Description
This painting began as a simple summer landscape on a ranch located not far from my studio with clouds, trees, a meadow, and stables in the distance. A few weeks later, in dreams, Autumn and the carcass of a rotting ship appeared. The flock of ravens arrived later, also in a dream, which itself may have been inspired by the paintings of Caspar David Friedrich. (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.
