Mixed Media Oil
24"x24"
On Gallery Wrapped Canvas
 
As I prepared for this piece, I sifted through treasures I’ve collected for collage and discovered a poem that my beloved mother-in-law had tucked into her childhood memory book: “You Have to Believe” by Douglas Malloch. It was something that touched her deeply, and I wanted to honor her memory by weaving it into this painting.
 
What began as a vision of a dancer’s legs with a swan unfolded into something more with flowers, gold leaf, collage, a violin, and layered abstract brushstrokes. It was a joy to create, as faith, hope, and beauty spoke their way onto the canvas.

“Believe in Dreams” is a hymn of grace, where dance, music, and creation converge as an offering of trust, faith, and hope for what is yet to come. The swan bows in quiet majesty, its feathers blending with the softness of flowers, while the dancer’s steps move with courage, clothed in beauty, carried by love. Every note, every petal, every flicker of light sings of faith: not empty, but radiant, full, and alive.
 
                                                                  Doreen Ferguson