Scott Dykema

Queen of the Sea, Original Painting

2025

American artist Scott Dykema paints surreal scenes and subjects in bold, visceral colors that are ingrained with improvised textures and an otherworldly perspective that evokes Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Animals, drawn with sharp, unusual patterns on their bodies, are portrayed in peculiar poses as they stand before alien backdrops of contrasting neons, pastels and earth tones. Dykema’s work tells the story of another place and another reality, one with only the faintest resemblance to our own.

Possessing a strong appreciation for the primordial, Dykema draws inspiration from cultures that revere nature, something reflected in the sense of spirituality in his work. He layers different materials — like ink, spray paint, acrylic and varnish — to create dynamic surfaces that enhance the surroundings of his extraordinary subjects.

Dykema graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Arlington. While there, he apprenticed as an assistant to a decorative artist. In 2001, Dykema and his wife, Anna, opened a decorative painting business, Daydream Studios, located in Arlington, Texas. They collaboratively work on an array of private and public art commissions for homes and businesses in the Texas area.

When not working at Daydream Studios,he paints inside an old school bus that he converted into a makeshift studio. His solo work includes illustrating the popular children’s book Keep Dreaming, as well as creating fine art inspired by his imagination. 

Dykema boasts clientele from around the United States and internationally. Prestigious publications, such as 360 West and Luxe, have showcased his art, as have many galleries in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

On 1stDibs, explore Scott Dykema’s mystifying mixed-media paintings.