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!

Free 2008 Calendar

Happy Holidays to all of my faithful readers! I have designed a 2008 calendar including 12 of my paintings from the past year and famous quotes on creativity that I hope will entertain and inspire you. Please click on the link Free 2008 Calendar on my website to download the entire calendar as a PDF (2.5MB) and you can print it on your own printer.

The only thing I ask is if you download it let me know how you like it with a post here.

Enjoy!

A New View

I wanted to expand the visual interest of the pieces I have been working on. Also I wanted to have a little more room to play with some color theories. Below are two new pieces that reflect these desires. I hope that you enjoy them.




Fly to the Sky - Acrylic on Canvas 20"x16"











Down to Earth - Acrylic on Canvas 20"x16"

Busy November

My apologies I have been extremely busy this November. It seems I can not get enough done and I'm behind the eight ball with every shot. I am finally getting around to getting these new pieces up.


"Thriving Nightshade" Acrylic on Canvas 12"x12"
This is Horse Nettle or Carolina Nightshade. I found it interesting that some blossoms were in bloom and others seemed to be reluctant to come out in the dusk.
This is available today!


"Reverence" - Acrylic on Canvas 12"x12"
This sunflower seemed to be bowing in reverence in the early morning sunshine, thankful for the new day. So I named it "Reverence."
This is available today!


"Puckering Poppy" - Acrylic on Canvas 14"x14"
This little lady looked like she was ready to blow you a kiss so I named her "Puckering Poppy."
This is available today!


Chicory at Noon - Acrylic on Canvas 12"x12"
Chicory seems to thrive in almost any condition. This blossom had so much character that seemed to offer promise of a great day. A little trivia: Native Americans boiled the roots to make a wash for fever sores and steeped the roots to create a nerve tonic. (from the KSU wildflower website.) You know we could all use a little nerve tonic once in a while.
This is available today!


"A Part of the Crowd" - Acrylic on Canvas 12"x12"
This sunflower bobbed and weaved and made it difficult to get a good record, yet I was able to make it successful. In the field that I was working the monumental crowd of sunflowers was awesome. And you could hear the whispers of anticipation for the day while they waited for the sun to show over the nearby tree ridge.
This is available today!

Pale Petunia - Acrylic on Canvas 12x12

This delicate little plant are single day bloomers. They open one night and fall away the next and if you shake the plant the bloom will readily fall off. I find this fascinating because such a short blooming cycle for each bloom works for this plant. In a lot of ways I was lucky to have the opportunity to immortalize this particular bloom. It reminds me that sometimes you can get the job done in less time than it may seem not to mention it is a testimony to the industriousness of insects.

This is available today.

Healing Trio - Acrylic on Canvas 12x12

Known as Goat's Rue, Catgut or Devil's Shoestring, "parts of this plant were used medicinally by a number of Native American tribes. At various times it was used to treat rheumatism, fevers, pulmonary problems, bladder disorders, coughing, hair loss, and reproductive disorders." (from the KSU wildflower website.) So it seems this little wildflower can fix nearly anything. It almost sounds like an infomercial for this wildflower as a cure-all.

Never the less I found the petals seductive and beautiful. They were discovered along the roadside and when I saw them I had to stop immediately and record them for my series.

This is available today.

Two for days end

Long Day - Acrylic on Canvas12x12.jpg

Sleepless - Acrylic on Canvas 12x12.jpg

I bought some new brushes today and was so infatuated with them I am posting a pair today. A purple coneflower that finds inspiration in the new fall weather and despite it's name even fall days can be long. As well as a daisy mate that expresses my own last night's tossing and turning for no known reason. Enjoy!

These are available today.

Sun Worship - Acrylic on Canvas 12x12

Today's upload is another sunflower this piece touched me with a divine reverence for nature. Staring proudly into the sun with a bit of clouds in the sky, it spoke to me of rich religious pasts weaving into a modern sacred feminine and an enduring relationship with a timeless and ever watching sun. Enjoy!

This is available today.

Secrets Revealed

Shared Secrets - Acrylic on Canvas 24"x30"

Intimate Secrets - Acrylic on Canvas 24"x30"

Two new sunflower paintings in a larger format. I found a wonderful sunflower field near my home owned by some friends of mine. I have spent a few hours reveling in the search for characters in the massive fields to bring back to paint. I also recently discovered the song "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat which always makes me think of how I feel about my husband. So the life experiences of sunflowers and the song inspiration combined beautifully to symbolize the secret things between lovers. Enjoy!

These are available today.

Art in the Aaron Douglas Art Park

I was honored to be the featured artist in this year's Aaron Douglas Art fair. It sometimes is amazing what an all volunteer committee will come up with. They had not only placed my "Windswept" artwork on the posters and t-shirts in full color they had also produced an outlined version of my artwork and placed it on t-shirts for the kids in the art tent to color for themselves. It was quite humbling to think that my artwork would have the opportunity to inspire young artists. To the left is a young artist sporting his own creation and his brother wearing the full color printed design. I was moved to see all of the young people in their t-shirts.

For the second annual event, the fair was blessed with absolutely wonderful weather. The crowd was large and appreciative which makes the experience for the artists exciting. Quality artists selected for this event which is a testimony to the serious intentions of the Topeka Turn Around Team to provide worthwhile event for the community at large and to be involved in the growth of the art awareness in Topeka. It was a very successful day and I would suggest to all art lovers to mark their calendars for next year's event which promises to be even better as this project grows.

Art fair brings 'glimmer of light to neighborhood'

By Angela Deines
Special to The Capital-Journal
Published Sunday, September 09, 2007

Bright colors, the smell of barbecue and the sound of music filled the air Saturday as the Aaron Douglas Art Fair celebrated its second year in central Topeka.

The event, planned by the Topeka Turnaround Team, featured established and first-time artists and musicians who displayed their talents at the Aaron Douglas Art Park between S.W. Lane and Washburn, north of Dillons on S.W. Huntoon.

Lacey Keller, 21, co-chairwoman of the art fair committee, said it is important to keep the fair at the same location as the Aaron Douglas mural site at S.W. 12th and Lane and in that part of central Topeka.

"I think the biggest thing is the energy it (the fair) gives to this part of the community," she said. "It's just a great way to celebrate Aaron Douglas' commitment to this city, and we want to keep that nice homegrown feeling."

The late Topeka-born artist has been called "the father of African-American art" and the "tastemaker" of the Harlem Renaissance.

Andrea Billings-Graham, 25, an art fair committee member, grew up near S.W. 11th and Washburn. She said she is delighted the art fair is taking place in an area of Topeka that most people have written off.

"This gives a glimmer of light to this neighborhood," she said. "I'm just so happy it's here."
Longtime Tennessee Town resident Barbara Leal, 82, said the art fair showcases the Douglas mural and the other positive changes that have taken place in the central Topeka neighborhood.
"This neighborhood is perceived as being unsafe," she said. "But there's something about music and art that really pulls people together, and you can see that here today."

Karen Hiller, chairwoman of the art fair committee and a member of the Topeka Turnaround Team, said committee members envisioned the fair to feature "diverse and emerging artists" and highlight Douglas' artistic contributions to black heritage.

"It (the fair) really took off from the mural project," she said. "It's about bringing the park alive and bringing Aaron Douglas to life."

Seventeen local artists displayed their work at the fair, along with performances from local musical groups.

Retired surgeon Dr. Mark Saylor, 65, who has displayed his paintings only with the Topeka Art Guild, was a first-time exhibitor at the event.

"I got personal encouragement to do so, so I decided to do it," he said. "It's a beautiful day, what more can I say?"

Maxine Bermudez displayed her artwork at last year's fair when there were only a handful of fellow artists showcasing their work.

She said she was glad to see more artists this year at the family-oriented event. "I can see this growing every year," she said. "This is a community of talented people here."

Local artist Michelle Leivan's artwork depicting a Kansas sunflower was the featured art piece of Saturday's event. The oil painting has been on display in Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' appointments secretary's office at the Statehouse but was brought out for those attending Saturday's event to view.

Having exhibited at the art fair last year, Leivan said she was honored to have the sunflower piece chosen as the featured piece this year.

Angela Deines is a freelance
writer in Topeka. She can be reached at amdeines@aol.com.

SouthWind Gallery 15 years; 50 Artists

SouthWind Gallery Celebrates 15 Years With 50 Artists

Posted: 9:09 AM Aug 13, 2007
Last Updated: 9:09 AM Aug 13, 2007
By WIBW 13 News

It may be hot outside, but there’s a very cool art exhibit going on at SouthWind Gallery in Topeka.

In honor of their 15th Anniversary, SouthWind Gallery and Framewoods of Topeka are celebrating with an exhibit of works by more than 50 artists!

The exhibit, “15 Years; 50 Artists”, opens at SouthWind Gallery, 3074 SW 29th Street, Topeka, on August 13, 2007 and runs through September 15, 2007.

SouthWind’s list of featured artists for its 15th Anniversary show reads like a “who’s who” among Kansas artists.

Included in this prestigious exhibit are nationally-known artists Roger Shimomura, Ernst Ulmer, Stan Herd, Hugh Greer, Stephen Johnson, Jim Hamil, Jonathan Knight, Judith Mackey, Kim Casebeer, Phillip Hershberger, Anthony Benton Gude, and Kwan Wu. The impressive list includes many other well-known artists: Bev Amudson, Phil Epp, Louis Copt, Mike Savage, Barbara Waterman-Peters, Joan Parker, Doug Osa, Jerry Gaddis, Kevin Sink, Dana Hassett, Judith Lennox Sabbatini, Janet Bailey, Lila Bartel, Carol Bradbury, Barry Busch, Donna Carrington, Daniel Coburn, Delores Purdy Cocoran, David DeArmand, Steve Denny, Michael Duane, Wilbur Elsea, Hartzel Gray, Louise Brock Hamilton, Mike Henry, Hobart Jackson, Apollonia Jamison, Cally Krallman, Lois Kruse, Michelle, Leivan, Scott Lennox, Todd Matson, Esther May, Linden May, Nicole McClure, Stan Metzger, Ed Miller, Beverly Nichols, Gary Ozias, Ed Pointer, Johnne Richardson, Matthew Richter, John Roush, Deb Schroer, Clay Stauffer, and Mike Walsh.

In addition to the exhibit, a “Featured-Artist Reception” and unveiling of the featured artists’ works will be held daily at SouthWind Gallery August 13 – 17, from 4:00- 6:00 p.m., with the featured artists of the day present for the event. The public is invited to attend any or all of these receptions.

Featured Artists Reception Schedule:

Monday, Aug. 13: Judith Mackey; Barbara Waterman-Peters; Esther May; Linden May; Michael Duane; and Deb Schrorer.

Tuesday, Aug. 14 : Hobart Jackson; Stephen Johnson; Steve Denny; Phillip Hershberger; and Bev Amudson.

Wednesday, Aug. 15: Dan Coburn; Lois Kruse; Joan Parker; Mike Walsh; and David DeArmond.

Thursday, Aug. 16: Kim Casebeer, Cally Krallman; Doug Osa; Lila Bartel; and Mike Henry.

Friday, Aug. 17: Stan Herd, Beverly Nichols; Gary Ozias; Carol Bradbury; Donna Carrington; Hartzell Gray; Anthony Benton Gude; and Louise Brock Hamilton.

Evening Promise, Acrylic on Canvas, 24x30

Saturday Afternoon, Acrylic on Canvas 24x30

Prickly Poppy, Acrylic on Canvas, 12x12

Like Peas in a Pod, Acrylic on Canvas, 12x12