Create Dreamy Paintings With These Simple Techniques

Artists have long been fascinated by dreams and the subconscious, with dreamlike themes appearing in art since the Renaissance. Today, painters continue to explore this realm, aiming to capture the ethereal, surreal, and fantastical qualities of dreams on canvas. Whether through traditional or digital media, there are several techniques that can help create a dreamlike feel in paintings. This includes the use of certain colours, lighting, and shadows, as well as more complex methods such as layering and post-processing. Exploring these techniques can help artists evoke a sense of enchantment and surrealism in their work, inviting viewers to step into a dream world.

Experiment with substances to achieve a dreamlike state

While there are no hard and fast rules for creating dreamlike paintings, experimenting with substances is one way to achieve a dreamlike state and gain inspiration. This approach was notably employed by the Romantics in the 18th century, who believed that dreaming offered an escape and a revelation of one's soul. For instance, Eugène Delacroix was part of the "Club des Haschischins," a group dedicated to exploring drugs and their effects on dreams and hallucinations.

• Explore different substances: This could involve the use of drugs, such as those explored by the Romantics, but it is essential to proceed with caution and be aware of the potential risks and legal implications.
• Alter your sleep patterns: Try staying up for extended periods or taking short naps to induce a state of sleep deprivation. This can result in hallucinations and a dreamlike mindset.
• Meditate and relax: Achieving a dreamlike state can also be approached through meditation and relaxation techniques. Try deep breathing exercises, yoga, or other practices that calm the mind and body, potentially inducing a trance-like state.
• Sensory deprivation: Experiment with limiting sensory input, such as spending time in a dark, quiet room, to alter your perception and induce a dreamlike state.
• Sound and music: On the other hand, you can explore the use of sound and music to alter your state of consciousness. Certain types of music or sound frequencies can induce a dreamlike mindset.
• Collaborate: Work with others who are also experimenting with these techniques. This can provide a shared experience and allow for a exchange of ideas and artistic interpretations.

It is important to note that the effects of substances and altered states of consciousness can vary widely, and each person's experience is unique. Always ensure that you are in a safe and controlled environment when experimenting, and be mindful of potential risks associated with substance use.

By experimenting with substances and altered states, you may find inspiration and a unique perspective that can be translated into your paintings, evoking a dreamlike quality that resonates with viewers.

Draw inspiration from surrealism

Surrealism is a twentieth-century art movement that explores the unusual, the unconventional, and the unexpected. The following are some ways to draw inspiration from surrealism to give your paintings a dreamlike feel:

Automatism

This technique involves creating art without conscious thought, allowing your hand to move freely, guided by your subconscious mind. This spontaneous approach, also known as automatic drawing, is central to surrealist painting, where randomness and chaos are embraced. By letting go of control, your artwork will evolve organically, resulting in abstract and unpredictable forms. Automatism gives surrealism its dreamlike quality, filled with unexpected twists and elements that feel both random and intentional.

Dreamscapes

Surrealist artists often create dreamlike worlds or 'dreamscapes' in their work, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. These dreamscapes can evoke a sense of familiarity and strangeness at the same time, combining realistic imagery with fantastical elements. Think about a dream you've had and try to recreate it on canvas, including unexpected elements that you wouldn't usually find together. Play with the viewer's sense of space and reality, creating a world that feels real yet impossible.

Colour Palettes

The choice of colours can significantly impact the dreamlike feel of your painting. Surrealist paintings often use muted, earthy tones like soft browns, greys, olive greens, and beiges. These colours give a grounding, dreamlike effect to the surreal world you're creating. Alternatively, you can use bold, vivid colours like bright reds, electric blues, and vibrant yellows to shock the viewer's senses and heighten the absurdity of your imagery.

Unexpected Juxtapositions

Surrealist works often feature unexpected juxtapositions, surprising elements, and non-sequiturs. Play with scale, perspective, and gravity to create bizarre and fantastical imagery. Combine mundane objects with surreal elements or give human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects, challenging the viewer's understanding of the world.

Symbolism and Metaphor

Surrealist paintings are often rich in symbolism and metaphor, embedding deeper meanings within the imagery. Objects and figures in your painting can represent complex emotions, hidden desires, or philosophical ideas. For example, recurring symbols like eyes, keys, or labyrinths can represent perception, secrets, or the journey of life.

Depict biblical stories

To give paintings a dreamlike feel, artists have experimented with various techniques and themes. Some artists, like the Romantics, have turned to hallucinogens to achieve a dreamlike state, while others, such as Man Ray, have drawn inspiration from their own dreams. Surrealism, a prominent artistic movement, often explores dreamlike themes and the unconscious, blurring the lines between the visible and invisible. Artists like René Magritte, a master of Surrealism, play with the context of ordinary objects, giving them new meanings and a dreamlike quality.

Symbolist artist Odilon Redon, nicknamed the "king of dreams", often depicted scenes from his subconscious, exploring the mysteries of nature and the struggles of being human. His early works, the Noirs, reveal a nightmarish world of hybrid creatures, but he eventually shifted to pastels, creating hazy shapes and calm faces that evoke a sense of serenity and dreams rather than nightmares. Giorgio de Chirico and Frida Kahlo are also known for their dreamlike paintings.

To depict biblical stories with a dreamlike feel, one can draw inspiration from the techniques and themes mentioned above, as well as the rich narrative content of the Bible. Biblical stories themselves often involve dreamlike visions and encounters with divine beings, making them a perfect subject for dreamlike art. For example, Raphael's "Jacob's Dream" (1518) depicts Jacob sleeping with his head on a rock as he journeys out of the promised land. In the dream, Jacob encounters God and angels, receiving a divine revelation. The composition of the painting, with God and the angels taking centre stage, reinforces the idea that this dream is a very real vision.

When depicting biblical stories, artists have a vast array of narratives to choose from, allowing for creative representations. For instance, Ingrid Bouma created a series of eleven paintings that collectively tell a biblical story, with each painting representing key elements and weaving essential themes throughout. Biblical stories can be structured in acts, such as Bartholomew and Goheen's six-act drama, which can serve as a framework for artistic interpretation.

The choice of biblical passages and their placement in a work of art can convey spiritual values and beliefs. For example, a 14th-century fresco cycle in the Porro oratory at Mocchirolo depicts the Crucifixion on the largest space of the back wall, with Christ holding his hand up in blessing or judgment on the barrelled ceiling above. The early life of Christ is portrayed on the side walls. Artists can also draw inspiration from specific moments in biblical stories, such as Rembrandt van Rijn's "Moses Breaking the Tablets of the Law" (1659), which captures the moment Moses smashes the stone tablets upon discovering his people have created a false idol.

Biblical stories offer a rich tapestry of characters and events that can be interpreted through various artistic styles and techniques, including dreamlike and surrealist approaches. By combining the narrative depth of biblical stories with dreamlike aesthetics, artists can create thought-provoking and imaginative works that explore the mysteries of faith, the human condition, and the subconscious mind.

Use pastel colours

Pastel colours can be a great way to create a dreamlike feel in your paintings. Pastels are known for their vibrant colours and rich textures, and their versatility allows you to express yourself in a subtle yet effective way.

To achieve this dreamy effect, start by choosing the right pastels. Soft, luxurious pastels will give you the best results and make the process more enjoyable. Apply these pastels generously to your painting surface. Pastels work well with certain types of paper, such as Pastelmat, Uart, Canson Mi-Teintes, Art Spectrum, and Fabriano. It's important to select a surface that can handle moisture without warping.

The basic technique involves laying down a layer of soft pastel, wetting it, working with it, and letting it dry. You can then add another layer or continue with dry pastels. Pastels are initially created with pigments, a binder, and water, so by temporarily dissolving the binder with a solvent, you can work with the liquefied colour. This technique is especially useful for seascapes, as it resembles the consistency of oil paint.

When it comes to colour schemes, you can either plan your colours based on what you're observing or let serendipity guide your creative process. Experimenting with different pastels and solvents will help you understand how to achieve the desired effects. You can also try blending with your fingers or tissue, hatching, layering, or mixing colours to create a range of textures and depths.

Keep in mind that pastel paintings are ideal for quick sketches because the tooth of your paper can fill up quickly. Working with a light touch will allow you to add more layers, fix mistakes, increase depth, and mix unique colours.

Draw from personal experiences

Drawing from personal experiences is a powerful way to create dreamlike paintings. This technique has been used by artists throughout history, from the Renaissance to the Romantics and the Surrealists. By tapping into their subconscious and inner worlds, artists can evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue in their work.

One example of an artist who drew from personal experiences to create dreamlike paintings is Symbolist artist Odilon Redon. Redon often depicted scenes from his subconscious and inner worlds, creating sensual evocations of his experiences and feelings related to the mysteries of nature. His Noirs lithographs, created between 1879 and 1899, depict a terrifying world of hybrid creatures that seem to have appeared out of a nightmare. However, when Redon turned to pastels in the 1890s, his art took on a dreamier quality, with blurry, colourful paintings that moved away from the realm of the nightmare and into the realm of the dream.

Another artist who drew from personal experiences to create dream-inspired art is Joan Miró. In his work "This is the Color of My Dreams" (1925), Miró painted a small dab of blue on a monochrome beige background and wrote, "ceci est la couleur de mes rêves," meaning "this is the colour of my dreams." By alluding to the dream without explicitly portraying it, Miró invites viewers to cross over to the other side of the canvas, where a piece of the dream awaits.

Artists have also used dreams as a source of self-exploration. For example, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama creates immersive installations that encourage viewers to explore their perception of limits, both real and imagined. Her work, such as the Infinity Room and Narcissus Garden, recreates the limitless feeling of dreams and invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences.

Additionally, some artists have experimented with techniques to achieve vivid dream imagery. Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí used a technique called "slumber with a key" to induce a dreamlike state. He would hold a key in his hand as he sat in an armchair, and just as he began to doze off, the key would fall and hit a plate below, waking him so he could record the images from his dream.

By drawing from personal experiences and exploring the realm between the visible and the invisible, artists can create dreamlike paintings that invite viewers to embark on a journey of imagination and self-discovery.

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