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‘tiny happy’ was a journal of my handmade life from 2006-2025.

dreamscapes


Cards 4


Cards 3

Cards 2 

Cards 1

When we were in Wellington a few weeks ago, Tom and I visited the City Gallery and saw the large exhibition of NZ painter Séraphine Pick. I really enjoyed seeing such a wide selection of her work: there were paintings from the early 1990's ranging to very recent works. There was one painting, though, that caused tears to spring to my eyes, but I'm not sure why. I think it was called 'Where did you go?' and showed a young girl lying on her bed with her legs stretched up a wall. I don't think I will ever forget that image.

Anyway, the 'dreamscape' paintings that the artist did in the 1990's were my favourite, and I've been thinking about those a lot lately. Also, experimenting with watercolour paint and pencil to make small 'dream-scenes' of my own. I've had a few of my small paintings printed to make notecards to send to friends. In addition to the dream-memories that involve anxious situations- impossible deadlines, hair falling out in clumps, etc, the best dreams are ones in which long details can be remembered- like the close-up of an over-sized rose where the petals are closely packed and smooth like wintered skin, or a small lake with white marks like the wind is ruffling its feathers. I'm trying to record these details so I don't forget them. Imagine all those dream-memories we've forgotten. I expect they return to us on other nights, though.

Have you ever tried recording your dream-memories like this?

Wishing you a relaxing weekend.

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28 responses to “dreamscapes”

  1. alex Avatar
    alex

    Yes. I paint my dreams. I just never share them online. I know what you mean about the poignant feeling of forgotton/remembered dreams.

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  2. Anna Avatar
    Anna

    These are beautiful… where do you get your notecards printed?

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  3. Margaret Oomen Avatar
    Margaret Oomen

    I have so many dreams of being rippled and wrinkled fabrics encasing me
    sort of like being softly, slowly felted
    the feeling is always one of warmth, comfort and securtiy

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  4. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thanks anna- i just got these printed at a small printing company in my town. i know there are places you can do it online though.

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  5. Lorellin Syben Avatar
    Lorellin Syben

    Séraphine Pick is one of my most favourite artists, I was lucky enough to go to the opening of that exhibition in Wellington because my aunt loaned some of her paintings for it and she kindly took me as a guest.
    I feel like I am in an alternate reality when I look at her work, the world disappears and it takes over, I get completely lost in it.
    I used to work in an antique/retro clothing shop called Super Fly in Wellington years ago and Séraphine Pick was one of our regular customers. I always wanted to tell her how much I loved her work but I never had the courage.

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  6. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thank you for your comment lorellin- i know just what you mean about those paintings. lucky you to go to the opening.
    also- i used to shop at superfly when i was a student in wellington! that was such a great store.

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  7. Hanna Avatar
    Hanna

    oh these are so beautiful, you always inspire me.

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  8. gretchen mornin Avatar
    gretchen mornin

    wow, its amazing you post about that image because I went to the gallery here in ChCh (without the kids) and I sifted around the exhibitions and then found myself in the gift shop staring at the same image available to buy as a card. I was quite moved by how much it reminded me of all those hours spent as a kids thinking about nothing or everything with my legs up the wall beside my bed. Perhaps trying to make sense of the world or being alone or feeling lonely. Anyway, I bought the card and it now hangs on my inspiration board. Nice to hear how nostalgic it made you feel too. I think it reminds me of how it was to know as a child that you wouldn’t always be one.

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  9. Francesca Avatar
    Francesca

    What a beautiful post Melissa.

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  10. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    hi gretchen, im so pleased you know of this image, and you liked it too. youre right- it made me think of the many times i lay on my bed like that, and yes, that feeling of being alone and not quite sure what is ahead.
    xx

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  11. Cat Avatar
    Cat

    You have the most beautiful style, very inspiring.

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  12. Daria Avatar
    Daria

    Your images are a mix of child drawings, Japanese art and TinyHappy style… I love them!
    My way to rememer my dreams is tell them to friends or my husband… but they always laugh because my dreams have always strange characters, such as speaking dogs, and I’m doing ridiculous things, such buy an entire shopping cart of fried potatoes without any packaging…

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  13. Lucille Avatar
    Lucille

    I once tried to capture the brilliant colours of a beautiful flame like image that appeared to me in a dream. I could still see it when I woke, but I couldn’t reproduce it.

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  14. Jacilyn Avatar
    Jacilyn

    Oh these are so beautiful. Those watercolors! And you always photograph everything so creatively.
    I haven’t tried to paint my dreamscapes but that sounds like an interesting challenge. I’m going to check out this artist now. I’m intrigued.

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  15. Brenda Avatar
    Brenda

    Just beautiful. The dream paintings sound interesting.

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  16. caireen Avatar
    caireen

    I used to go to a dream art group, and then later a dream interp group – we sometimes drew/painted our dreams. my friend B still records hers faithfully – and works on the interpretation through paintings. I’m sometimes too lazy to record them now, but if it is a corker, I will write it down or sketch it in my book. Once you understand what the dream is telling you, you can also ‘heal’ the issue by revisiting the dream, through drawings/conversations – really interesting! Cx

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  17. Emma Avatar
    Emma

    I LOVE the top rose painting – will you be making those into cards? If they’re coming to Craft 2.0 please let me know because those have my name all over them.

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  18. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thank you emma- yes ill bring some rose cards with me. 🙂
    cant wait to meet you!

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  19. Dorien Ruben Avatar
    Dorien Ruben

    I am quite sad my only dreams are frightening ones and very rare. My dreams slip away before they can become pretty postcards like these. Not even a scribble.
    I like the idea very much!

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  20. Nancy Cook Avatar
    Nancy Cook

    pretty paintings. i like the concept.
    the first thought that came to my mind was when my cousin (who is the same age as me) washed our hair in the lake and the memory of lying in the dock with our hair falling into the lake. i don’t think my hair has ever been so soft as it was that day. it was also the vacation where my first kiss occurred but that is a whole other story:)
    happy weekend to you.

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  21. Littleminx.wordpress.com Avatar
    Littleminx.wordpress.com

    The cards are just beautiful Melissa x

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  22. louana Avatar
    louana

    beautiful! I love the colours an images in the bottom one. Your dreams must be as beautiful as your work, mine seem mundane like forgetting to do something. I don’t think my dreams would translate so beautifully. Hope you are having a happy weekend.

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  23. Plain and Joyful Living Avatar
    Plain and Joyful Living

    So beautiful. I sat down to do some watercolor painting with my two year old son the other day and did a quick painting of the vase of flowers sitting on the table – so very satisfying…
    Warm wishes, Tonya

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  24. holly c. Avatar
    holly c.

    Oh-they turned out so pretty!
    ~I especially like the poppies.~

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  25. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thanks very much louana! believe me, i have very mundane dreams too! 🙂

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  26. kaylovesvintage Avatar
    kaylovesvintage

    very pretty..
    after a dream …a sleepwalk..guess my husband knows all my dreams..ssssst

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  27. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thanks, cat!

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  28. Shin Ae Avatar
    Shin Ae

    Yes, I have. I felt my drawings were inadequate, but I like to think I’ll go back and work on them a little when I am inspired. That’s the reward of having recorded them at all…if I hadn’t, I would have forgotten them by now and would not be able to go back and work on making them more true to the dream.

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