Category Archives: Dreams

Life is Short…Be Happy

artsy stuff, Dreams, life as an artist, the world I live in

I just had the most amazing dream…long story short…me and a bunch of people were doing a strange exercise to breathe in as deep as possible and as we exhaled, we had to say something really profound to the partner sitting across from us. All the characters in the dream were from a show I’ve been watching called Magicians.

Anyway…

As everone was going around taking their turn, I was concerned that I wouldn’t have anything to say or anything that mattered. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to take a big enough breath and that somehow I would fail the exercise. Each of the sayings were very profound or at least I felt like they were at the time during the dream.

The last pair was up and I remember feeling my partner next to me or sort of behind me. I couldn’t see who it was. I watched with deep intent as the last pair spoke, it was profound. I wish I could remember what she said. I was still worried that I wouldn’t be good enough. It was my turn. I didn’t know what I was going to say as I inhaled deeply. As I started to let out my breath, I felt my partner’s hand on my shoulder. It wasn’t a person. It felt like God. As I opened my mouth I felt the words come from God through me and the words were… “Life is short, be happy.”

Then I woke up. I was not only compelled to write this down but as I wrote it in one of my many sketchbooks, something said to write it for the world. I started to write a post in Facebook but within the first paragraph I felt I had to write it in my online journal. I argued with myself for a moment because it has been so long since I wrote anything there that I might not remember my password. Then a calm washed over me and I opened a notepad on my laptop. I am writing as I go. I will figure out the password issue when I get there.

Well, I’m here. I made it through the password protected environment and into my online journal. I don’t know if any of this is very profound. I see this saying on bumper stickers and T-shirts all the time so it’s certainly isn’t new. But maybe someone else needs to read this. This is my bumper sticker.

If nothing else, listening to my dream and my compulsion to write it down brought me here. It also took me to one of my sketch books to start and I saw a few doodles and some other notes on dreams that gave me some ideas for a painting.

Listen to your dreams. They are telling you something. Even if you don’t think it is important. Follow…Your dreams will guide you. And most importantly…remember. Life is Short…Be Happy.

Artist Statement

artist statement, artsy stuff, Dreams, life as an artist, My Art

artiststatement_ajai

As an artist, you have to have an “Artists Statement” that says something about who you are and what your art is about…here’s mine…

The artistic and creative force is within each of us…I just let it out when it scratches at the door…

I’ve often told others that my hands are guided by something other than myself. I do not create images, they find me in my dreams and on my quests for knowledge and journeys through life. These images manifest via mind and spirit taking over matter and medium and encouraging it to rise to a higher expression. I am merely an active participant in the process.

I have learned to recognize from a collection of possibilities what resonates most strongly with my dreams and personal vision and choose to pursue images and projects that reflect the expression of my soul.

I have a thirst for knowledge and a desire and ability to work with diverse individuals and groups to attain a common goal. My talents range from painting both large and small scale landscapes and portraits to digital photography, sculpture, video, web design, interactive installations and multimedia as well as mixed-media. I am personable, punctual and responsible as well as creative, talented and skilled.

What was once a long journey through tall grass and muddy water has become a short drive to the local watering hole…I look forward to this journey.

Dani E. Day –aka- Ajai

 

Sticky Notes

artsy stuff, Dreams, life as an artist, My Art

foregetmenot-withframe_ajaiforegetmenot8x10_ajai

She had a dream…in her dream, she was dead and covered with sticky notes…I heard this and instantly saw this image in my head…not dead…happy…wanting the world to remember…it had to painted in a psychedelic, dreamlike style with forget me not flowers in her hair and  with a brightness to show the life of such a marvelous soul…

One week later, I found out she is going in for round three of chemo… My heart dropped…I had to paint this! I have you in my thoughts and prayers and send positive energy to you every time you pass through my mind…(a lot) I am so glad to know you and your spontaneous laughter and your glowing energy flows through every room you walk into. If you need anything…you know how to reach me…

 

zen doodles

artsy stuff, Dreams, life as an artist, My Art

Another dream…another space…apartment this time. a Jacuzzi, tile floors…wouldn’t that make a nice studio?

Ok…so what’s up with this? 2 dreams in one week about a space and the thought in the dream is either “would be a great studio/gallery or just studio space.” Maybe I need to find a way to get into a gallery? Or maybe I need to get my own gallery? Maybe I need to stop making excuses and make some art…studio/gallery space doesn’t do any good if I don’t have anything to show…

The walls of this space are bare. At least they are not torn up like the last dream. The place is clean…almost too clean…somewhat institutional looking. The room with a sink (I’ll call it a kitchen for lack of a better description) almost looks like it could be part of an elementary school cafeteria but much smaller.  The walls need something on them…

beep…beep…beep…

Need to draw…this is my progress…

zendoodle-progress1-2013 zendoodle-progress2-2013

oly oly oxen free

Dreams, life as an artist

Have you ever had a dream that left you feeling like you NEED to figure out what it means? Dirt roads…drop offs and abandoned buildings with shady characters lurking in the corners and appearing from the mist…OMG! What does it mean?

I lay there in bed looking at the ceiling then the window…what did it mean? I was driving on a dirt road with someone…a woman? I think I knew her…she was quiet, slender, long hair I think…did I have the dogs with me? I can’t remember, but I have a feeling they were.  The road narrowed…and narrowed…and soon there was nothing but a fine lip of a ledge…how did the car not fall in the water just below?

Can we lift the car up onto the bank above the quickly washing road? It’s just us… Did the car fall into the abyss? I’m not sure…We climbed up the dirt embankment and on to a large open field filled with dips and valleys and tall grass poking up here and there. The dirt was cool but the sun was shining as if at mid-day then suddenly, it was at sunrise.

Look! Over there…It’s a building. Large 3 stories maybe…the field has shrunk in size…its more like a vacant lot now. I see broken glass in the once clean, cool dirt. The windows are boarded up and the brick looks dusty. How did we get in here?! The stair well is empty, the walls remind me of a 1970’s office building we played hide and go seek in. The railings are cold…

Climbing, climbing…The woman with the long hair is still with me…up to the top floor. The space is messy. Turned over boxes, leftover wire. One of the ceiling tiles falls and slopes against the wall. Wires dangle from the ceiling moving, swaying as if someone just brushed past them. “Is anybody here?” Oh…this space would be wonderful for a studio/gallery with a little time and effort…

From the stairwell comes a sound of footsteps…quiet, slightly shuffling…there seems to be more than one set. Through the space between walls steps a tall man wearing a nice business coat. He has a hat on, tipped slightly forward so I can’t see his face. His partner steps through another space in the wall…same clothes, shady disposition…he seems to be sneaking over to the wall where the ceiling tile rests. Who are these people? Why are they here? They don’t seem to see us…beep…beep…beep…beep…beep….beep…beep…beeeeeeeeeep….

Snooze!