Dynamic Dreamer ~ Art Weaver

Posted By lisahuntart on December 20, 2011

I just mailed out the last of holiday orders—drawing right up until the last possible moment to assure delivery of goodies. I can happily report that I have completed and mailed almost 40 Spirit Drawings in the last few months (Yes, I’m still taking orders). What a ride and what a great way to keep everything energized in the studio!  In between working on commissions for people from around the world, I managed to finish up Ghosts and Spirits Tarot (at the printer as I write), and work on paintings for my Bird project.

Here are a few newly rendered drawings stretched on boards and ready for paint:

 

With one eye on the 2011 hourglass, I’m cleaning up the studio and am reflecting on the approaching holidays. In my house we fully embrace the magic of this time of year. Our yearly ritual entails discarding clutter and old energy in anticipation of the new year ahead and the sense of renewal that accompanies it.  What will you be doing to prepare for 2012? Do you plan to break any chains and let go of those things that are weighing you down?

15 Chains (Jacob Marley)

In A Christmas Carol, Jacob Marley was Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner and only friend. On Christmas Eve, the anniversary of Marley’s death, his ghost paid Scrooge an unexpected visit. The ghost’s chains, cash box and padlocks encumbered his spirit and served as reminders of his material-driven life. Marley comes to his parsimonious partner as a symbol of this potential dreadful fate, telling him to expect three spirit encounters. The ghost of Jacob Marley hangs in limbo as the shadows of an illusionary life keep his spirit in a state of stasis.

Divinatory meaning: You are harboring obsessive desires that cannot fill an empty void. Instead, it is weighing you down with deep-seated dissatisfaction. Open your eyes to the truth and start recognizing what is truly important.

(From the Ghosts & Spirits Tarot, due to be published early 2012)

In other Hunt-Kramerville news:

After almost 7 years of intense training, our 11 year old son earned his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. With his Black Belt, his Master finally cut off his Padawan braid. Connor transitioned from boy to young man—with his Black Belt heart and mind there to navigate him through his challenging middle grade years (yes, bullies are a persistent fixture in the preteen landscape). There is something to wearing a Black Belt—it alters a person and makes the individual feel keenly aware of one’s environment. It also instills a confidence that goes with having journeyed from an unaware white belt to a humbled black belt who has learned to expect the unexpected. Once a black belt, one’s perception is forever altered: from the ashes rises the warrior ready to take on life’s challenges with perspicacious intent. Connor holds his head higher, appears more focused and exudes a positive energy that says “here’s a good, conscientious guy”. I’m proud of what he’s accomplished and feel confident that he will remain on the path of good character and future achievement.

Meanwhile, here’s a clip from our 7 year old daughter’s recital.

Her piano professor, who is a brilliant musician and masterful instructor, told me “She is going to be great when she’s eight!”. We’ll see, but for now, I’m enjoying watching this ray of sunshine grow.

Wishing everyone a very healthy happy holiday and an inspirational year ahead!

~Lisa

Category: Announcements, Family, Ghosts & Spirits Tarot, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Out and About | No Comments »
Tags: artwork, bird, black belt, drawing, Ghosts & Spirits Tarot, Lynn University, piano recital, tae kwon do

Posted By lisahuntart on December 2, 2011

My 30th Spirit Drawing!

After taking a week off to work on remodeling the kitchen, I came back to the studio with an abundance of stored-up creative energy. The result was successive, almost explosive dances with my pencils. It was like entering a traffic-less highway with just miles and miles of open roadway ahead; the horizon serving as an endless canvas of ideas.

Here are some Spirit Drawings I worked on during this fortuitous week

 

After creating 30 drawings for wonderful individuals around the world, I’m still excited and fresh with every new drawing. If you would like to order a Spirit Drawing, I would be happy to create an original pencil drawing based on YOUR ideas. Visit my holiday specials or Spirit Drawings page for more information.

http://ghostsandspiritstarot.com/spirit_drawings.html

And here are a few drawings I’m working on for the bird project. This week I’m focusing on drawing Robin-Shapeshifter, Grouse-Shapeshifter and Bluejay-Shapeshifter (not pictured here).

My kids picked up on their fiery mama’s creative vibes and were decidedly studio companions after school. Kyra did her first drawing for Alphabeasts, an open submission online gallery of fantastical beasts.

In other Hunt-Kramerville news:

Also, both Kyra and Connor made honor roll this past fall semester. I’m very proud of my children’s good studying habits. I made it clear that creative ideas come more easily when one reads and studies a lot! So far, my parenting strategy is working.

And last but not least, Mom aka “Omi” turned 70. Happy Birthday Omi!

~ Lisa

Category: Custom Drawings, Family, Spirit Drawings | 1 Comment »
Tags: alphabeasts, artwork, bird, creativity, drawing, spirit drawings

Posted By lisahuntart on November 18, 2011

Artist and model Tamara Newman sent me a beautiful photo of herself to use as inspiration for a bird shapeshifter piece. I immediately knew I had to draw her. I loved how she pulled up her hair and looked to the sky as if she was about to open her wings and fly into the heavens of endless possibilities.

Tamara, hailing from the United Kingdom exhibits her work at various art festivals and has had work published in FAE Magazine and The Magical Times. Her magical creations are also sold in specialty shops in Glastonbury and Cornwall. Tamara boasts a strong following of admirers and fans with her versatile presentations. I love her dragon font!

Everything about her posture, her countenance, her coloring and even her fantasy artwork made me gravitate to the barn swallow. Lesley Morrison, who is writing the companion book for the “bird project”  (to be published by U.S. Games) e-mailed me some thoughts about the swallow and the powerful energies that they possess:

“The swallow is a herald of many interesting energies. It is precision of flight, innocence of spirit, upward movement, and a link to many powerful deities. Swallow has mastered agility, whirling in flight and changing direction in midair to capture its prey.

Swallow is a harmony, balancing the peaceful and chaotic faces of life. It is a hope that wherever our dreams may dance we will master the instincts to catch them.” ~Lesley Morrison, author of The Healing Wisdom of Birds

I’ve always loved the swallow and relished painting one in flight for the beloved fairy tale, Thumbelina. I’ve always viewed this bird as a harbinger for a happily ever after, with its fantastical fae-like presence. It darts as it flies with its swift, incisive movements—almost as if it is in play, teasing human observers with it’s unpredictable movements.

“The swallow is an auspicious symbol of hope and renewal. It glides over the waters of the unconscious, where dreams and collective myths flow. The bird and girl fly through mists, leaving their troubles behind.” ~excerpt from The Fairy Tale Tarot

I started with a sketch, taking design/layout and anatomy all into consideration.

Then I refined it by working out the anatomical kinks. Photos tend to distort and in this case, the arms are largely obscured by shadow and fabric, so I drew out the bones and muscles and adjusted their size to give the drawing an elegant, aesthetic quality. Once I felt I had a solid drawing to work from, I rubbed the back of the tracing with graphite before redrawing it onto a stretched sheet of ARCHES 140 lb. watercolor paper.

The traced-down image serves as a basic template for the final drawing. After many hours of intense rendering with a fine arts mindset accompanying every stroke, I felt the drawing was finished. As you can see, much of the drawing is created spontaneously on the watercolor paper. These days, I rarely over plan the tracing—I just let the details emerge without formulaic construct. This helps me connect with the image on a deep, soulful level without distractions.

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In Hunt-Kramerville news:

Goodbye old kitchen! Little do people know that the woman behind the soft pencil drawings and delicate watercolor paintings has been slowly remodeling her house the frugal way–with her own hammer and nails.
I grew up amid construction, having helped my family build their house when I was a little girl (now my wise old Pop advises and helps me with my house). Believe it or not, the physical demands of home improvement tasks actually feed the intense creative spates in my studio. It’s the act of renewing something that breathes fresh air into cognitive streams. I don’t get artist’s block because I build blocks, so to speak, between brainstorming sessions. This balance between home improvement and artistic expansion is a satisfying way to move through my middle years. My feet are solidly on the ground, yet I can still spread my wings.

 

Connor will be taking his black belt test in December. Cutting off the *padawan* braid will be part of Connor’s transition to Junior Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Poor Kippers won’t be able to perch on it anymore.

~ Lisa

Category: Announcements, Bird Oracle, Family, Inspiration | No Comments »
Tags: animal, artwork, bird, creativity, drawing, Lisa Hunt, oracle, shapeshifter, Tamara Newman, watercolors

Posted By lisahuntart on November 4, 2011

I’m not a big fan of using photographic reference. For me, I feel it tends to impede my creative flow. But sometimes a photograph will provide the artist with a peek at the world from a new point of view. When I rely too much on my own mental resources without refreshing the internal well, there is a potential for stagnation and redundancy. I’ve seen this happen to other artists and it scares me about myself. If an artist keeps taking the path of least resistance, it can get boring to the viewer. My favorite artists tend to be those who keep it fresh by expanding their repertoire while maintaining an air of humility about their work. They are the forever-learners who push and push and push never letting ego hinder the process.

My own favorite pieces tend to be ones that I consciously move into edgy realms of new possibilities. It’s like peering over a cliff and taking that leap without knowing exactly where and how you’re going to land. I think it’s important for an artist to be conscious of potential failure without fearing it. Fear and ego are often closely aligned. Let go and see your work fly!  If a painting doesn’t work, it’s not the end of the world but the beginning of further understanding and growth.

With Parrot-Shapeshifter, I felt I needed to change up my palette so to speak and knew the extraordinary spirit that is the author/artist Emily Carding was just the energetic boost I needed.  Anyone who has acquainted her/himself with this amazing woman will know exactly what I’m talking about.

Lesley Morrison, author of The Healing Wisdom of birds, describes Parrot as, “A magnificent species of bird, parrots give the medicine of color to the world, and the healing everyone experiences through its beauty.  People who carry parrot medicine are often drawn to the visual arts, even costume design, or wherever they can work with colors on a daily basis.”

Who better to pose for the chromatic Parrot-Shapeshifter than a fellow artist whose work encapsulates the essence of parrot energy? Emily is a woman who exudes vibrant charisma as a photogenic model/actor and as an accomplished artist and writer. She has published many works including the brilliantly executed Transparent Tarot. She has many well-received decks with Schiffer Books and is currently working on projects entitled the Simple Wisdom of the Household Dog and Faery Crafy, both due out next year. You can learn more about the lovely Emily by visiting her website:  www.childofavalon.com.

I asked Emily to say a few words about being “Parrot-Shapeshifter” and was surprised by her reply, indicative of her generous spirit:

” I have been a fan of Lisa’s work since long before I was ever published myself so I am honoured beyond words to be the inspiration behind this extraordinary piece of art. When Lisa asked whether there was a particular bird I felt a connection with, I gave her free choice as I was curious to see what she would choose. The parrot both surprised and delighted me- the more I look at it, the more I realise how perfect a choice it is. I think Lisa has really outdone herself with the extraordinary colour and detail, as well as her trademark touch of magic!” ~Emily Carding, November 2011

Thank you Em — xo

Here’s what you helped make happen…

While sketching Parrot-Shapeshifter, it became clear to me that I really needed to look at some good close-up shots of parrots. I wanted to understand those delicious patterns on the feathers and felt it was necessary to acquire good reference. I asked my friend and local photographer Moxie Nox if she would be willing to provide me with photos from one of her outings to a local sanctuary.

I was delighted by the many poses and skillful zooms that she was able to provide for me. Please check out her website and friend her on Facebook. She is a delightful, insightful woman who has so many gifts to share. www.moxienox.com

“I’ve always been fascinated by the birds and enjoy taking pictures of them. I’m very fortunate to live very close to Flamingo Gardens (Davie, Florida) where I love to go often; to lose myself in photographing the birds and other wildlife that reside there. It’s pure magic in those Gardens.” ~Moxie Nox aka Melissa Ritchey

Many of us artists tend to be studio hermits and even semi-recluses, but the richness of our work often includes the outside world and how we see and feel about everything around us. This includes the symbiotic exchanges that artists often share—full of mutual support and words of inspiration and of course, helpful critiques! I’m fortunate to have largely avoided artist’s block during my 25 year career and credit this for having nurtured and maintained many diverse relationships with kindred creative spirits. Thank you Em and Moxie and thank you everyone who has touched me in ways that have nurtured my art!

In Hunt-Kramerville news: The house of continual creative messes

Speaking of vibrant colors: Here’s Kyra’s PTA 2011 “Reflections” art project submission. This year’s theme is “Diversity”. She recently completed a unit on coral reefs at school and decided to apply her knowledge about biodiversity and symbiosis to her art. Kort and I are extremely impressed with her  innate talents and undeterred confidence. She knew what she wanted to do and went ahead and did it. I thought the whole cut-away idea was really cool! As soon as we get it back, it’s going to be professionally framed.

Here’s a picture of Connor in his Halloween costume that he designed and made himself. Unfortunately, he claimed the discomfort of wearing it made it hard to trick or treat!

~Lisa

Category: Announcements, Bird Oracle, Family, Inspiration | 2 Comments »
Tags: contest, creativity, drawing, Emily Carding, Flamingo Gardens, humble, inspiration, Lesley Morrison, Moxie Nox, painting, parrot, parrot-shapeshifter, photographic reference, PTA Reflections Contest, shapeshifter, The Healing Wisdom of Birds, watercolors

Posted By lisahuntart on October 28, 2011

When the fed ex guy dropped off a fat box from my art director at U.S. Games, my happy dance alarm threw me into a whirl as I quickly tore into its contents.  Out came the final Ghosts & Spirits Tarot manuscript, card back designs, card art and the long-awaited cover designs. It is hard to describe how one feels when one first lays eyes on pieces of production, but it is similar to seeing one’s artwork or earned award newly framed and hanging on the wall. It encapsalutes one’s work and dedication into a small bundle of instant recognition and it’s loaded with emotion.

The Ghosts and Spirits Tarot is like nothing I’ve done before. It called into action every nook and cranny of my psyche—employing deep dark figments of recessed fears along with the myths and legends that have occupied my creative life since I was a child. Not everything is dark, heavy and scary, but it is probably the first deck I’ve created that exposes so much rawness with vividity. It is untangling of sorts—where all the hung up pieces have fallen out of a web of resistance; tumbling into these 79 cards. Here are some sample cards for you to look at (more coming in future blog posts). I tried to pick a variety to help illustrate the diverse nature of this unique deck.

Yes, 79 cards. The other thing that makes this deck different is your involvement through social networking and the many eyes and voices that have contributed to its evolution. I had fans and friends vote for pieces including images for the cover art and an image for Four of Swords. Due to the overwhelming response and strong arguments for both images in question, the good folks at U.S. Games decided to include both Snow Ghost and Hamlet on the card box. You made this happen! For Four of swords, instead of the omission of one of the images, it was decided that an extra card would be added to the deck. How fun is that?

In other Hunt-Kramerville news:

Kyra’s daily repertoire includes books, critters and artwork.

I love this diorama that Kyra did for her coral reef project. It earned her an A!

Contrasting Kyra’s peaceful realms is Connor’s robo battles:

~ Lisa

Category: Announcements, Family, Ghosts & Spirits Tarot, tarot | 6 Comments »
Tags: artwork, Ghosts & Spirits Tarot, Lisa Hunt, painting, tarot, U.S. Games Systems, watercolors

Posted By lisahuntart on October 7, 2011

“Within the silence, allow your dreams to unfold in your mind…pay close attention to your visions and dreams.” ~Lesley Morrison, author of The Healing Wisdom of Birds.

I had no idea where I was going to take Loon-Shapeshifter. It was a piece that evolved through feelings, nostalgia and from a place where simplicity was beautiful and complex. Loon-Shapeshifter was not the subject of a painting, but part of a wider story where trees, water and sky all merge together in seamless harmony. While painting, I felt Loon quietly skim the soothing cool waters, reflecting the monochromatic landscape—neutral, peaceful and deeply connected to the universe.

In a previous post, I talked about sketching and drawing Loon-Shapeshifter. In this post, I will take you through the painting process from gathering reference and supplies.

 

I sometimes use mascoid to help protect some of the whites of the paper. For those of you who are unfamiliar with mascoid, it’s like rubber cement that you apply to select areas of the watercolor paper. After it dries, you can paint to your heart’s content without worrying about the designated areas that you want to keep free of watercolor. I use mascoid rather selectively as sometimes it’s easier to paint without it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watercolor painting requires patience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before getting into the nitty gritty and final stages of the painting, I remove the mascoid and allow the white areas to join the rest of the painting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finishing it off…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the final stretch, I reapplied mascoid in the foreground and included some areas that had already been painted. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the end result gave the piece a shimmery look; something that perfectly captured the essence of the loon’s spirit that I was hoping to achieve.

 

~ Lisa

Category: Bird Oracle, Inspiration | 1 Comment »
Tags: Lesley Morrison, Lisa Hunt, loon, mascoid, painting process, shapeshifter, watercolors

Posted By lisahuntart on September 30, 2011

Here are the first four “spirit drawings” I’ve rendered for customers. I really enjoy receiving keywords such as “bird”, “bear”, “Shaman Spirit” and turning them into art. Like the custom soul drawings of last year, these are created with a spontaneous flourish–using the recipient’s words as my guide.

These drawings are rendered on quality paper using graphite. They’re mounted on foam core board and are lovingly wrapped with protective cellophane. They take approximately two weeks from initial order to delivery. A “spirit drawing” certificate of authenticity is included.

If you are interested in ordering an original drawing at an affordable $28.00, please visit my Spirits Drawings page at my Ghosts & Spirits website.

In other Hunt-Kramerville news…

Connor is a chip off the ol’ block. He has figured out that embellishing one’s Language Arts writing assignments with accompanying illustrations is a great way to engage the reader (and hopefully the teacher). I used to do this too and still do!

And… Kyra took and passed her Green Belt test. She has definitely inherited my “Wildhorse” spirit, though I can’t kick as well as she can. Congratulations Kyra!

~Lisa

Category: Announcements, Custom Drawings, Family, Spirit Drawings | No Comments »
Tags: artwork, creativity, drawing, Lisa Hunt, sketching, spirit drawings

Posted By lisahuntart on September 21, 2011

Along the way, I posted this on facebook:

“Here’s the Swan-Shapeshifter watercolor painting. I think it’s done. I certainly don’t want to overwork it. Thoughts, friends?”

Here are some select invaluable and insightful comments. I wanted to include them all as there was such a resounding response, but it would definitely take too much space on my blog.

Marcy Currier Just looking at it through my artist eye– when I’m working and I look at the page, certain parts call out and say, Hey, I’ve got something for you. The top of your page seems to be saying that. For me its kind of like there being a door or a tunnel. Is that helpful?

Rae della Luna Congrats! I’m drawn to the androgyny of the central figure, and don’t know why it came to mind but here goes: I feel it’s a male cross-dressing with swan (much better than Björk did the swan!) and it gives a modern, urban feel (think Cirque, BurningMan, or fests) instead of the more ubiquitous combination of animals meets fantasy movie in artwork these days. Me likes!

Lise Winne Love how the hair and feathers intermingle!

Valerie Sylvester I especially like the “circles” in it! Beautiful, as always, Lisa!

Moxie Nox This is simply spectacular!! I love the tones and how everything flows around together… I do agree with Kort’s perspective on darkening the top with deeper blues. As you know I totally rely on all things visual, I don’t see a ‘horizon’ here where the sea meets the sky when I usually see them in most of your other paintings. (If you know what I mean). To me, it seems like this view was captured from the sky, as the swanlady is swimming on her back, with her head resting on the swan’s belly… Dang, I wanna swim with her! haha.. Awesome as always!

Mickie Mueller I could look at this forever! It would be a great piece to meditate on.

Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya wow, having tried watercolors I now know how exquisitely delicate this painting is!!! white and watercolors: that takes a lot of thought, planning and experienced talent! great job!!!

Stephanie Arwen Lynch She feels caught right in the middle between water and air. As if this transformation is a perfect expression of the dual nature of both the swan (swim/fly) and the woman (woman/swan.) Love it. I wouldn’t darken it because of that.

KiKi Thomas-Lee I love the intricacies of the feathers and the hair, melding and blending.

Terri Bivona Stunning! When I see art like this, I keep thinking…How???? Such talent!

*Terri, I don’t know about talent or even exactly how, where and why. But I have the need to express myself through these paintings. My art is as much about connecting with something deeply internal as it is about creating something that others will be moved by. Thank you!

 

In between washes and paintings, I’m also working on Spirit Drawings for customers. I received a few orders so far and will post each one as I complete them. These drawings differ from “soul drawings” in that they are purposely focusing on spirit, the ethereal and something ineffable. These are not portraits, they’re creative explorations using keywords provided by the client. For example, one of my first orders included the words: Trees, bears, good spirits.

If you would like to learn more about “spirit drawings” please visit my Ghosts & Spirits Tarot website. The orders take approximately 2 weeks to turnaround and mail to you. If you would like one for the holidays, now is a good time to make your request. These are for a limited time only.

And the best news here at Hunt-Kramerville: Kyra was chosen “Student of the Month” in her second grade class!

The award is primarily in recognition of having a positive attitude.  I’m proud of my daughter for being outgoing, kind-hearted and enthusiastic about people and life in general. She has a way of cheering people up with her sunshiny demeanor. To me, there is nothing more important than maintaining good character, a positive attitude and exercising compassion and care.

~ Lisa

Category: Announcements, Bird Oracle | 6 Comments »
Tags: artwork, creativity, facebook, inspiration, Lisa Hunt, painting, painting process, shapeshifter, swan, watercolors

Posted By lisahuntart on September 12, 2011

As many of you may know, I recently spent a few weeks up North visiting my childhood haunts in Connecticut. Fortunately I was able to capture some beautiful photos before Hurricane Irene descended on the woods and wreaked havoc in my old neighborhood. My poor parents lost a lot of trees, as to be expected in an area inhabited by so many of these formidable giants. On the up side, the glorious trees will come back as they always do after destructive storms. The Northeasterners are known to be resilient, as are the trees!

Here’s an example of what I started working on after I returned from my trip. The visual stimulus was transcribed onto paper from memory. All of that inspirational ‘food’ had to go somewhere! The trees, the rocks, the hills…

Here’s another painting I’m working on that was inspired by birds, nature and other organic wonders that seep into my psyche and are brought to life with pencil and paint. My artwork reflects a connection with my surroundings–something pulsing and alive and a part of us all.

Speaking of birds…

~ Lisa

Category: Bird Oracle, Family, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Out and About, Pets, Travel | 3 Comments »
Tags: animal, artwork, bird nest, birds, Connecticut, creativity, inspiration, Lisa Hunt, painting, Patrick Dougherty, shapeshifter, The Florence Griswold Museum, trees, watercolors, woods

Posted By lisahuntart on August 22, 2011

Life is composed of fleeting moments. But some experiences have the power to serve as inspiration for years to come. Visiting U.S. Games was one of those experiences. Thank you team U.S. Games Systems for your top-notch hospitality. It was a day to remember!

~ Lisa

Category: Announcements, tarot, Travel | 3 Comments »
Tags: Animals Divine Tarot, artwork, Bobbie Bensaid, creativity, games, Ghosts & Spirits Tarot, inspiration, Lynn Araujo, Pamela Colman Smith, Paula Palmer, Stuart Kaplan, tarot art, The Encyclopedia of Tarot, U.S. Games Systems