As a painter of emotions, I’m frequently asked to share the meaning behind the artwork image “Come Back (please).” The emotion portrayed in this piece is undeniably clear, but how do we navigate and sit with emotions that are inherently uncomfortable?

The imperfect.

The raw.

The gritty.

These are the facets of ourselves we often try to hide from the world.

It took me years to show this piece publicly. “Come Back (please)” is perceived as “too much.” The image is of an intensely personal dark moment to which many can relate. This artwork contains a raw emotional moment, passionately spilled onto the canvas – kinda like a sneeze. We all need to release sometimes, don’t we? And we feel a sense of relief once we do. The image is also “not enough.” It’s wildly far from perfect in design and execution, from a perfectionistic standpoint.

And that’s exactly why I love it.

It is very human to feel those conflicting emotions: that we are simultaneously “not enough” and “too much.”

I hope this image and my courage to showcase it publicly serve as a reminder – you are ENOUGH. Never too much. You are LOVED. Your moments do not define your entire life, but it’s okay if they shape who you are and who you’re becoming. We all encounter overwhelming moments, and it’s crucial to release those emotions before they accumulate into anything toxic. Seek a trusted friend, a counselor, or a coping strategy to ease the edge. Summon the courage to discover a safe space for you to “sneeze.”

You’ll feel so much better if you do.

Explore prints of this artwork here. The original artwork is available for purchase here. ❤️