Drowning in the Nightmare explores the overwhelming emotions of fear, anxiety, and the struggle to escape the past. Inspired by David Blackwood’s dark, haunting tones and sense of tension, this piece blends vibrant colors with chaotic, dreamlike imagery. Bright, shifting colors represent the clash between reality and illusion, where nightmares take shape in unexpected forms. The swirling, fragmented world reflects the feeling of being lost in a dream—where nothing is stable, and fear follows every step. This artwork is also inspired by my own nightmares and experiences shaped by the lingering impacts of war.

–Varvara Korotnytska (Grade 12, O’Donel High School, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland)

Artist and printmaker David Blackwood (1941-2022) was renowned for his dramatic and ethereal depictions of the legends and landscapes of Newfoundland.