Inspiration for Beautiful Dreamer lifted me in its current before I knew I was making art. Individual calla lilies beaming in my garden drew me to photograph them as if they were portraits. Also during this time I was compelled to capture the glorious colors, mists, and textures of sunsets and skies above. The lilies felt sculptural, statuesque, personal, whole, complete. The sky images transcendent.

 

As a mixed media artist, the photography of each were elements, and soon lily and sky were joined together as painterly composites. The whole set of works held by a gentle understanding that each image would be paired with a lyric from the old song, Beautiful Dreamer. These images were meant to emerge during this point in time, they were to be gifts. The inspiration felt right, though I didn’t know the lyrics and had to look them up immediately — and then I was amazed by how fitting the lyrics were.

 

These images of transcendence, transformation, and beauty captured my attention for months, fitting the currents of life that enveloped us all during a very difficult time. And yes, were given as gifts for the three years of the pandemic.

 

K. M. Ehrenfeldt