Dream 1980

Zoe Lerman made this painting, 'Dream', using watercolour. The washes are so delicate, and the way she builds up the layers is mesmerizing. It feels like a dance between control and letting go. Looking closely, you can see how the colors blend and bleed into each other, creating a luminous effect. I’m drawn to the way she renders the figure floating above the central figures. There's a softness, an ethereal quality that evokes a dreamlike state. The brushstrokes are loose and flowing, allowing the paint to do its thing. She's not trying to control every detail; she's letting the medium guide her. And the way she plays with transparency and opacity adds depth and complexity to the piece. It's like she's inviting us to get lost in the process. Lerman's work reminds me of Odilon Redon’s dreamscapes, but with a touch more intimacy, like we are seeing a domestic space or family members. Art is an ongoing conversation, and it is so interesting to hear voices echoing through time.