Dream Mapping at Art Lab Amsterdam: Exploring Fantasy, Feelings & New Techniques

Last week, our studio transformed into a place of wandering paths, imaginative landscapes, and joyful discovery as the children created “Dream Maps”—fantasy neighbourhoods filled with loved ones, animals, ancestors, and the places that matter to them. The project was inspired by the Aboriginal artist Rover Thomas, whose earthy, map-like paintings blur the lines between land, memory, and dream. His work gently guided us to think of maps not only as directions, but as stories about belonging.

Setting the Stage: Warming Up the Imagination

When the children arrived, they found the tables completely covered in white paper—an instant invitation to play. Before any “final artwork” began, we opened the session with connecting lines and shared imagination.

I encouraged them to draw a line that reached toward the child next to them—like a little bridge. Then came the challenge: “How many rainbows can you draw to link yourselves?”

The room filled with laughter, wiggling lines, zigzags, rainbow arcs, and spontaneous stories about who or what might travel along these paths (penguins, unicorns, and mysterious forest creatures were popular visitors).

These warmups are not just fun—they help children loosen up, feel safe, and activate the imaginative, emotional part of themselves that is essential for meaningful art-making. Each week at Art Lab, I design these openings carefully so that children can move from busy school days into an atmosphere of curiosity and self-expression.

What the Children Explored

1. Imagination & Emotional Expression

Children were invited to imagine a world where everyone they love lives nearby. Many reflected on grandparents who live far away, pets they miss, or ancestors they wanted to include. These conversations naturally brought up themes of closeness, longing, connection, and comfort—helping children express feelings in a gentle, creative way.

2. Creative Techniques & Experimentation

Using liquid inks, the children blew or tilted the paint to let it form wild, unpredictable paths across the page. These flowing lines became the “roads” and “routes” of their dream neighbourhoods. Afterwards, they added oil pastels for colour, symbols, houses, animals, trees, and patterns.

This combination of free experimentation and purposeful shaping teaches children that art can be both playful and meaningful.

3. Perspective & Observation (older groups)

Older students practiced imagining the world from above. With their eyes closed, they drew their bedroom from a bird’s-eye view, and later mapped their walk from home to school. This helps develop spatial awareness, visual thinking, and creative risk-taking.

Why This Matters

This Dream Mapping lesson embodies the heart of how we teach at Art Lab Amsterdam:

• We nurture imagination and emotional awareness.

• We blend global art history with hands-on discovery.

• We encourage experimentation and embracing the unexpected.

• We help children connect their inner world with the outer world.

• We build confidence through creative choice-making.

Children left the atelier with artwork full of colour, pathways, beloved animals, faraway relatives, imaginary creatures, and symbols of the people they hold close. Each map became a beautifully personal snapshot of their inner landscape.

Most importantly, they left with that unmistakable glow—joyful, centered, and proud of the stories they created through art.😊😍