use your imagination to invent unexpected ideas or surreal concepts in your mind.