It Even Hurts to Remember You

Artwork by Allyson Sherwood

Artist’s Statement:

I titled the piece "It Even Hurts to Remember You." I made it when I was healing after getting out of an abusive relationship. The main theme I had in mind as I made it was to visually illustrate the thought that even though the person who hurt me was physically out of my life, he had still caused me so much pain. Even though he could no longer hurt me, I still experienced an ongoing pain through the memory of the abuse. The exposed brain represents vulnerability that comes with being hurt, the black ooze represents the pain and negative impacts of the abuse, and the flowers represent the possibility of healing and growth. I used colored pencil for the subject and watercolor for the background.