Carry Us Away Inspired Illustration - Circa Survive
Piece 52 of my ongoing daily illustration project dives deep into the emotionally layered world of Carry Us Away by Circa Survive. Drawing inspiration from the lyric "This is not a puzzle or mainframe…", this piece captures the thematic tension between logic and surrender, clarity and temptation.
The artwork features a Rubik’s Twist transforming into a vividly colored snake, representing the unavoidable pull of temptation and the act of taking blame, visual metaphors inspired by the lyrics "I'll be your loyal apostle, just send me in to take the blame." The twisting shape references the idea of a riddle or puzzle, while the snake symbolizes both danger and knowledge, temptation and fate.
Created using Retro Supply Co. brushes in a hand-drawn style, this piece merges retro texture aesthetics with contemporary alt-rock lyricism. The color palette, inspired by vintage design swatches, emphasizes the dynamic conflict between harmony and chaos. The illustration style balances nostalgia with modern edge, echoing the progressive and experimental tones of Circa Survive, a band known for blending post-hardcore, alternative rock, and emotive storytelling.
This piece speaks to fans of lyric-driven art, alternative music, and symbolism-heavy illustration. It's a small tribute to the raw, spiritual undertones of Circa Survive's music, especially in a track that weaves morality, faith, and failure into such poetic clarity.
If you’re a fan of:
Lyric-inspired art
Alternative rock visual interpretations
Hand-drawn illustrations using Retro Supply brushes
Snake symbolism in modern artwork
Daily drawing projects with meaning
…then this piece, and the project overall, may speak to you.
Follow along for more illustrations that fuse music, meaning, and visual storytelling.