Dreamworld Series

This series explores the imaginative space of dreamworlds by juxtaposing animals with landscapes they are not normally in. Although my imagery is reminiscent of reality, it serves as an escape from our current circumstances by creating a world untouched by humans. This idea stems from a frustration with human intervention within our environments and reimagines these surrealistic spaces with a focus on the beauty of nature. My paintings are heavily informed by the process of collage as I consider both the illusion of space and the fragmented materiality of layering images together. Similarly, the use of collage in creating my compositions mirrors the idea of dreams as they act as a window into the unconscious imagination.

This process allows me to recontextualize images where they become part of a new world, existing solely within itself. While painting from the collaged references, I focused on the duality of both the two-dimensional surface of the canvas and the three-dimensional illusion of the image. Emphasizing the material act of painting has been an important part of my practice as I consider how the edges of the images overlap and the shadows interact to create an immersive space, while deceiving the mind of rationality. Furthermore, materiality has a strong focus in my work as I want to create paintings that encourage the viewer to be more aware of its medium rather than create a mimetic representation.

Ravens

Oil on canvas, 3′ x 4′

2020