Studio Notes: Beyond Reality

The Symbolic Language Behind My Metaphorical Realism

by Dani Abbott

Art has always been my way of saying what words can’t—an invitation to feel something deeper, to pause, and to see beyond the surface. While some people describe my work as surrealist, I’ve come to recognize it as something different—something more grounded and intentional. What I create is metaphorical realism—a fusion of recognizable, tangible scenes with layered symbolism that speaks quietly to the heart.

What Is Metaphorical Realism?

Metaphorical realism takes the structure of realism—familiar objects, textures, and places—and weaves them together with symbolism to create emotional depth. It’s not dreamlike or abstract like traditional surrealism. It’s deliberate. Each element is chosen for its meaning. Each detail is part of a story.

It’s the art of saying something true without saying it directly.

Symbolism in Practice: Stories Behind the Canvas

A Tortoise Carrying the DesertAt first glance, it’s simply a tortoise. But on its back, a desert landscape quietly unfolds—cacti, rocks, dry earth. It’s a visual metaphor for endurance, memory, and the weight of lived experience. The tortoise carries more than a scene—it carries time itself.(Insert image: “Secrets of a Desert Dweller”)

A Horse in Full BloomA strong, graceful horse filled with wildflowers. It speaks of strength that makes room for softness—of a life that holds both grit and grace. This piece is a reflection on gentleness, growth, and the surprising beauty that emerges when we allow both to coexist.(Insert image: Horse + floral piece)

A Town Within a HorseThe lines of a horse’s face become the streets and rooftops of a small town—each window, each chimney, a memory. It’s a meditation on how the places we come from shape us. We carry them not just in our history, but in our very being.(Insert image: Horse with architectural elements)

Why This Style Speaks to Me

Realism offers a sense of connection. It grounds the viewer. But the symbolism—those layered metaphors—opens a door to something more lasting.

Metaphorical realism allows me to say what can’t be said plainly:That we all carry stories.That our strength is often quiet.That beauty can come from the hardest places.

When someone pauses in front of one of my pieces and says, “This makes me feel something I didn’t know how to name,”—that’s when I know the work is doing what it was meant to do.

Thank you for spending a moment inside my world.If my work speaks to something in you, I invite you to join the journey. My Collector’s Circle is where I share first looks, new releases, and personal notes from the studio.

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