The Process Behind Rose Murex Dreaming

People often ask, “How long did that take you?”It’s a fair question, but one that rarely has a simple answer. Art isn’t measured only in hours — it’s shaped by inspiration, pauses, reflection, and the steady return to the work whenever life allows.

As a full-time teacher, my drawing hours live around the edges of the day. Early mornings, quiet evenings, pockets of time on weekends — these become the spaces where my artworks take form. And although time is limited, I’ve discovered that working on two pieces simultaneously keeps the process alive. Each teaches me something new: a softer colour to introduce, a different pencil to test, a fresh approach to shading or movement. One artwork quietly informs the other.

Beginning the Vision

Rose Murex Dreaming began with a vivid mental image — a girl in stillness, contrasted by the swirling movement around her. On her head rests a Rose Murex shell, delicate and luminous, its white surface as refined as fine china. The shell itself carries layered symbolism: protection, feminine strength, transformation, and the quiet resilience of the sea. Its sculptural spikes and soft curves create a sense of beauty that is both fragile and powerful.

The girl’s gaze looks back over her shoulder, as if aware of the weight and significance of the shell she wears like a crown. In that moment of awareness, a transformation begins — the shell becoming part of her identity, her story, her inner world.

The background remains dark and atmospheric, allowing the whiteness of the shell and the subtle highlights on her face to become the focal point. Around her, swirling lines introduce movement, echoing wind, water, and the unseen forces that shape us.

Composition & Flow

After the initial inspiration comes the slow, meditative work: refining the pose, balancing the proportions, and layering detail upon detail. This is where time dissolves. Hours feel like minutes as lines soften, textures deepen and the emerging artwork finds its rhythm.

I often explore variations on a theme — different viewpoints, subtle colour changes, alternative moods — as part of creating a full body of work. Focusing on just one piece can sometimes trap me in a single mindset, but shifting between artworks opens creative pathways and keeps the energy moving..

A Living Collection

Every completed piece naturally leads into the next. That continuity is what shapes each collection — unified, evolving and connected by a shared dreamscape atmosphere.

I’d love to know what you think of Rose Murex Dreaming and the process behind it. If you feel drawn to symbolic, surreal artworks or would like to follow the progress of upcoming pieces, you’re warmly invited to join my art list or explore more of the collection.

Rose Murex Dreaming Limited Edition Surreal Prints.