The Unspoken Side Of Long Term Relationships Revealed In 30 Brutally Honest Illustrations
Love is in the small things. And Los Angeles-based artist Amanda Oleander captures these cute couple moments in her illustrations. Drawing inspiration from her own romantic relationship and collecting memories from people close to her, Amanda perfectly shows in her relationship comics what love looks like when no one's watching.
Amanda is currently dating Joey Rudman. "[He] ends up drawn in most of my adult cartoons," she told Bored Panda. "We have been together for almost three years. He's the sweetest man I've ever met." The artist describes the bond between them as pure magic. "Before I met Joey if anyone told me their love and relationship was like ours I wouldn't believe it. It's nothing less than amazing. We can't get enough of each other."
"I'm enthralled by the way people behave behind closed doors, intimate moments with their significant others we never get to see. Those are moments that can’t be documented because if they were, it would alter the way the person behaved. So I draw them."
Oleander claims that each of her cute cartoons is inspired by a different concept. "I do wish that viewers take with them a sense of confidence and appreciation for the simple moments in life."
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i remember doing this for my mrs, but i got frustrated with the rubbish brush they give ya, so I used one of my artist ones instead, much better job!
You think this is sweet, but the real story is she just used his finger to get past the lock screen and now she is going to wake him up and yell at him because a co-worker emailed him with a question and the co-worker is a girl. This fight will last all day until he says sorry and erases the co-worker as a contact. She will bring this up again at a later date.
My absolute day changer! Everything's right in the world after he brushes my hair.
Note: this post originally had 67 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I'm surprised at a lot of people saying some of this stuff is gross, maybe my husband and I are just super comfortable with each other, these are just things everyone does, I don't see why people try and hide it from one another. Sort of hard when you live with someone!
Some people just always have to be better. They never let their guard down, never let their flaws show, never "come as they are". It must be exhausting.
from experience, it's not always wanting to be better...sometimes it's serious insecurity even with someone you know loves you as much as you love them.
Pulling out a used tampon in front of your spouse will always be disgusting no matter how well you know each other, and anyone claiming otherwise is lying through their teeth.
i'm married and it' called "respect".
Yes but the toenail scratching thing is ughhhhhh!😬
The picture is pretty intense for that one yes haha!
I'm right there with you, totally agree.
This is me and my boyfriend to a T. We have been together for almost 3 years.
Totally honest! 10 years and yeah we all these 😂
Emi Suzuhara love
Emi Suzuhara what
Cute pics, but I really REALLY liked the small details such as the ghost dog, 'buy 2 get 1', or all the paintings on walls and stuff like that. :)
Agreed. Makes it more fun.
I love the style its like rugrats and the wild thornberries, i think this artist draws the best hugs i have ever seen.
The art style makes the majority of these situations so gross, when they really aren't.
I agree :x
Where are the gay and lesbian couples?
exactly what I was thinking- they put a great diversity of straight couples but no gays or lesbians.
THANK YOU
I really like these, and I like the style--refreshing. My only complaint is that the post is captioned "Brutally Honest" and "Unspoken Side"--I'd like to see fewer click-bate cliches
I like these they are cute and quirky.
Nice!
I like the fact that there are different couples, but would be nice to see some non-traditional couples.
This may be my new favoritest artist. *beams*
This post is so heteronormative. Where are the gay couples?
You do know not everyone is straight right?
Nice concept but I absolutely hate how it reminds me of the art style in cartoons such as As Told By Ginger. Hated the art style of that cartoon, even as a kid
Why are there SO many of these exact same concept cartoons on Bored Panda. "I draw cartoons that depict what being in a relationship is like". Literally so so so many lately. Get an original concept.
Single and staying that way!
Some illustrations are so gross. No can't relate
Tess I'm married since 1984 and we are very comfortable with each other's body, yet we like to keep things romantic. That's why we don't share going to the WC as an activity for two. There is nothing attractive watching the other doing such private acts.
This is so joyful and adorable. Great illustrations and examples.
Yup
I recognized so many of these pictures as flashes of my life. So much everyday life = so much love. Those "little" things have painted our entire life together. Love him more than I ever thought possible.
Very heteronormative.
Fun fact: when two lovers gaze at each other's eyes, their heart rates synchronize.
I'm so sad because I would relate to these so closely if they weren't literally all heterosexual couples :/
It must be a cultural thing. 9 out of 10 "intimate illustrations" from the US involve some level of zit-popping.
it's unspoken for a reason
So, being in a couple for some years means forget a little about shave your legs, brush your teeth and cut your nails - among other sweet things like hugs, kisses and sleeping together. Well...I quite disagree. I am still caring for my personal hygene though I am not formal. Moreover, what's on with the artist and her passion for furry carpets?!
So cute! A long relationship definitely doesn't need to be boring <3
Love is weird.
Not, totally honest! 10 years and yeah we all these 😂
correction: scratch the "Not" 😂😂😂
I really enjoyed her art!
These were so great! I love the interracial ones! Real scenarios! Wonderful to look at
Why are all these only heterosexual? There are many different couples out there...
You're right!
Why is this post hidden? It's not offensive in any way. In fact, you're totally right !
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Some of these are cute and all... But not relatable..
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Omg ! no ! this is so gross!
Love is gross. Let's face it.
Sex isnt gross? Rolls eyes.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
If the author took some ideas from real life, then I feel sorry for them... Cut your toenails, it's gross, no matter if you are single or married/in a relationship!. Same goes for taking care of yourself in general. The style doesn't appeal to me, but I try not to judge it - everyone likes different things. They put effort in it and I applaud that. Just the toenails I cannot unsee now ugh..
They are meant to be a slight exaggeration. Nobodys toenails are that long but it can feel like it.
You do realize that these are drawings, right? You also realize that because they are drawing, the length of the toenails was exaggerated, to make a point about how toenails can feel like claws, right?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
The style is awful and some of the depicted situations are very stereotypical. Not all couples neglect basic hygiene and grooming.
The style "is" not awful - maybe you don't like it. I thought it's really cute and has it's own style. Sure, not perfectly drawn, but I think not everything has to be perfect. In a lot of them you can see so much love between the couples.
Funny, I didn't see any neglected hygiene here.
I think its cute. Too many stodgy people dont get the humor.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I never said "people generally think it's awful" I was merely stating my own opinion. Oh, but right, it's 2018 and expressing personal opinions is a no go. I forgot.
You don't like it, it doesn't make it awful. People said the same thing about the Impressionists.
Ah, but you didn't. You said the style IS awful. Period. Not the same as saying "in my opinion..." or "I personally dislike....". 2018 has nothing to do with it. You stated your opinion as fact.
There I fixed it for you your grace: "In my opinion" the style is awful and "I personally dislike" that some of the depicted situations are very stereotypical. "In my opinion" not all couples neglect basic hygiene and grooming.
In everyone's own mind their opinion is fact.
Funny, I didn't see any neglected hygiene here.
me neither. things like body hair, and the like, they're not neglected hygiene. they're the male and female body as they are meant to be
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
What's awful is that you think you are entitled to criticise something the artist is proud of, just because you don't like the art style.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Are people really this gross with each other? Many of these would totally kill the romance...
When thw chemistry between the two of you is real, you won't find many of these things gross. I mean, even a French kiss is gross, when you think of it. I mean, why would anyone stick their tongue into someone else's mouth...
Sex is gross! Humans are gross. Lol ge bover it.
Exactly, Daria.
yes, Diana Snow. a good relationship is largely based on being as comfortable with the "gross" side of your loved ones body as with the "gross" sides of your own body.
I'm surprised at a lot of people saying some of this stuff is gross, maybe my husband and I are just super comfortable with each other, these are just things everyone does, I don't see why people try and hide it from one another. Sort of hard when you live with someone!
Some people just always have to be better. They never let their guard down, never let their flaws show, never "come as they are". It must be exhausting.
from experience, it's not always wanting to be better...sometimes it's serious insecurity even with someone you know loves you as much as you love them.
Pulling out a used tampon in front of your spouse will always be disgusting no matter how well you know each other, and anyone claiming otherwise is lying through their teeth.
i'm married and it' called "respect".
Yes but the toenail scratching thing is ughhhhhh!😬
The picture is pretty intense for that one yes haha!
I'm right there with you, totally agree.
This is me and my boyfriend to a T. We have been together for almost 3 years.
Totally honest! 10 years and yeah we all these 😂
Emi Suzuhara love
Emi Suzuhara what
Cute pics, but I really REALLY liked the small details such as the ghost dog, 'buy 2 get 1', or all the paintings on walls and stuff like that. :)
Agreed. Makes it more fun.
I love the style its like rugrats and the wild thornberries, i think this artist draws the best hugs i have ever seen.
The art style makes the majority of these situations so gross, when they really aren't.
I agree :x
Where are the gay and lesbian couples?
exactly what I was thinking- they put a great diversity of straight couples but no gays or lesbians.
THANK YOU
I really like these, and I like the style--refreshing. My only complaint is that the post is captioned "Brutally Honest" and "Unspoken Side"--I'd like to see fewer click-bate cliches
I like these they are cute and quirky.
Nice!
I like the fact that there are different couples, but would be nice to see some non-traditional couples.
This may be my new favoritest artist. *beams*
This post is so heteronormative. Where are the gay couples?
You do know not everyone is straight right?
Nice concept but I absolutely hate how it reminds me of the art style in cartoons such as As Told By Ginger. Hated the art style of that cartoon, even as a kid
Why are there SO many of these exact same concept cartoons on Bored Panda. "I draw cartoons that depict what being in a relationship is like". Literally so so so many lately. Get an original concept.
Single and staying that way!
Some illustrations are so gross. No can't relate
Tess I'm married since 1984 and we are very comfortable with each other's body, yet we like to keep things romantic. That's why we don't share going to the WC as an activity for two. There is nothing attractive watching the other doing such private acts.
This is so joyful and adorable. Great illustrations and examples.
Yup
I recognized so many of these pictures as flashes of my life. So much everyday life = so much love. Those "little" things have painted our entire life together. Love him more than I ever thought possible.
Very heteronormative.
Fun fact: when two lovers gaze at each other's eyes, their heart rates synchronize.
I'm so sad because I would relate to these so closely if they weren't literally all heterosexual couples :/
It must be a cultural thing. 9 out of 10 "intimate illustrations" from the US involve some level of zit-popping.
it's unspoken for a reason
So, being in a couple for some years means forget a little about shave your legs, brush your teeth and cut your nails - among other sweet things like hugs, kisses and sleeping together. Well...I quite disagree. I am still caring for my personal hygene though I am not formal. Moreover, what's on with the artist and her passion for furry carpets?!
So cute! A long relationship definitely doesn't need to be boring <3
Love is weird.
Not, totally honest! 10 years and yeah we all these 😂
correction: scratch the "Not" 😂😂😂
I really enjoyed her art!
These were so great! I love the interracial ones! Real scenarios! Wonderful to look at
Why are all these only heterosexual? There are many different couples out there...
You're right!
Why is this post hidden? It's not offensive in any way. In fact, you're totally right !
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Some of these are cute and all... But not relatable..
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Omg ! no ! this is so gross!
Love is gross. Let's face it.
Sex isnt gross? Rolls eyes.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
If the author took some ideas from real life, then I feel sorry for them... Cut your toenails, it's gross, no matter if you are single or married/in a relationship!. Same goes for taking care of yourself in general. The style doesn't appeal to me, but I try not to judge it - everyone likes different things. They put effort in it and I applaud that. Just the toenails I cannot unsee now ugh..
They are meant to be a slight exaggeration. Nobodys toenails are that long but it can feel like it.
You do realize that these are drawings, right? You also realize that because they are drawing, the length of the toenails was exaggerated, to make a point about how toenails can feel like claws, right?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
The style is awful and some of the depicted situations are very stereotypical. Not all couples neglect basic hygiene and grooming.
The style "is" not awful - maybe you don't like it. I thought it's really cute and has it's own style. Sure, not perfectly drawn, but I think not everything has to be perfect. In a lot of them you can see so much love between the couples.
Funny, I didn't see any neglected hygiene here.
I think its cute. Too many stodgy people dont get the humor.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I never said "people generally think it's awful" I was merely stating my own opinion. Oh, but right, it's 2018 and expressing personal opinions is a no go. I forgot.
You don't like it, it doesn't make it awful. People said the same thing about the Impressionists.
Ah, but you didn't. You said the style IS awful. Period. Not the same as saying "in my opinion..." or "I personally dislike....". 2018 has nothing to do with it. You stated your opinion as fact.
There I fixed it for you your grace: "In my opinion" the style is awful and "I personally dislike" that some of the depicted situations are very stereotypical. "In my opinion" not all couples neglect basic hygiene and grooming.
In everyone's own mind their opinion is fact.
Funny, I didn't see any neglected hygiene here.
me neither. things like body hair, and the like, they're not neglected hygiene. they're the male and female body as they are meant to be
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
What's awful is that you think you are entitled to criticise something the artist is proud of, just because you don't like the art style.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Are people really this gross with each other? Many of these would totally kill the romance...
When thw chemistry between the two of you is real, you won't find many of these things gross. I mean, even a French kiss is gross, when you think of it. I mean, why would anyone stick their tongue into someone else's mouth...
Sex is gross! Humans are gross. Lol ge bover it.
Exactly, Daria.
yes, Diana Snow. a good relationship is largely based on being as comfortable with the "gross" side of your loved ones body as with the "gross" sides of your own body.