The Fire of '61

The Fire of '61 — oil on canvas 24 x 30 inches

I was a little too young to have a strong personal memory of this major forest fire, but it's one of oral tradition stories my parents have shared for years.

Pirate's Cave

Pirate's Cave — oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches

One of those childhood dream images that you might never forget.

Shelter Rock

Shelter Rock — oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches
An adventure-dream landscape that holds a great deal of mystery and symbolism.

Abandoned

Abandoned — oil on canvas 22 x 28 inches
An imagined high-ground retreat remains standing after years of neglect.

Black Pond with White Sand

Black Pond with White Sand — oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches
A dreamy seascape setting one hates to leave in the morning.

Digital Painting

Dream Images

Extraordinary images appear in dreams from unknown sources. Faces of strangers we've never met before. Interior rooms and hallways we explore. Are they another reality or simply symbolic of unused parts of our personalities, as some psychologists theorize? Who can know for sure. Many artists have used dream imagery for centuries. Some of the more popular examples are the masterful works of Dali or Goya.

Dream images and situations can be quite pleasant or unbearably frightening, depending on many uncontrolled factors. To anyone who hasn't mastered the art of lucid dreaming, the dreams themselves are in control until you wake yourself up. Sleep may be the natural portal to dreamland, which I generally welcome and hope will be a nice little trip every night, but on a rare occasion the odd nightmare will creep in and cause me to think, "where did that come from?"

To family, workmates and friends, who generally find the description of each others dreams boring and tedious to listen to, put your images on paper canvas or film. They could be worth a fortune someday.

Sweet dreams this weekend.