"When Dreams Come True" by Leonid Afremov

Media: Oil on Canvas

Dimensions: 30”x40”

Date: 2013

 Leonid Afremov is a modern impressionistic artist. He was born in the Soviet Union and lived there until he was 35. He then lived in Israel for 12 years and Florida for 8 and now resides in Mexico. His true success came when he started selling his paintings on eBay instead of through galleries. Afremov has developed his own distinct technique with a palette knife and oils and bright colorful style.

 Leonid Afremov said, “Kids know how to dream. Adults almost don’t. Grownups want to own many things but as soon as they get one, they start to dream about having another one. Kids can dream just for fun and it will be hard to find any grownup, which can be as happy as a kid. The kid happiness is like a Vulcan. The Vulcan of joy, laugh, emotions, screams, noises, sun and brightness. In one second the kid can dive into a fountain of smiles and fun and it can jump around you until it gets tired.

Let’s dream more like kids. This painting is full of children laugh, joy and happiness. When the magic road in the fairy forest leads the hero to his dream, the whole world stops for a while, letting the full taste of the fulfilled dream is filling every corner of the dreamer`s heart. The then whole Universe sings along.

The dreams are coming true. Let’s dream. Probably the more we will be dreaming, the faster our dreams will be fulfilled. Dream on and follow your dreams."

 This particular painting is a recreation of the first When Dreams Come True. Each of Afremov’s recreations is 100% hand painted by him with oil paints and a palette knife, just like the original. Each recreation is also slightly different than the first because of the difference in knife strokes, and so is one of a kind.

 This painting is the culmination of the exhibit. Leonid Afremov portrays a dream come true, a couple in love walking off toward the horizon holding hands. Dreams Come True inspires us to believe in dreams and believe that dreams can be fulfilled.