Dream in Technicolor

During my time in college, I embarked on a series of acrylic and watercolor paintings inspired by Salvador Dali’s “dream journaling” method, where he brought his dreams to life on canvas. As I was actively teaching lucid dreaming at my local community college, I was intrigued by the idea of exploring the hypnagogic state through a visual medium like art.

In this image, my intention was to recreate the ethereal atmosphere and vivid ultraviolet colors that often characterized the dreams I could still vividly recall. The initial dream that served as the inspiration depicted two trees standing near a serene pastoral fence, only to be uprooted by rapidly rising waters. As the dream unfolded, a dam broke, unleashing a torrential flood downstream towards the viewer’s position. I distinctly remember witnessing the transformation of the water into human limbs—feet, arms, legs, and hands—causing destruction along its path. At the time, I realized the challenge of capturing the unique colors I witnessed in this dream using traditional mediums. It wasn’t until March of 2021 that I digitally infused the painting with the vibrant hues that faithfully reflected the essence of that dream.