Which dreamed it........?

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Hello again!
I seem to have been absent for such a long time, even longer than the time it has taken my poor mother to finally activate her typekey account) (speaking of dreams, it was a waking nightmare!)...........but this is sure to make her smile.

So, i thought i might prattle on about dreams for a while, my own dreams, their connection to my art. Not dreams in general, of course, that would take a couple of weeks at the most!

My dreams are either astoundingly terrifying or astoundingly weird. There is no real in-between. Occasionally they are quite beautiful, but for some reason, the beautiful, pleasurable dreams seem to fragment and dissolve upon waking, with much more frequency than the bad dreams do. I find this to be rather typical, really; perhaps fear leaves a more permanent impression, bah!

In many ways i am at a loss to even attempt an explanation, the connections are so ambiguous (god! how that word reminds me of art theory), so ridiculously mystifying that i will probably have a hard time making any sense whatsoever, but i like to punish myself, so here goes....I will do it with pictures.

The Changeling

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I can't exactly explain why this image has a connection to my dreams, but it does illustrate where i am coming from when i try to express the feeling which accompanies them.
Something wildly evocative yet mysterious. Reality tinged with unreality. Something never truly fixed or decipherable. I usually refer to this as a sort of 'alchemy', but not this type of alchemy, just my own weird, unfathomable amalgamations in two dimensional form. 

I love to play with the subject material of dreams; much of the imagery in my poems, daydreams and artworks is certainly a derivative, and not always pretty! That would just be wishful thinking, surely.  
This particular picture is more concerned with the way i choose to interpret dreams, rather than an illustration of a dream. I have this strange habit of transforming the dark into something more palatable, ethereal, stories of unease into pretty little fairytales............and then again, if you consider this and this, you might come to the conclusion that i don't have too big a problem with the representation of darker subject material on its own terms at all.

(I had a long and hideous phase of dreams involving poltergeists. This image wrapped them up quite nicely indeed, and still has the power to freak me out)

Which dreamed it?

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And yet it reminds me so much of Laura Palmer and Twin Peaks that i can't quite see beyond this now, back to my original concept. (yes, i can actually make myself small enough to fit inside of a dollshouse, it just takes a bit of practice, you know)
This is the closest i have gotten to actually making a direct rendition of a dream in pixels.
But which one of me is actually dreaming?
I do get the impression that the right 'me' is the stronger, the left being the more passive. Perhaps this is a sign that i need to learn how to take more control over my dreams, lucidly speaking:) .....but that would take the fun out of some dreams altogether, methinks.
I'm waffling again, i apologise.

Portrait Alice: The Madhatter

I love this picture, it is probably my favourite image from the portrait Alice set altogether.
You see, this time it is the Madhatter who has become the diminutive one, poor little thing (i adore reversals!)
Perhaps Alice introduced something ever-so-potent into his afternoon tea...(you will find that he is actually carrying an empty mug if you look closely enough).....a bit of a turn-around, i know, but i did actually dream this, in all honesty, except that I was the one sitting upon the table. I had been reading this at the time, so i suppose it makes sense.....if you think about it.


A small list of dream influenced motifs that seem to recur in my work:

Birds

Desert (thankyou Bryce!)

Trees

Floatiness (see suki in the sky for a good example)

Deserted buildings (Don't be tempted to analyse this one, it gives me the fear)

Rabbits (just in case you hadn't noticed)

And

I appear to have a strange interest in Top Hats.




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Also, i cannot resist the urge to share my unadulterated joy after having purchased these two images today ( i feel that they truly belong to this present theme)  -
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Both images are by the frighteningly gifted ohmycavalier

I'm so taken with this work that i can't find the right words to express it addequately. To be speechless is often quite the compliment:)

I also love this by missplum (look at those beady eyes!)

and this by sarahblank (more for my book of dreams..)



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I have a sneaky feeling that this post might turn out to be a little on the fragmented side, because i have become distracted by the singing of several top-hatted tomcats outside, performing a midnight rendition of 'Macbeth', Roman Polanski style......(one of my favourite films, actually)!

I'm extremely sorry if i make no sense whatsoever:))

I shall leave you with this...........

`Now, Kitty, let's consider who it was that dreamed it all. This is a serious question, my dear, and you should not go on licking your paw like that--as if Dinah hadn't washed you this morning! You see, Kitty, it must have been either me or the Red King. He was part of my dream, of course--but then I was part of his dream, too! Was it the Red King, Kitty? You were his wife, my dear, so you ought to know--Oh, Kitty, do help to settle it! I'm sure your paw can wait!' But the provoking kitten only began on the other paw, and pretended it hadn't heard the question.

Which do you think it was?'

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SweetDreams 

♥

xxx

Comments

[kiwi]

I love love the pram of lost leaves. It almost looks like a magical recipe being concocted.
The Madhatter reminds me of Goya's black paintings with its use of heavy inky blackness.

[Museum of Fire]

'The Changeling' is a breathtaking visual representation of the process of dreaming. The pram appears a magical cauldron of sorts, but with a floating 'ambiguty' as to whether the leaves are coming or going, precious ingredients or finished tasteables.

No doubt they are both - perambulations of an open and inquiring mind.

And such is dreaming i suppose, with the ceaseless ebb and flow between our conscious mind and life and that of our sleeping hours, thoughts and journeys in each informing (and often in conflict with) their corresponding other.

Any chance for another peek at the Portrait Alice series is always welcome. This one always did strike a chord and I do think this size is much more fitting for our top-hatted maddy, reduced to mouse-size as a grizzly little leprechaun.

[lou]

Ah Benjamin!
...and there i was just thinking about the Madhatters uncanny similarity to your Mr. Crouch! especially the 'McGee's' Madhatter that i mentioned before.

what would emily think, i ask?

....
thankyou, both:)

[Dees]

Dear Lou,

I wish I could share one of these amazing dreamthoughts with you but I must admit mine are not nearly as interesting to talk about as yours.I am impressed with the way you blend your dreams in your artwork (and visa versa??)Hope you share more because I love reading about this.hugs Dees

[Museum of Fire]

For emily's sake if only it were so. she failed to take the opportunity to slip anything into Mr Crouch's cuppity... i would be much less worried about her if she had!

[lou]

I forgot to mention - thanks for the snow white card!
I'm sure Master Crouch would be mincemeat in her hands!

[Marjorie]

How timely your wonderful post has been....me sitting here drinking my morning tea and pondering the all night dream that I had and then to find dreams as the topic of conversation Art and Ghosts! How strange!

I was in a large hotel with my cat and attempting to find a room where we could stay and she could not get lost or escape...no one understood...this expanded further to me beside a canal bank with cement bridges overhead and small boys throwing bits of construction rocks at us!... Perhaps I should not eat cheerios before bed!! : )

I love The Changeling....I can hear the breeze as a memory of where the baby once was...perhaps only seconds ago! It is very still and haunting!

[stilettoheights]

OMG the ghostly girls in the bedroom are wonderful beyond words!

[pat]

thankyou for your wonderful words of
encouragement, you know what they say,
better late than never, do you remember
the tale of the hare and the tortoise?
and who finally won the race, by being slow
and methodical. your new work which l
have just browsed through is as remarkable
as all the others l have read. you never cease to amaze me. carry on.

much love as always mumxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Your Gracious Host]

***"He's dreaming now," said Tweedledee: "and what do you think he's dreaming about?"

Alice said, "Nobody can guess that."

"Why, about you!" Tweedledee exclaimed, clapping his hands triumphantly. "And if he left off dreaming about you, where do you suppose you'd be?"

"Where I am now, of course," said Alice.

"Not you!" Tweedledee retorted contemptuously. "You'd be nowhere. Why, you're only a sort of thing in his dream!"***

...it is somewhat paradoxical...this dream logic. Who is dreaming who? What is real and what is dreamt? I suppose the beauty of it all is that there is life within the paradox itself. Life that could simply not exist anywhere else. And one can either try to puzzle over the logic of such things (which, of course, is futile--as the paradox will always defy rationale) or indulge the beauty of that which is found within. Surely, if one pores over the former, one would live in constant fear...afraid that the true dreamer will simply awake one day, extinguishing all that has been found within the dream.

No, it seems far better a life to not question such things and simply let the dreams themselves guide you to that which only they know of :)

[lou]

Mum! - Now you know very well that slow and methodical is against my very nature!
But i am so glad to finally see you at long, long last:) Any place without you in it is never quite complete. xxx

Brandon - perhaps they BOTH dreamed it?

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Thannks again, people:)

[Your Gracious Host]

Yes, of course! Neither of them exists in that world without the other. It doesn't get any "dreamier" than that, now does it?

[Sonja]

Just a little note to say "Hello" - I found your work on Etsy and it's such lovely, lovely stuff. Your "Changeling" piece is really truly beautiful.

[Heather]

Oh! I LOVE your "Which Dreamed It" piece! Will it be available in your etsy shop?

[Gillian]

Oh Lou this post is wonderful. Dreams and ghosts... changelings and poltergeists, just wonderful. And all 3 of your artist mentions went straight to my etsy hearts - gosh there is just an abundance of talent out there!!!

And thank you so much for your goodwill wishes.

Have a wonderful weekend

[Vanessa V]

Well, you know more about me than anyone in the dream department....I can't even get started.. But yes... empty buildings...And we wil stop there....too many a story.

I will e-mail you with my choices....xxo,V

[pat]

l must write before l crash out for the day
l have just browsed once again through your
latest work and find it very moving, especially the changeling which is very
beautiful, are the leaves significant with
your dreams, trying to escape or lost and
trying to find a resting place. your portrait
of alice and the diminutive mad hatter is
excellent,l now understand your fascination
with top hats. lovely work mumxxxxxxxxx

[maren]

ohoh, i just remembered you don't know how to write. nobody noticed, thank GAWD! :)

[lou]

ah well, i only just managed to scrape through there!
the true extent of my illiteracy is a closely guarded secret, you impossible minx!

mm, remind me to pack my best fencing sword:)
xxx

[maren]

ha! en garde! °^|^°

[kazzy]

wow i love your blog...just came across it and boy' im sooo glad i did. those images are breath-taking-ly magical....stunning!!!

love it!!!!

kazzy x x x x x a huge fan now!!!!

[lou]

Thanks Kazzy!

...................

`I don't understand you,' said Alice. `It's dreadfully confusing!'

`That's the effect of living backwards,' the Queen said kindly:

`it always makes one a little giddy at first --

`Living backwards!' Alice repeated in great astonishment. `I never heard of such a thing!'

` -- but there's one great advantage in it, that one's memory works both ways.'

[pat]

just a quick comment, l have once again
been having a browse in what for me is
a rare moment of space. l have found a moment among the dust and rubble, which
is my home at the moment to take a quick
peek, and found something which caught
my eye, namely (suki in the sky) lovely.
lt makes me want to escape, to float away
on a tranquil breeze,to any place my heart
desires. but in reality l would only
have to come back.

but we all dream (especially you)

much love mumxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[lou]

the dust and rubble that is your home??!!!
has my father been playing with the chemistry set again?

i told you it would end in tears:)

.......xxx

[Tessa]

Oops - I stopped by to leave a comment yesterday, but I think I forgot to push "post." :)

I just wanted to tell you that your work is *amazing*, and I love your shop on Etsy. Each of your pieces tell such unique and intriguing stories! I'm so happy to have found out about your work.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and for checking out my cute puppy! She has been a little troublesome and mischeivous today - too much sugar in those puppy treats? :)

[sarahblank]

ohhhh...thanks so much for the link!
I just wanted to say that I love your work so so much its insane!!