“It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.” — John Steinbeck
“It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.” — John Steinbeck
Every night, we enter a world filled with powerful imagery and feeling, unburdened by the rigid confines of reality. This is the world of DREAMS. For ten years, I have been documenting my nocturnal reveries to solve problems, find truth, heal pain, and embark on great adventures that transcend time and space.
Through the practice of DREAM INCUBATION, one can consciously induce dreams that present solutions to problems, reveal means to achieve goals, and answer personally meaningful questions. By forming a concise phrase or question to meditate on before sleep, the subsequent dreams of the night will address the question and present potential solutions to problems. (Barrett, 1993)
LUCID DREAMS are dreams in which one is consciously aware of the dream state and can exert high levels of control over scenery, characters, and narratives. In a lucid dream, anything is possible. While it is exciting to explore the limits of one’s imagination in this state, lucid dreams are also incredibly effective for overcoming nightmares and healing from post traumatic stress disorder. (Yount et al., 2023)
Dreams are often vivid narrative and visual experiences characterized by peculiar symbols and elements chosen by the subconscious. To compose my paintings, I document my dreams every morning and select the ones with the strongest imagery. I often create collages to recreate the visual feel and emotional content of the dream to paint from. In addition to paintings, I make comics for dreams of a more sequential nature. Together, these paintings and comics document my process of self actualization: they are my SUBCONSCIOUS CHRONICLES.
A helpful and inspiring dream can happen to anyone, on any night. This world of possibility is waiting for all of us.
All we have to do is take the leap and LOOK WITHIN.
Barrett, D. (1993). The “Committee of Sleep”: A Study of Dream Incubation for Problem Solving. Dreaming, 3(2), 115-122. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0094375
Yount, G., Stumbrys, T., Koos, K., Hamilton, D., & Wahbeh, H. (2023). Decreased Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Following a Lucid Dream Healing Workshop. Traumatology, 30(4), 550–558. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000456
Playing with Tigers, acrylic on canvas, 48x36in
Spaceman, oil on canvas, 48x40in
Antithesis, acrylic on canvas, 40x16in
Window to the Soul, acrylic on canvas, 36x48in
Central Park Revelations, oil on canvas, 24x36in
I’m Not Gonna Let the Zombie Apocalypse Ruin Christmas, acrylic on canvas, 29x25in
The Midnight Man, acrylic on canvas, 54x22in
It’s All About You, oil on canvas, 40x30in
Exploding the Moon, oil on canvas, 24x12in
Lockjaw, oil on canvas, 48x40in
Midnight in Venice, oil on canvas, 24x18in
Journey to Venus, oil on canvas, 24x36in