Tired Unicorns | brannarey Art

Sleeping Unicorns

As I was making this series my sister asked, "Why are all the unicorns sleeping?" I told her, "if the unicorn is me and I am tired, then they are also tired."

I had the chance to visit the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington with my mom. It was a prime opportunity to capture my own reference photos from the horses stabled there. To my surprise and annoyance, every horse we went to see was laying down. I took some quick pictures anyway. It felt right to do so. Throughout our trip and the subsequent months following, I decided the pictures I got weren't just useful, they were perfect. I had been feeling dejected and tired recently about a lot of various situations. I would use these pictures of horses laying down to replicate that.

Rest

Pyrography on wood round
10" x 25.5"

Rest your mind from the daily overload of modern existing. Rest your body from the necessary work for survival. Rest your heart from the weight of loving so much. Upon waking, exist, survive and love.

2022

Tired of Monstrous Fears

Pyrography/Acrylic on wood panel
8.5" x 23"

Whether they be existential, humanoid, or surreal, Fears are stupid and I'm over them. They don't DO anything for anyone. Nothing good anyway, just suck the life out of you is all. They're overbearing and heavy, needy and selfish, eating away your life bit by bit until all you want to do is sleep.

2022

Tired of Being Tired

Pyrography and airbrushing on wood panel
9" x 23"

On top of all the garbage and poo in the punch, life gets exhausting. Even when surrounded by a million pretty and good things. Of course sleep doesn't solve any of it and only gives a brief reprieve. There comes a point when the desire to be actively involved in life again comes, but sleeping or napping is still necessary for healing and finding that healthy balance. The body needs rest.

2022

Exhausted

Pyrography and airbrushing on wood round.
11" x 25"

On a drive down to Moab, UT I realized just how much the land paralleled my current state of being.

Dry, no flora or fauna, and cracked; waiting for nourishment from above.

2023

Dispiriting Grief

Pyrography and airbrushing on wood panel.
10" x 23"

Grief. It is dispiriting indeed.

2023

Weary of the Unknown

Pyrography and airbrushing on wood round.
11.25" x 26.5"

I'm all for surprises, but sometimes the universe offers too many; one right after the other, that I start wondering what could possibly come next?

2023

Artist Brianna Thaxton

Sleeping Unicorns