Description
This watercolor was inspired by a long trip in Ireland and the Scandinavian countries. It is yet another attempt to suggest Death and Rebirth without resorting to using religious symbols. The birch trees come from a sketch in Finland. I believe I found the image of the ruins in some photograph somewhere. (This image is also available as a digital print.)
After many years of painting landscapes and city scenes, curiosity drew me towards the vivid images of my dreams. I was aware of the works of Joan Miró, Max Ernst, Dalí and Paul Delveaux, but only gradually realized that the images that arose in my own sleep were just as worthy of being painted as the scenes I observed during my waking hours. They are formidable challenges to paint, and if I were confined to painting either the waking or sleeping aspects of life, I would paint dreams.
