Daily Artsy Figurative

Phantasmic Illusions: Catrin Welz-Stein

I’ve heard that some people only dream in black and white.  My dreams are always in color, but muted, like faded photographs or old home movies.  It seems that German born artist Catrin Welz-Stein has been somehow seeing into my dreams.  Her digital collages are strikingly similar to the palette and imagery of my dreams..

Her Secret, digital collage

So perhaps the imagery isn’t exactly like the images of my own slumber, but the atmosphere is the same.  And there are always animals.  And lots of flying.  And sometimes flying animals.

Whale Watching, digital collage

The artist,while working as a graphic designer, experimented with mixed media and collage, eventually moving to digital imagery and her current surreal style.  Using license-free, non-copyrighted images, photos and illustrations, Catrin breaks apart the original images and transforms them into her own creations.

Precious Flight, digital collage

The images she creates are at times ethereal, melancholy, disturbing, reassuring and sweet.  They truly run a gamut of emotions.  Just as our dreams do.

After The Hunt, digital collage

The View, digital collage

To see more of Catrin Welz-Stein’s work, please visit her page on ImageKind.  She has three fabulous galleries of imagery, prints available of all– I’m certain you find one 0r ten to love!

Featured image is Sisters, digital collage.  All images are via the artist’s ImageKind site.

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  • JJ Jacobs
    February 27, 2012 at 9:47 AM

    Catrin’s work is amazing — thank you for sharing this talented artist with us!

  • christine
    February 27, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    Wow! Just… wow. Positively stunning.

  • barbaraelka
    February 27, 2012 at 11:45 AM

    this is enchanting…thank you for sharing

  • Madrona
    February 27, 2012 at 12:05 PM

    These are amazing! Such an inspiration, thanks for sharing!

  • kim
    February 27, 2012 at 3:36 PM

    Love seeing her work!

  • francifularts
    February 27, 2012 at 10:23 PM

    I just introduced my kindergarten students to Rene Magritte today. I was trying to see if they could come up with some unusual juxtapositions of objects like raking a pile of puppies or zoo animals looking at people in cages. We all sat down to draw and one student made clouds that were fast food items, and another had fruits on a treasure hunt at the zoo. I drew giant silverware seated at a table eating houses (perhaps because my sons are always eating me out of house and home!) I’ve been wondering if creating a list of items to put in a hat and draw out two at a time would help stimulate some additional ideas to represent artistically. I would love to show these pictures to my students now that they’ve seen Magritte!

    • Lesley
      February 28, 2012 at 11:27 AM

      What a fun exercise and introduction to Surrealism! I bet your students loved it– they could just let their imaginations run wild! Would love to see some of the resulting artwork!

  • thestm198
    February 28, 2012 at 2:30 AM

    Really very imaginative and innovative ! Her works are superb !