This painting holds a special place in my heart. It was born from the fusion of two earlier works, The Daughter of Hera and Lunar Conservatory, both of which share a similar palette and emotional tone. But this piece was also deeply inspired by a sound, not just a sight: the song Dreamcatcher by Swae Lee and Metro Boomin. While I wasn’t focused on the lyrics, the dreamlike atmosphere of the track helped shape the mood and rhythm of the painting. The central figure, floats across rolling clouds under a sky of surreal wonder. Behind her, a dreamcatcher glows, delicate but powerful, while a watchful moon with a gentle face gazes over her. These elements come together to create a surreal, soft, and otherworldly space, one that teeters between sleep and wakefulness, desire and vulnerability.
The symbolism here is layered. The dreamcatcher represents protection, a weaving of safety and intention, catching nightmares and allowing only the good to pass through. The moon with a face is a guardian, both watcher and dreamer, suggesting a deeper presence within the unconscious. The clouds suggest impermanence and fluidity, as dreams are constantly shifting and dissolving. The figure herself is suspended in a moment of rest and openness, promiscuous not just in the physical sense, but emotionally vulnerable, symbolic of the way dreams often leave us exposed to our own subconscious longings. The blue skin links her to a calm, watery realm, a nod to intuition and emotional depth. This piece is ultimately about the power and mystery of dreams, how sound, emotion, and memory merge in that delicate space between reality and imagination. It’s about being caught between realms, and the beauty of simply floating there.