Dynamic Dreamer ~ Art Weaver

I recently read a refreshing blog entry by the luminous Lunaea Weatherstone. In her latest post, she had embraced the philosophy “Blogging Without Obligation”. This instantly resonated with me because I think as time goes on, too many blogs are becoming regimented forums that are void of true spontaneous inspiration. My favorite artist/writer blogs tend to be ones that reflect inspiring moments that transcend routine. I know this is a general statement and it is not meant to undermine the disciplined efforts of those who do choose to blog this way (and in some cases, regular sessions are part of the blog’s identity). For example, I love Rose of Avalon’s Tarot Tuesday and the expected reading that she offers every week through her insightful site. But I have discovered that creating an atmosphere of pressure to my blog is not what the Dynamic Dreamer~Art Weaver site is all about. I don’t want to follow a schedule. It is not in my nature to do so—it would be like forcing a painting out of my soul that is not meant to flourish onto paper. If it doesn’t come from the heart and feel right along the way, then it isn’t meant to manifest at that particular time. So I too have adopted the “Blogging without Obligation” mantra, a sort of go-with-the-flow mentality…following my muse instead of adhering to a potentially stifling timetable. This has provided a perfect balance between my real-time life away from the computer and the often-abstract world of virtual communication. I guess you can say I am blogging the moderate way.
***

As many of you know, I’ve been spending the last few weeks fine-tuning the Fairy Tale Tarot companion book. I decided to cherish the process and focus on making sure this project was getting my full attention. And what a wonderful ride creating the Fairy Tale Tarot has been! Now that the editing process is completed, with the book going to press on May 18th, I felt inspired to write a post documenting my editing experience.

Here is a picture of the proofs (along with initial cover design layout) my editor at Llewellyn had sent to me. Editing can be a joyful experience if one is partnered up with the right individual. Becky is one of those editors I have always felt connected to. Our verbal relays are swift, symbiotic and stimulating. Becky has worked on several of my projects, so we have an established rapport that is nothing short of nurturing and mutually satisfying.

Here is a picture of the PDF edits. Becky sent queries/edits using a nifty mock-sticky note editing tool. This is a first for me, but I gotta say that it did streamline the process with its easy-to-read inserts. Life has become infinitely easier for both the editor and writer! While researching and writing Fairy Tale Tarot, I kept meticulous notes and sometimes had to go back to my books to double-check a potential inconsistency or to validate my sources. Here’s a snapshot of one of my fairy/folk tale bookcases. As you may know, I’m an avid collector of both modern and antique fairy tale books. These are my babies and I’ve grown to know them intimately! If you were to come into my library with a book in mind, I could retrieve it in a flash (perhaps leftover from my days working at a library).

Becky also designed the book and it’s gorgeous! The typography is brilliant and the placement of illustrations really brings an aesthetic cohesion to the presentation. And Lynne, the art director did a fantastic job with the cards: borderless images with subtle scrolls for text placement. She was able to effectively include card titles without sacrificing the integrity of the images.

The Flying Ship card comes to mind when I think of the production process of the Fairy Tale Tarot. Nine of Wands is about working cooperatively, inner strength, preparedness, order, vision, action and all manner of proactive multiplicities. This project finally came together due to the collective effort of all those involved to help me bring out my best and to transform years of intense creativity into a stunning package. I’ve always been thankful to editors, art directors, designers and all those involved to help bring ideas to publication: they are the unspoken heroes behind many of the gorgeous books and decks that line our bookshelves (or fill our kindles). I couldn’t be happier with the results and will always remember my creative exchanges with these consummate professionals fondly.

~Lisa

Tags: 9 of Wands, blogging, books, cooperation, design, editing, Fairy Tale, flying ship, inspiration, order, preparedness, strength, transform, vision, work

This entry was posted by lisahuntart on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 at 1:36 PM and is filed under The Fairy Tale Tarot, Wands. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.