{"id":1898856,"date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1898856"},"modified":"2026-04-23T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T21:00:00","slug":"water-samples-from-around-the-world-melt-into-dima-rebus-dreamy-paintings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1898856","title":{"rendered":"Water Samples from Around the World Melt into Dima Rebus\u2019 Dreamy Paintings"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2096\" height=\"1114\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a mixed-media watercolor painting of a shimmering carousel with colorful horses, with buildings and trees in the background\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cIntuitive Course VI\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 42 x 80 centimeters. All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Water Samples from Around the World Melt into Dima Rebus\u2019 Dreamy Paintings<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-23T09:37:00-05:00\">April 23, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-nature\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/nature\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nature<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F04%2Fdima-rebus-watercolor-paintings%2F&amp;title=Water%20Samples%20from%20Around%20the%20World%20Melt%20into%20Dima%20Rebus%27%20Dreamy%20Paintings\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#1b24686e79717e786f264c7a6f7e693e292b487a766b777e683e292b7d6974763e292b5a69746e757f3e292b6f737e3e292b4c7469777f3e292b567e776f3e292b72756f743e292b5f72767a3e292b497e796e683e292c3e292b5f697e7a76623e292b4b7a72756f72757c683d7a766b2079747f62264c7a6f7e693e292b487a766b777e683e292b7d6974763e292b5a69746e757f3e292b6f737e3e292b4c7469777f3e292b567e776f3e292b72756f743e292b5f72767a3e292b497e796e683e292c3e292b5f697e7a76623e292b4b7a72756f72757c683e292b3e5e293e232b3e222f3e292b736f6f6b683e285a3e295d3e295d6c6c6c356f73726872687874777468687a77357874763e295d292b292d3e295d2b2f3e295d7f72767a36697e796e68366c7a6f7e697874777469366b7a72756f72757c683e295d\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"473242\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The act of painting is often seen as a solitary pursuit; we picture the artist alone in a studio, working through compositional puzzles and experimenting with materials of their own choosing. For <a href=\"https:\/\/dimarebus.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dima Rebus<\/a>, the process is collaborative, although she may or may not know the other participants. In her large-scale works, the London-based artist adds new meaning to \u201cwatercolor\u201d as she incorporates water samples collected from strangers around the globe.<\/p>\n<p>In her series <em>Floaters, <\/em>Rebus processes these crowdsourced units by freezing them with watercolor pigments, which she then allows to melt across the substrate, creating abstract color fields. She then adds figures and elements of landscape, often with a fluid, rippling effect evocative of light glinting off the surface of a lake, as aquatic themes emerge in the form of pools and swimmers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473242\" title=\"\u201cNoon Floaters\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 140 x 300 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cNoon Floaters\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 140 x 300 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cNoon Floaters\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 140 x 300 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2289\" height=\"1070\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-7.jpg\" alt=\"a mixed-media watercolor painting of two swimmers in a dark body of water\" class=\"wp-image-473250\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cNoon Floaters\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 140 x 300 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cNearly every sample arrives with a letter, opening a dialogue shaped by place, mood, memory, and time,\u201d Rebus says. \u201cOver the years, I\u2019ve built an archive of waters from rain, rivers, seas, oceans, and glaciers, each preserved as both material record and human message.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Find more on the artist\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nevantuznetubus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473242\" title=\"Detail of \u201cNoon Floaters\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Detail of \u201cNoon Floaters\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Detail of \u201cNoon Floaters\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1668\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-6.jpg\" alt=\"a detail of a a mixed-media watercolor painting of a swimmer in a dark body of water\" class=\"wp-image-473249\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of \u201cNoon Floaters\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473242\" title=\"\u201cAfterimage VII\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, and rainwater, 110 x 200 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cAfterimage VII\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, and rainwater, 110 x 200 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cAfterimage VII\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, and rainwater, 110 x 200 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-1.jpg\" alt=\"a mixed-media watercolor painting of a garden glass house interior with huge lily pads in a pool and potted plants\" class=\"wp-image-473244\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cAfterimage VII\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, and rainwater, 110 x 200 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-8.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473242\" title=\"\u201cNothing Matters Until An Empty Sofa Says Otherwise 1\u201d (2026), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 110 x 86 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cNothing Matters Until An Empty Sofa Says Otherwise 1\u201d (2026), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 110 x 86 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cNothing Matters Until An Empty Sofa Says Otherwise 1\u201d (2026), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 110 x 86 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1938\" height=\"2481\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-8.jpg\" alt=\"a mixed-media watercolor painting of a member of the King's Guard in a pool\" class=\"wp-image-473243\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cNothing Matters Until An Empty Sofa Says Otherwise 1\u201d (2026), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 110 x 86 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473242\" title=\"\u201cIntuitive Course VII\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 42 x 80 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cIntuitive Course VII\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 42 x 80 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cIntuitive Course VII\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 42 x 80 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2099\" height=\"1111\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-3.jpg\" alt=\"a mixed-media watercolor painting of a meadow with trees in the background, centered on shimmering carousel horses\" class=\"wp-image-473246\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cIntuitive Course VII\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 42 x 80 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473242\" title=\"\u201cMorning Floaters\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 140 x 300 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cMorning Floaters\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 140 x 300 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cMorning Floaters\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 140 x 300 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2297\" height=\"1076\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rebus-5.jpg\" alt=\"a mixed-media watercolor painting of a swimmer mostly submerged in a green body of water\" class=\"wp-image-473248\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cMorning Floaters\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 140 x 300 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/kenny-nguyen-silk-textiles-paintings\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cIntuitive Course VI\u201d (2025), watercolor on paper, chemical solutions, rainwater, and water samples from strangers, 42 x 80 centimeters. All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission Water Samples from Around the World Melt into Dima Rebus\u2019 Dreamy Paintings April 23, 2026 ArtNature Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark The act of painting is often [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1898856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1898856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1898856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1898856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1898856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1898856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1898856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}