Hi! I’m Pepper, I’m the artist behind Panic Attack Paintings, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you, firstly for stopping by, and secondly for wanting to learn more about where the business came from and what we make here.
I grew up in the South of England and never considered myself much of an artist in the traditional pen/paint on paper way, despite widely being considered the artist of the family. I started painting while looking for a hobby that I didn’t feel like I had to master, following along with reruns of Bob Ross’ The Joy of Painting. I needed something soothing, as I was so anxious at that time in my life that I would regularly spend the eight hours in which I was supposed to be sleeping crying my eyes out because my mental health was so poorly managed, and Bob Ross has one of the softest and most melodic voices I’ve ever heard. I’ve regularly fallen asleep to his show, even during my worst bouts of insomnia.
Panic Attack Paintings originated partly from wanting to share my silly little puns with the world, and partly from the hope that I could brighten the day of someone going through similar mental health struggles to those I’ve faced over the course of my life. Nothing makes me happier than to brighten someone’s day with a terrible pun, especially in visual form (apart from possibly the eye roll that occurs from the pun, that’s a very specific high level of joy).
I think everyone deserves to feel seen and heard, and if my goofy little drawings can help even one percent, or make one day better for one person, I’d like to do that. Maybe you see something of yourself reflected in my work, or maybe you just get a giggle out of something like my Boo-berry ghost, I hope you see something here that makes you smile.