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Honest Illustrations Show What Happens Behind Closed Doors In Every Relationship (30 New Pics)
Love has always been a source of the greatest creative ideas for artists and everyone who has been in love at least once understands why. The world fills up with butterflies and rainbows which you want to experience with newly enhanced senses and the perfect significant other by your side. But the truth is that there isn’t such a thing as a perfect relationship. Once the honeymoon stage is over, reality strikes, and even though it doesn‘t exactly look like a romantic movie, the trust, and comfort two people develop is not less worthy of bringing to light.
A 29-year-old Los Angeles based artist, Amanda Oleander, invites her audience of 878k people on Instagram to the intimate world of everyday life in loving relationships that is often left behind closed doors.
Scroll through the cute drawings below to explore the inner working of long-term relationships and see if they look familiar. And if you can’t get enough, check out Amanda’s illustrations that we’ve previously shared on Bored Panda.
More info: amandaoleander.com | Instagram | twitter.com | Facebook
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Smith SMith 6 years ago
Real talk, on my deathbed the final word I’ll hear my wife say is.... it’s cold in here
Pan Narrans 6 years ago
I consider everything above 19 degrees centigrade T-shirt and short trousers weather. My ex entertained ideas of coming out of hibernation at this temperature...
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#2
StonedPanda 6 years ago
Like screwing a corpse scary as hell... I would jump out of bed when her cold feet toughed me in college. Now she lives in Buffalo, NY married to Gregory House and feels right at home with Hillary... walking barefoot with wine in the snowy woods next door!
Pamela Scott 6 years ago
When we 1st married I worked 2nd shift. My Hubby would ask why didn't you come to bed when you got in from work. The reason was I couldn't possibpe fit. By the time I came home he would be spread all the way across the whole bed. Finally had a night where I knew he did not have to go to work the next morning and I was tired of the couch. There was only a tiny sliver on bed for me to lay down on but he at least pulled the blanket over me. Of course he then shifted and nearly flipped me into the floor. That was it I snapped I curled into a ball putting my feet into the small of hiw back. I had never heard that. kind of a yelp before. I had plenty of room on my side of the bed. After he calmed d9wn he pulled me up close to him and r7bbed my feet to help warm them up. After that he would make sure I had room enough to get into bed but he also warmed up my feet everytime and got me sock liners and warm wool socks for work.
aussie snowdropper 6 years ago
my wife use to put her feet on my testicles to get them warm !!
Diana Crawford 6 years ago
I know the feeling of feet on my legs it so irritating. I guess this is reason -why some people wear socks to bed and around the house.
It comes as no surprise that behind the scenes, the relationship may slightly differ from the image that we put out to the world. The talented artist shares quirky love stories through her adorable illustrations and her distinctive style filled with fine details and subtle humor helps to portray the simple yet magical bond between two people in a long-term relationship.
#3
Char Char 6 years ago
Thank you. It was just creepy without your comment!
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#4
FatBaby 6 years ago
That's so so cute. The message is that when she's feeling down he waters her with affection until she feels better.
Lynzi Oliver-Musto 6 years ago
And that they nurture each other so they can "grow".
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Inspired by her own romantic relationship with a long term partner, Joey Rudman, to whom she recently got engaged and her family and friends’ honest confessions, the artist depicts the precious mundane moments in relationships that create a real picture of unfiltered love. The unglamorous scenarios Amanda portrays in her artwork are far from a fairytale but they reveal a very genuine and relatable side of romance. Amanda’s illustrations confront an unrealistic image of a ‘perfect’ relationship that the media often dictates; they show that love can be simple.
#5
TRiMGamingDK 6 years ago
In the winter yes, but not in the hot summers By the way, separate sheets, entirely for those reasons! :D
sequoia hawes 6 years ago
i dont have a bf, but i wake up with my leg on my body pillow.. it just feels good, yknow?
StonedPanda 6 years ago
Nothing like a strap on for my millennial boyfriend - puts him to sleep and falling out of bed every night.
#6
Chyppa Homer 6 years ago
How sweet ! You invited your mother-in-law . :D (couldn't resist. sorry :)
Cobaltqube 6 years ago
I think it's that game of thrones show. not certain though.
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Jamie Hanna-Rossi 6 years ago
Somebody loves Game of Thrones, or possibly some sci/fi. Just dressing up while watching. Cosplay at it's finest.
“These illustrations are inspired by my personal life. I love illustrating life behind closed doors. What really happens when we are comfortable at home by ourselves or with our loved ones. This is the first time I am in a healthy, loving and kind relationship. I love illustrating what it's like to be in one and how important It is to be loved for who you really are.” - Amanda told Bored Panda.
#7
Mademoiselle Mirage 6 years ago
Am I dreaming or in place of the time on the oven it's written hot?
StonedPanda 6 years ago
When Yoga masters embrace... it's all over the @#$ place. Downward dog coming soon
Emily Doubét 6 years ago
I think they cleverly made 8:07 look like ' H:0T ' cuz i can see both very clearly i almost thought it said hot too lol
#8
#9
Amanda’s illustrations convey a reality that could not be documented with scripted or altered photographs that we often see online. Relationships consist of small and quiet moments and they are not always pretty: from cuddling in bed and cooking together, to pimple popping and changing a tampon in front of your significant other – her drawings are as real as it gets. But this is actually how every long term relationship looks when nobody’s watching and it makes Amanda’s artwork so authentic and universal. Despite different backgrounds, cultures, countries, and languages, people and their relationships are very similar.
#10
#11
Robert Bristow-Johnson 6 years ago (edited)
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^-^^^^^^^ (so much for anonymity). my wife would scratch itches on my back that i couldn't reach and excise zits and blackheads on my back that i can't reach. she didn't seem to mind and i lovvvved it. having an unreachable itch scratched or squeezed out is as satisfying as a difficult sneeze. it's on the same spectrum with orgasm.
Amanda Oleander’s career bridges fine art, technology, performance art, and commercial work for which she was honored as one of Pure Wow’s 100 Women Emerging in Culture. After receiving her degree in Fine Arts, she worked as an illustrator for E! Entertainment. It took Amanda 4 years to get 2k followers on Instagram, but it skyrocketed when in 2015, she started incorporating Periscope into her daily routine by live-streaming herself painting and showing snippets of her life and became one of the app’s breakout stars. The rest is history. Now the artist has hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and over 51k followers on Facebook who appreciate her honesty and refreshing approach.
#12
Kamryn McNamara 6 years ago
They're so connected they might as well be rooted to each other aww
#13
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
That's beautiful. God bless your love life.
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Kill The Nice Guy Inside 6 years ago
This photo is just not about sleeping... they both had orgasmic sex with one another... the woman has a smile on her face and there are tears running down her face revealing how she feels about her partner... and well, the man is out-cold sleeping like a rock...
Diana Crawford 6 years ago
I love the feeling of the one hands on my breast, it is a lovely feeling of someone cares about me and loves the fact that I am there with him. Lovely!
Revealing the reality of relationships is just a part of Amanda’s inspiring work. Besides romantic partners, she depicts other types of love that play a huge part in our lives, like affection to pets, friends and, most importantly, ourselves. She uses her influence on social media to articulate her thoughts into pieces of art and encourages self-love. Drawing inspiration from real life moments, Amanda is not likely to ever run out of ideas.
#14
Άρης Παπαδόπουλος 6 years ago
The message the artist wanted to convey is "looking at photographs that we are together and it feels like he is here with me". Or it's "I killed him and I was at last free to play candy crush... "
Chyppa Homer 6 years ago
One of those hauntings, where you can't see the ghost with naked eye, but they show up in... drawings o_O
#15
Tony Moon 6 years ago
I've never understood the fear some women have of not shaving. I am assuming its a learned social norm that has been repeatedly beaten into them. I have friends who fear such interactions, but it simply escapes me. Personally I am looking at your eyes when I talk to you, so I would never notice what your legs look or feel like. Even my wife has stopped worrying about it as much, and I don't notice until she tells me to.
sequoia hawes 6 years ago
once in a day of bad depression my mom cuddled with me. i saw her shave 2 days ago, but MAN!
back atya 6 years ago
Don't think it's about color. It's about not shaving her legs ever
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Through her art, Amanda is able to reach and connect with millions of people worldwide and she tries to give back to people who support her in creative journey. She has a print sale every Monday for 24 hours on her website. "When people send me reaction videos of them getting my artwork gifted to them and seeing them cry from excitement warms my heart so much and is such a big motivator for me to keep doing what I love," said the artist.
#16
Dorothy Parker 6 years ago
Um, hints are red noses, flushed cheeks, water, tea, tissues, orange segments. They have colds and are cuddled up, even when sick.
#17
Liam Walsh 6 years ago
Got stopped by police for driving with my girlfriend like this... not sufficient control of the vehicle should something happen.
Gemma Lees 6 years ago
I don't think this would work in a manual car, (over here only adapted cars tend to be automatics), but I do squeeze my hubby's legs and am in charge of passing over drinks and snacks when he's driving.
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StonedPanda 6 years ago
So I'm putting my contact back into my eye as my touchy feelie girlfriend - Helen Keller - tries to read my mouth and feel where I'm driving at the same time thus my lost contact.
#18
Mewton’s Third Paw 6 years ago
Because she’s a human? Not everyone is hairless and white.
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Michelle McCoy 6 years ago
Love this picture. My daughter suffers from hirsutism, which is a condition of unwanted hair.
Kelsey Knutson 6 years ago
I have hirsutism from PCOS and it is so humiliating. I'm almost thirty and I've learned to accept it, most days. But I wonder what it would be like to have someone else accept it wholeheartedly this way.
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Little Wonder 6 years ago
I have a hairy lower back and I'm a woman. Mine's from PCOS which causes hirsutism, but most women would have very fine hair on their backs. Just because the fashion magazines tell you it isn't a thing, that doesn't mean it isn't a thing.
Rabbit Carrot 6 years ago
Thick dark hair on the lower back of a woman is often the sign of an underlying medical condition. Go see your GP.
Susann Campbell 6 years ago
They love each other so much that it does not matter where the body hair is or if it even gets removed now and then.
#20
Steve Cruz 6 years ago
The man died and she is now in a same-sex relationship with the understanding she always desired.
#21
Gary 6 years ago
They get jealous. Try sitting on a sofa and they will do their best to wedge themselves between you. Much like children.
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#22
Thyra Lionheart 6 years ago
When we lived apart my boyfriend made me a “Boyfriend-pillow” so I wouldn’t miss him so much by putting one of his smelly t-shirts over a pillow. I still love him for that
#23
Patricia Brown 6 years ago
trying to stay warm watching a meteor shower on a mountain top in autumn
Au Ja 6 years ago
If I hadn't of seen the 'vote' bottle then I would have assumed they were at the drive-in
Load More Replies... #24
Dawn Thomas Jewell 6 years ago
Why not? I find it's the best place to read.
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Victoria Gray 6 years ago
When I had broken my leg and my boyfriend cared for me in a slippy hotel shower so i could hold on with both hands. It made me feel truly cherished 💖
Gemma Lees 6 years ago
The bath is where me and my hubby put the world to rights. He often has to help me wash as I'm disabled. He never makes me feel like a patient though.
david romero 6 years ago (edited)
Why did I waste valuable time looking at all this maudlin c**p?!
Kerry Ericksson 6 years ago
Not all couples are this sticky close,my parents did none of the above..
#25
sequoia hawes 6 years ago
the hard way?!?!!? jeez all theese spoiled people who can put a blueberry on a pancake..
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enjoyinglife 6 years ago
enjoy those perky boobs in a few years they will look like those pancakes
Jamie Hanna-Rossi 6 years ago
My hubs & I share the kitchen always. We have been for over 28 years. Breathtaking to me.
#26
Liam Walsh 6 years ago
If that was me I would be wearing ketchup in my clothes. Always end up a mess eating burgers.
Susann Campbell 6 years ago
Well now they just haven't taken their first bite yet, be patience.
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thømas, shane and phan trashcan 6 years ago
Everyone in a good relationship does 😂
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Thomas MacLean 6 years ago
It's called foreplay & we all know what that leads to ... 5 -15 minutes of intense pleasure followed by a lovely deep sleep ... and maybe a real big surprise a month or two later!! lol
#28
Valdis 6 years ago
Don't worry! It's better than no girlfriend at all.. trust me..
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Blanka Nováková 6 years ago
And I thought I am the only one who does this stupid thing! :-) :-)
Melodie Peters Parkinson 6 years ago
I have to admit I didn't understand several of these, and some I would say only apply in the "honeymoon" period, except in rare cases.
#29
#30
OnlyMyOpinion 6 years ago
At first I agreed with the sunburn comments. But look how deflated she looks. I'm thinking he's turned his back on her in a mood (showing anger RED) and she's attempting to get him to 'normal'.
Crouching_Penn_Hidden_Teller@yahoo.com 6 years ago
hope nobody takes this literally and tries to treat a sunburn w/ acrylic paint
Νεφέλη Στα. 6 years ago
When somebody shows their true colours, we should stop trying to repaint them
Ryan Raymond 6 years ago
It's acrylic paint. Basically she is seeing his true colors but ignoring all the red flags and painting the picture of who she fell in love with. Not who he really is.
Peter Toth 6 years ago
Yup, the Goldfinger scenario... the jar says GOLDEN ACRYLIC PAINT Capture-5c...bdd54e.png 
Lynzi Oliver-Musto 6 years ago
My mind immediately went to the Bond film Goldfinger, where the bad guy has a woman killed by covering her with gold paint... I hope I'm misreading this one!
Kelly Lewis 6 years ago
I was thinking he has a fever and she is trying to heal him or make him feel better.
#38
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Daria B 6 years ago
These are sweet and all. But things look a bit different after 10 years of living together. ♥ There's still love, it's just... More independent? Anyway, nice drawing style.
Lorena Garcia 2 years ago
Yo también hace 10 años que estoy en pareja,y está diferente el amor también 😞😞
Load More Replies... Zeedy 6 years ago
Lovely drawing style. I can relate to a lot of these in my relationship, but my favorite thing about this post is that you can get a sense of depth of emotion and realness past the superficial "happy couple" that you see a lot of. The style in reminiscent of Frida Kahlo's work. Not "pretty" but captivating and soul baring. At least that's what I see... Thank you for sharing your work.
Alice Laughs 6 years ago
Didn't think I'd like this as much as I would. Love the concepts and illustration style a lot! Thanks for sharing ^_^
laura gilman 6 years ago
I've been happily married for 11 years. And we don't look like that at all. We really aren't lovey dovey or touchy feely... just saying you don't need to have all that touchy stuff to still be happily married.
Amanda Reicha 6 years ago
Lol my husband sleeps like a mummy wrapped up in a soft taco shell and I sleep with tons of pillows. Her pictures show lots of cuddles.
Daria B 6 years ago
These are sweet and all. But things look a bit different after 10 years of living together. ♥ There's still love, it's just... More independent? Anyway, nice drawing style.
Lorena Garcia 2 years ago
Yo también hace 10 años que estoy en pareja,y está diferente el amor también 😞😞
Load More Replies... Zeedy 6 years ago
Lovely drawing style. I can relate to a lot of these in my relationship, but my favorite thing about this post is that you can get a sense of depth of emotion and realness past the superficial "happy couple" that you see a lot of. The style in reminiscent of Frida Kahlo's work. Not "pretty" but captivating and soul baring. At least that's what I see... Thank you for sharing your work.
Alice Laughs 6 years ago
Didn't think I'd like this as much as I would. Love the concepts and illustration style a lot! Thanks for sharing ^_^
laura gilman 6 years ago
I've been happily married for 11 years. And we don't look like that at all. We really aren't lovey dovey or touchy feely... just saying you don't need to have all that touchy stuff to still be happily married.
Amanda Reicha 6 years ago
Lol my husband sleeps like a mummy wrapped up in a soft taco shell and I sleep with tons of pillows. Her pictures show lots of cuddles.
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