Alaina Retodo

From the world of dreams, once I’ve departed from reality, is where I draw the inspiration for this series of works. With these depictions of moments plucked from my dreams, I seek to explore the different ways my insecurities and strife have recurrently manifested in the deepest parts of my psyche. From reproducing individual thoughts and fears, to looking at the moments connected to my hesitant stance toward growing up, I’ve come to learn about the things my subconscious deems key to carry into my sleep.

I use a palette of bright, solid colors to create a surreal and youthful setting— a callback to my childhood. With each piece, drafting compositional thumbnails allows me to decide between use of pattern (Potty) or repeated subject matter (Don’t make me get out the Raid) in connection to the theme of recurrence. In this dissection of the link between my conscious and unconscious mind, themes surrounding progression and moving forward (Here, How fun?) come to reflect upon my experiences traversing the turbulent future and wishing to remain in times of youth and safety. In returning to my apprehension toward times of growth through these artworks, I can recognize and put them to rest as I prepare myself for an unabated future.