Senses Overwhelmed 12×12″ Print

Title: Senses Overwhelmed
Original Size: 24 x 24 in
Medium: Acrylic
Surface: Canvas
Created: 2022

Artist Statement:

Senses Overwhelmed is a deeply emotional exploration of mental health and the complex, often chaotic relationship between thought and feeling. This piece was born from my personal experience with cognitive overload — the struggle to quiet my mind, organize my thoughts, and manage executive functioning in a world that demands constant clarity.

The painting visually represents what it feels like when thoughts and emotions flood the mind all at once — an internal storm of stress, anxiety, euphoria, fear, confusion, and the desperate desire for stillness. It captures the intensity of being mentally overstimulated, when the senses collide and the body responds in waves of physiological reaction.

Using a foam brush and multiple layers of acrylic paint, I applied the paint in expressive, spontaneous movements to mirror the unpredictable nature of these emotional states. Each layer reflects the simultaneous presence of competing emotions — the beauty and discomfort of feeling everything all at once.

Senses Overwhelmed invites viewers to consider what lies beneath the surface of someone’s experience — the unseen internal battles, the noise that others may never notice, and the strength it takes to simply exist in that space.

The original painting is currently on display in St. Charles, MO, and is available for purchase.