This drawing is for Rose Vanden Eynden, author extraordinaire

With that said, I must keep this short and sweet, my friends. Here are some images of the Ghosts & Spirits project in progress. And of course, I’ve included a few pictures created by my afternoon studio companions, Connor (9 years) & Kyra (5 years). Sorry, as amazing as Timmy-the-Cat is, he has yet to pick up a pencil. Instead, he has mastered the art of power napping.

"Black Dog" detail of pencil drawing in progress

Paintings in various stages of progress

Kyra loves to draw animals. There is so much joy in this piece!

New York in the future. Connor's drawings tend to have technical leanings.

And while we're working our tails off, whose been sleeping in Kyra's bed?

~ Lisa

ps. The Fantastical Creatures giveaway ends soon, see my previous blog entry for detail on how to enter!

Final watercolor painting: Cap o' Rushes

It has been a while since I’ve written a life-as-an-artist post. The past few months have been a flurry of The Fairy Tale Tarot promotion (something that has been a fun experience!), getting kids ready for another school year, tying up long neglected loose ends including painting bookshelves, purging clutter and prepping seedlings for the autumnal garden season.

Now that fall is officially underway, I’ve thrown myself back into my studio cave for another intense round of deadline-driven painting. The next several months will be full of creative bustle. I’ve also been preparing artwork and prints for two upcoming art shows (more info next post).

I seem to juxtapose intense painting sessions with recuperative respites. I know it’s  probably more ideal to maintain a steady pace throughout the year, but somehow, those pockets of mental rest prepare me for the next round of explosive creativity. I seem to build up the need to do art before unlocking the dam of ideas, mixing paint while settling myself within the realm of my own alternate universe. During these active work cycles, it’s very hard to pull away from my studio. Thus, I have a conspicuous clock on the wall across from my drafting table. Otherwise, sacred art time would render linear time irrelevant. After all I do need to feed the cat and pick up the kids from school.

Initial rough sketch in journal with notes

Right now, I feel very Ace of Swords. My mind has affixed itself on the necessity to paint. I have a clear vision of what I will be doing for the duration of fall and winter. Yes there will be those inevitable life going ons that gingerly make their way into one’s daily sphere, but I know when I sit down to paint–there will be little pause.

In the Fairy Tale Tarot, Ace of Swords is represented by Cap o’ Rushes. I’ve always loved this story and really connect with the unrealized heroine in the painting. I love the fact that she’s able to adapt (literally, using rushes to weave a garment)  and focus on what she needs to do to prevail under challenging circumstances. In my case, it’s the reality of a busy season ahead. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I am viewing it as the beginning of renewed challenges full of creative opportunities and exciting studio sessions.

Pencil drawing of Cap 'o Rushes

The work I am exploring is daring–and reflects a maturity that is starting to penetrate how I see the world. I truly believe working on The Fairy Tale started something–and has made me believe that exploring the depths of our being, shadowy chasms and all is not a detriment but rather an opportunity to become more whole, more expansive and simply more aware of who we are and what our unique place on the world stage might be. The work I’ve been doing in the past few years reflects this growth and the realization that there is no such thing as “arriving” as an artist. It truly is all about the creative journey. And with that, farther and with a bolder brush I go!

And just in case I start feeling irretrievably lost  during the painting process, there’s always Timmy “studio buddy” there to help keep it real!

~Lisa

The Fairy Tale Tarot project is finally winding down! I received my first few batches of edits and just completed a series of drawings that will adorn the interior pages of the companion book. The edits are not as bad as I thought they might be–no dreaded major overhauls. Just some “nip and tucking” here and there. I would like to think this is an indication that I had submitted a strong manuscript, meticulously researched and carefully composed. As I was writing the stories, every single word was a syncopated dance through narrative. With a designated 800 word count per story, I had to be crisp and elegant without the luxury of endless writing room. It was an exercise in literary discipline that wielded, I think, some nice results.

Here is a picture of some of the notes I had accumulated over many months of intense research. Each folder represents a different story, bibliographical material as well as historical background of a particular tale. Notebooks were filled with snippets of scholastic brilliance gleaned from luminaries such as Marina Warner, Maria Tatar, Marie Von Franz, Jack Zipes and many, many more. All the research was filed into my brain and eventually distilled into words, meanings, and ideas–all coming together in what is going to be a lovely, comprehensive companion book. No matter how overwhelming a project may seem at its inception (and believe me, the prospect of doing a Fairy Tale deck was intimidating), somehow it all does come together.

Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter, A.A. Milne

The book illustrations went through a metamorphosis of sorts. The initial drafts were OKAY, but did not meet my standards nor did I feel they best reflected the style and feel of the package. So I perused illustrations of some my heroes, allowed their influences to help loosen up my brain and procured a fresh bristol pad from the art store–like a clean slate needing to be punctuated with fresh drawings.

I then sat down, sketched my kitty Timmy and spontaneously came up with the following drawings–more delicate and perhaps humorous and intimate than my initial attempts. I also decided to add a mouse companion, reflecting my own cat’s penchant to make friends with everybody. Here are the results of those drawings, having taken me approximately 5 days to complete. Drawing Timmy as Puss in Boots was so much fun, that I was almost sad when I finished the series. Though, the reality of edits are reminding me that the bristol pad must go back in the drawer for now, well, at least until tomorrow.

Puss In Boots Drawings 1

Puss In Boots Drawings 2

Puss In Boots Drawings 3

Puss In Boots Drawings 4

~ Lisa

Meeeeeow - The Amazing Timmy!

As many of you may already know via twitter and facebook, my beloved cat and faithful model for many paintings was recently the victim of a senseless crime. Though I’ve always been hesitant to let my kitties outside, there was something about Timmy that made us acquiesce to his desire. He loves to sit out front by my flowers, drinking in the sights and smells from his little patch of habitat.

Timmy is not your typical cat. He is a charming feline to all those who make his acquaintance. He possesses a playful lightheartedness and appears void of aggression or hostility towards anything regardless of what the natural order of things tends to dictate. Birds, ducks, frogs, lizards and all manner of animals would meander by his spot without taking much notice. It’s as though other animals can sense Timmy’s placidity and feel safe in his calm presence. I have a feeling he delights in visitors from the wild and takes pleasure observing his fellow animals. Lots of humans know Timmy as well. Even my community manager gushed about his particularly good-natured temperament after she had stopped by. Timmy is especially gentle with children and seems to connect with their innocent puerile antics. Whenever my kids rode their bikes or did chalk drawings on the driveway, their old faithful furry buddy would roll around near them as if he too was in recess mode.

Connor Talking & Timmy Listening

Timmy was a known fixture in my front yard…perhaps making him a vulnerable target. One day we noticed something was wrong. His left eye became swollen and his usual spunk gave way to extended lethargy. Our first thought was that he had been stung, or had a toothache, or had a stroke. We were not prepared for what came next.

When the vet called with x-ray results, it was as though someone had punched me in the stomach. Lodged in his occipital bone area (just missing his eyeball) was a BB gun pellet. This shocked everyone, even the vet. The fact that it had penetrated his face made the vet think it had occurred close range and was the result of pure maliciousness. I could not fathom why and how anyone would have done this to such a loving animal. The vet hypothesized that Timmy’s overt friendliness had put him at risk. “Timmy is such a sweet friendly cat, he may have gone right up to his attacker oblivious to the danger before he was shot.” We were devastated! Even the officer who took the police report shook his head and seemed genuinely disturbed by the incident.

Dick Whittington's Cat - concept sketches

Timmy is now indoors (permanently) and in great spirits. As much as he loves the outdoors, we’re not taking any chances. He is as loving as ever and has been enjoying his convalesce and the copious love that is being showered on him. We feel optimistic that he will be okay. Hopefully over time, we will all heal from the sadness of what happened and appreciate our dear fuzzy friend that much more for the remainder of his years.

These images are my way of honoring an important member of my family.

Timmy as the Magician card (winded cat) for Fantastical Creatures Tarot

Timmy as Puss in Boots (Mentor card) & Dick Whittington's Cat (Prince of Wands) in the Fairy Tale Tarot

~ Lisa
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