Avaidna Bickett Little*
Medium: Oil on Canvas, 30"x40"
Date Created: May 17, 2009
This painting was given to me in a dream, almost exactly as it is. In the dream, the painting was on the wall in a restaurant where I was going to dinner with friends. I had two views, one mural size where I could see the entire painting, and one where I walked past the mural and was able to see the detail. The colors were brilliant, unforgettable, my own favorite cadmium red, white and what appeared to be black. Near the end of the actual painting process, my hand was absolutely flying and it unexpectedly added a bit of yellow also.
The dream was given 6 months prior to the execution of the painting during a period of rest. At the time, I thought the meaning must be, "Time to get back to work." I always honor my dreams by doing rough drawings immediately after, to hold the vision until I have time to paint it, although I wouldn't need to, as I never forget what I call "painting" dreams. They appear and re-appear as flash thoughts, usually, until I do something about it. This one was executed in about three hours, alla prima, one session. It is called "Aria," because for this work I chose to listen to a CD called Sarah Brightman Classics, and especially to Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro," one of my favorites."
My contribution was simply the enormous physical and mental energy required to do a painting this size, (30" x 40"), with three inch brushes and a lot of pure pigment in such a short time. Except for the yellow, the image is entirely the work of my Soul, my Guide, my Dream Source. I never ask Who, I just paint. When I finished, instead of being exhausted, I was exhilarated, and looking at yet another amazing gift from the best reference file ever, my dreams!
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