This article contains excerpts from Renee's book Success NOW! A Motivational Guide For The Artrepreneur
Painting by Vincent van Gogh
Van Gogh said, "I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream."
We know that many artists have received their creative ideas from their dreams. The Italian Surrealist Giorgio de Chirico and the Belgium Surrealist Paul Delvaux were known to capture the dream phases of their lives and combine familiar images in bizarre contexts. The Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dali not only aspired to remember the exact details of his dream landscapes but he actually strove to induce them.
As exciting as it may seem many individuals feel uncomfortable about delving into this mysterious world and self-conscious about revealing their subconscious.
As creative individuals we know that we live in two worlds -- the waking world that abides by logic and science and the mysterious world of dreaming. In the dream world we may experience surrealistic events, view fantastic images and undergo profound transformations.
It is known that probably everyone dreams, although many of us forget most or all of them. There seem to be more questions than answers on this subject of which much has been studied and written. Scientists know that normally we dream for about one fifth of the time that we are asleep.
Just imagine! There is an abundance of inspirational symbols, messages and references waiting to be revealed to us as we lay our heads on our pillows.
This reminds me of an aritist named Barbara who came for a consultation. Her portfolio contained fifty paintings. The most provocative among them was a painting that contained an extraordinary creature that nearly leapt from the canvas. I asked her what inspired this engaging, surreal life form. At first she was reluctant to open up, but later with some embarrassment she told me her it originated from her dreams. She created many paintings of it, but was afraid to show them and removed them from her portfolio.
She said, "These paintings are strange. People will think I'm crazy. No one will ever want to buy them."
We continued to discuss her imaginary creature and I recommended some books on the power of dreams, about artists who relied on their dreams for inspiration, and those on dream interpretation. She gradually accepted her creative flow and agreed to let this creature evolve. In time she translated more of her dream images into a magnificent and prolific body of work. The positive responses she started to receive, including sales and awards, removed her previous feelings of embarrassment.
She discovered the tremendous power of dreams, the joyful process of creative freedom, and she came to trust her unique vision. By exploring the unknown and having the courage to risk derision, Barbara also developed more confidence in her personal life. She accepted and honored the creative child within her that had been thwarted by judgment and ridicule.
Are dreams a revelation from some profound creative source within ourselves? Through the ages the meanings of dreams and their significance have intrigued humankind. The most ancient civilizations believed that dreams carried messages from the gods. Although scientists tend to agree that there must be a purpose to dreaming, they disagree over what this purpose might be.
Dream research is one of the areas where the layperson is as competent as the professional. It requires no special equipment beyond a notebook and pencil to begin the exploration and discovery. There are many books on the subject that are written to help us understand and interpret our dreams as well as understand more about ourselves. Dreams can provide powerful tools.
My dreams are colorful, vivid, journeys to familiar and also unfamiliar places. In my dreams I discover many creative ideas for my clients' marketing strategies, career counseling, workshops, books, paintings and jewelry designs. When I awaken I immediately make sketches of the visual ideas and take notes about new innovative paths as a career coach. I often receive answers and direction to important questions.
I have learned, if before I go to sleep I ask that my dreams reveal the truth, my innermost desires become crystal clear.
I suggest you keep a sketch book, journal or recording device by your bedside and over a period of time you will be amazed at what is revealed to you.
Like Van Gogh, do you dream your artwork and then create your dream? Do you pay any attention to your dreams or their meanings? Do you notice reoccurring symbols? Before you go to sleep do you focus on anything in particular that you want to dream about? What have your dreams revealed to you?
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