Five Element Tarot Introduction - Folly

The site is redesigned, the video is done, now you can enjoy watching the creative process in action. My new series Five Element Tarot re-concptualizes the traditional concept of an ancient game. It is speculated that our familiar everyday playing cards derived from these images from as far back at ancient Egypt.

Here I explore the fantastic symbolism which when studied gives you insight to the global consciencenous of the human condition. Please join me! and Let the Journey Begin with Carefree Abandon!

Five Element Tarot Introduction - Folly



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Video Blogging

What I have been doing this year so far? I am holding my own feet to the fire! I discovered a post forum online about art on the web and video blogging is really awsome for the visual artist. You will be able to seek a peek into my studio and creative process without leaving your computer chair! I got really energized. about the possibilities and it seemed a perfect medium to get the word out about what I'm doing here.

I have spent almost every waking moment in the last few weeks preparing to create my video. I have a digital camcorder (bought it when my son was young and has mostly been used for family videos) also 3 or 4 years ago I invested in Studio 9 a video editing program (bought it to edit family videos to send to my husband who was deployed during that time.) With that program I can do Chroma screen (like they use for the weather maps on the news) and picture in picture. I also needed good lighting, had a couple of halogen work lights on stands... they hadn't been used in so long some of the contacts rusted... had to fix those... So now I figure I am tech set up.

I also am relearning and expanding my knowledge about the software and trying to get the green screen to work like I wanted, creating the green screen (tried to paint a background at first, 57" square, didn't work, found $1 yard bright green material, stretched it over the canvas and presto) redesigning my website to highlight the series, creating associated products with cafe press, shopping for masks (I was thankful for Mardi Gras season!) and buying 3 new domain names and getting them redirected to go to my curent website. (maskedartist.com - maskedmuse.com - 5ElementTarot.com)

So, now I'm ready to actually do the video of myself talking about my art and my "masked muse" - on this week's agenda! (working Monday-Wednesday and Friday then family event this weekend--- I guess that leaves me with Thursday! Whew, can hardly wait!)

I have decided to use a suggested "masked artist" idea... with a twist. I think I'll present my artwork in a conversational style but I will have the "Masked Muse" using picture in picture and the green screen to add in comments to myself and animate the aspects of the pieces. I think the muse can be a funny addition and I think it will be fun for you and myself to see the process of creating this series. I will do my best to entertain.

I do not have a video of myself painting my first few pieces because I've already painted them so, I wanted something else that would be fun. I found a free animation program online called "CreaToon" and was able to easily animate my first painting into an introduction segment. This was fun! Again the learning curve, but the program isn't difficult to learn.

Once I get these processes down it will be easier and less time consuming? (fingers crossed) At this point I can make no guarantees as to how often I will blog - my hope is to have a minimum of 2 a month, around the 1st and the 15th.

On my previous posts I have linked you to my intro video with no sound yet...I'll add sound when I edit the whole video and my first painting "Folly."

I also believe there is a huge number of people out there that will find interest in this subject as well, I hope to share this process with as many people as I can. I have noticed a growing surg of public interest in the last few years of esoteric and mystic concepts, especially online.

For my finale will be printing the deck and offering them for sale to my loyal fans. I truely believe all of my skills and knowledge over the years seem to have lead me right to this project.

I would love to hear what you think and please ask your friends to join the party!

Five Element Tarot Intro Video - No Sound Yet

I know I have been scarce since the first of the year but I have my reasons.... I have been setting myself up for video blogging! I intend to blog about my new Five Element Tarot series, problem is I'm a little camera shy. I think once I jump into the cold water once, the rest will be cake?

5 element tarot intro video - no sound yet

The Journey Begins - Folly

Presented here is Folly: number 0 in the traditional tarot and it serves the same purpose here. It is a wonderful place to start, many things are just perfect the way they are.

Here a young man starts his journey on a glorious sun filled morning with the innocence and frivolity of youth. His ever faithful companion mutt barks at his heels caught up in the excitement and worry of this new venture.

He holds a cup in his right hand with a gesture of a toast inviting you to join him as he boldly steps off the precipice into the unknown. In his left hand he holds a walking stick, providing him support when he gets weary or finds himself on treacherous ground. It also leads him with fiery creativity to gain everything he can from his journeys to become a wiser man.

A sword swings at the ready on his left hip, reminding him of the quick wit and nimble reflexes that will also sustain him through his journey. A single pentacle coin adorns his knapsack strap reminding us that earthly matters can not be ignored even in our most joyous moments.

Finally, a purple cone flower is gently swayed toward him almost in the action of pushing him forward or could it be that it is simply attracted to him by his soul filled with exuberance?

Attract the carefree life with Folly apparel and merchandise offered by Leivan Originals using this image and the phrase "Let the journey begin with carefree abandon."

See if Original is Available

Five Element Tarot

With the advent of this new series I just wanted to take a moment and explain the "Five Element Tarot" where it came from and a few words about my inspiration. I have pondered creating a series of paintings featuring the Tarot for years. I find the iconography and the history within the card images intriguing. To study the images and their traditional messages is like looking into the global conscientious of the human condition. My previous work with the figure as can be seen in my "Feminine Desert" series combined with my more current work with the "Kansas Wildflowers" series seemed to be preparing me for this very project.

My husband introduced me to Piers Anthony’s “God of Tarot” upon finishing the wonderful novel I was hit with an epiphany. It wasn’t necessarily the story itself but the index where a conceptual 100 card tarot is described and listed as noted and use by the story’s main character and the “Holy Order of Vision”. The set defined by the author uses 5 elemental suits with the conventional 14 cards, and 30 triumphs or Major Arcana cards, creating 100 cards for the deck instead of the traditional 78 cards.

My imagination was captured and I was awed by the simple promise of possibilities with the additional cards. The table of cards and their meaning presented by Piers Anthony created was just the beginning of my inspiration. While studying the potential presented I found that I disagreed with some of his definitions and so have made the concept my own with a few changes in the original schema. This is in no way is intended to discredit the author. I was simply uncomfortable with his a few of his cards for my on needs. I will get to my interpretations and discoveries as I paint them.

I know that there is complex symbolism that connects the traditional set of 78 cards such as The Major Arcana and the Tree of Life via the Kabala. I will argue that that concept is maintained through the pip cards. But I am not really here for argument what is important to me is the Fool’s journey and the trials and tribulations we all face universally and traveling with him through my art and see if there was anything I could glean from this mission. So, if you are a hard core traditionalist this deck and voyage may not be for you. But for the adventurous spirit please join me; let’s begin by jumping off a cliff!

Here is a brief overview of the differences between the traditional tarot deck and my newly inspired deck.

Five elements: ♦-Earth; ♠-Air; ♣-Fire; ♥-Water and -Spirit (I chose a 5 petal flower for this new suit) This envelopes the 5 suits each with the traditional 14 cards 1-10, Page (Maiden), Knight, Queen, King.

My Major Arcana set will include each of these 5 elements within the painting.

The 30 Major Arcana Cards

0 Folly-Fool
1 Skill -Magician
2 Intuition -High Priestess
3 Action -Empress
4 Power-Emperor
5 Memory -Hierophant
6 Choice -Lovers
7 Precession - Chariot
8 Emotion - Desire
9 Discipline - Strength
10 Nature - Family
11 Chance - Wheel of Fortune
12 Time - Sphinx
13 Reflection - Past
14 Will - Future
15 Honor - Justice
16 Sacrifice -Hanged Man
17 Change - Death
18 Vision -Imagination
19 Transfer -Temperance
20 Deception -Devil
21 Revelation -Lightning Struck Tower
22 Hope/Fear -Star
23 Lunacy -Moon
24 Triumph -Sun
25 Reason -Thought
26 Decision -Judgment
27 Wisdom - Savant
28 Completion -Universe
∞ Unknown - Ghost

You will notice that there are some slight changes in order from the traditional cards and numbers. None of these are set in stone until I paint them, well ok set in canvas. I would be pleased if you felt strongly that I was off on any of these to please comment. This is all part of the journey.

I anticipate that this project will take at least a year to complete. So I invite you to join me in this exploration. Come let's jump off the cliff together!