BlueRuin Menthol

BlueRuin Menthol (2025)

Oil and acrylic on canvas, 18 × 22 in

In BlueRuin Menthol, G.M. Miller introduces oil paint to disrupt the sharp certainty of pop-art form. The familiar cigarette box remains, against a white ground, but its edges dissolve into softness. Inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the palette is subdued and atmospheric, prioritizing emotional resonance over graphic impact.

The process reflects this shift. Acrylic establishes the structure, while oil is layered above in translucent washes. Dry brushing creates wispy figures on the box’s surface, while thicker paint adds to their depth, producing a dreamlike instability. The result is an object that feels half-remembered—present, yet slipping away.

This work speaks to the longing embedded in addiction: the desire not just for the substance, but for the version of oneself that existed before the struggle began. By softening the image, Miller acknowledges the grief intertwined with resistance—the quiet mourning of something that must be let go.