Monday, June 6, 2011

Unsettled Dreams

Did you ever wake from an unsettling dream to find the room still dark but also faint light at the window? Knowing morning is more than a couple hours away, you convince yourself to return to sleep and hopefully dream a sweeter dream. I began this piece with fragments of Alhambra fountains and the  palette  reflecting a cool dark pre-dawn. I had an interesting free hand drawing and enjoyed researching the longitude and latitude of the Citadel (those times you awake and can't remember where you are?) This is just a piece of the whole as I've been unable to resolve it. I'll put it aside and maybe I can return with a fresh outlook. Fragment measures 8"x9" out of a 20"x20" piece, acrylic, stencil, graphite, charcoal pencil and oil pastel.

13 comments:

  1. Blue Sky--this is an intriguing fragment --the scumbled background suggests wisps of the dream which contrasts with the letters and numbers on top of it. I love the sense I get from looking at it that I'm navigating my way through a dream.

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  2. so enjoy reading about your process Mary Ann, thanks, xo

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  3. annell, Thank you...a small jewel in a big mess.!

    Hannah, Oh could I have used your words a couple of days ago...I'm glad this fragment spoke to you!

    Jeane, It takes years to be at ease with personal process...working alone is helpful!

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  4. This is quite exciting. Love the way you are going.
    I can feel the dawn coming and the promise of a warm day.

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  5. painting from one's dreams -- kind of scary, but you've captured that elusive sense of the unknown, Mary Ann! I almost feel as if I have to "decode" it!

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  6. I am fascinated by this piece. So timeless. The past is present. Wonderful!

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  7. Nice! Thanks for sharing your inspiration.

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  8. I can relate to all of this. It seems my dreams are becoming more unsettling the past couple of years. I like the fragment of the piece you are working on. I look forward the resolution of the rest of the painting.

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  9. I think the fragment is an awsome piece, can you chop it and let it stand on its own? I like the documentation of the dream in art... nicely done...

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  10. If this is just one piece I imagine there is much to look forward to. Dream = sleep and I'm afraid I don't do enough of either so - a bit envious of that. :-)

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  11. Very nice. Do you ever go back to sleep and take up where the dream left off? Sometimes it's a good thing, and sometimes not.

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  12. Pat, That time before dawn is so dark and cool...maybe I will return and try again.

    Kelly, We all share in those unsettled dreams and that elusive dawn of wonder!

    Sharon, Thank you...sometimes giving up for awhile is the best plan...I'm still exploring the Alhambra just not this piece.

    Marie, Thanks for dropping by!

    Eva, I come from a family of big dreamers...in the morning we always would tell our dream stories. Unsettled dreams for me lately too!

    LDV, I found a really nice section to post...the rest not so great!I'll come back to it later.

    Karen, Right now the piece is of a lot of dark color. I hope your new mattress is lulling you off to sweet dreams!

    Tess, Yes, I do go back often to re-dream or direct a new take on the difficult dream...change things around. Sometimes it works and sometimes it's a dismal flop!

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  13. Hi Mary Ann, always enjoy your words of process. Love the "dawn of wonder" phrase and I agree that this section works...perhaps it could be cur from the whole to stand on its own.

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