ADVERTISEMENT

There are no positives in bottling up your emotions; however, finding a healthy way to express them is very important as well.

Ryan Altounji, an illustrator and animator, went through a tough situation in his life, which stirred up an array of emotions. Due to difficulties in his home country, Syria, Ryan had to leave in 2021. As a coping mechanism for everything that has happened, Ryan chose to draw his emotions and feelings, to which many can relate.

So, without further ado, we present Ryan's illustrations, and for more about the project 'Journey of Emotions,' read down below.

More info: ryanaltounji.com | Instagram

#1

Holding On

Holding On

ryanimated.ig Report

Pancake_Pansexual_Panda
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so true...in many deep meanings...but also me when I am holding my pee to go to the bathroom.

View more comments

Bored Panda reached out to Ryan, who told us more about his project:

“This project is called ‘Journey of Emotions.’ I started working on it in late 2021 as it was a very pivotal and sensitive period in my life.

For 28 years I’d spent my life living in Syria. Besides the difficulties of living in a war-torn country, I’d also need to leave the country before finishing my Master’s degree to avoid being drafted into the army, which would’ve killed all hopes of a career as I would be gone for more than 7 years.”

RELATED:
    #3

    Exhausted

    Exhausted

    ryanimated.ig Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    He continued: “When I decided to leave Syria I was already married to my beautiful wife, and the option available for me was to go to Dubai (UAE) and settle down there and later have my wife follow me.

    Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to leave due to visa difficulties, which meant that my wife would have to leave for Dubai before I did. That is when I started working on that project.”

    #4

    Detached

    Detached

    ryanimated.ig Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “I was diving from one depressive episode into another and the only way that I found to express my feelings was through drawing. Each illustration in this project represents my overall mental state during the period I was creating them.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    My emotions ranged from anxious, hopeful, hopeless, and even suicidal.

    A few of these illustrations depicted my relationship with my wife; for example, the illustration titled 'Bliss' portrays my character floating in emptiness and surrounded by a twirling light source that represents how my wife made me feel.”

    #6

    Bliss

    Bliss

    ryanimated.ig Report

    Baali Venomax
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Only time I felt this I was in hospital and high as a kite on pure Oyxgen.

    View more comments
    #7

    Confined

    Confined

    ryanimated.ig Report

    “In another one that depicts my character holding on to the same light source in my hands, that you could even see my hands cracking up as I’m holding tightly to the light, that is during the period when my wife was getting ready to leave for Dubai.”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #8

    Time

    Time

    ryanimated.ig Report

    Red Lotus 🪷
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh my god so true... especially when you grow up. Just a few days ago it struck me that I was now older than most of the protagonists in my childhood books, protagonists that I used to think we're "so grown up". There was a time when I thought 14 year olds were practically adults 🤣

    View more comments
    #9

    Loved

    Loved

    ryanimated.ig Report

    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are they allowed draw pictures of me without my permission?

    View more comments

    "The project ends with an illustration depicting my character accepting the current state (at that time) and leaving it up to fate as I free-fall into the unknown, but that oddly made me feel satisfied.

    Overall it is a very emotional art project that helped me get through a very rough and intense period of my life that later proved to be essential, as I’m now reunited with my wife in Dubai and our relationship has never been so beautiful and fulfilling.”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #11

    Anxious

    Anxious

    ryanimated.ig Report

    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    More like a series of ever tightening belts around the chest

    View more comments
    #12

    Frustration

    Frustration

    ryanimated.ig Report

    Sarah Rodriguez
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This actually makes me of being overwhelmed

    #13

    Self-Reflection

    Self-Reflection

    ryanimated.ig Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #14

    Everything Will Be Alright

    Everything Will Be Alright

    ryanimated.ig Report

    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe he should be wearing a blindfold too?

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #15

    Heavy

    Heavy

    ryanimated.ig Report

    Deson
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes there are times when the thoughts weigh heavy.

    #16

    Lost At Sea

    Lost At Sea

    ryanimated.ig Report

    Pancake_Pansexual_Panda
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    GURL SHE BUILT LIKE A PIXAR MOM WITH THOSE THICC THIGHS THO! Sorry lol

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #17

    Obsessed

    Obsessed

    ryanimated.ig Report

    #18

    Falling

    Falling

    ryanimated.ig Report

    Red Lotus 🪷
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Falling and thus crumbling... I really like the artist's way of portraying things.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #19

    Ego

    Ego

    ryanimated.ig Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #20

    Frozen

    Frozen

    ryanimated.ig Report

    RandomPerson
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sometimes I'm staring at something, and I just stop moving. I won't move no matter how much I want to. I need to trigger a full body twitch to get me out of it.

    View more comments
    #21

    Weight

    Weight

    ryanimated.ig Report