Here I am with a foolish young heart (and thin figure!). This is 1995 while working on my first tarot deck: the Shapeshifter Tarot

This is the painting that determined my artistic path. The Sorceress was the sample I painted before landing my first tarot contract with Llewellyn Publications.

Here's a Shapeshifter portrait I did for 60's rock icon, Donovan. I flew to San Francisco and presented the framed painting to him in person at a 1997 Whole Life Expo (my apologies for the poor photo quality--I know I have more somewhere).

Here I am in 1998 at an Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale graduation. At the time I was working on Celtic Dragon Tarot, I was also earning a degree in Computer Animation (very new at the time). I face-mapped the Shapeshifter Tarot images on 3D runes and had them spin around in space. No one ever saw anything like that before and it earned me the top prize in my graduating class (and a subsequent job as a conceptual designer and later, college teacher).

Here's my studio. On the wall is a framed Celtic Dragon Tarot press sheet. As my biggest seller, it holds a place of honor in my workspace.

After Celtic Dragon Tarot, my book Celestial Goddesses was published. I met fabulous people along the way, including my dear friend Pam (professional singer/art educator extraordinaire). This was taken during the Spring of 2002.

I also met my future husband at the one and only Celestial Goddesses book signing. It was destiny!

During the past 15 years, I've nurtured an extraordinary friendship with the brilliant and soulful Kris Waldherr.

While I was earning my Masters Degree in Interdisplinary Studies, Animals Divine Tarot was published. It earned a COVR award the following year (2006).

After Animals Divine Tarot, there was Fantastical Creatures Tarot published by US Games. Here I am at a 2007 INATS East signing/reading. I was busy!

While working on tarot decks and books, I had kids! Here I am with my artistic son Connor in 2009.

Here's Kyra in the studio in (early 2009?). My kids love to draw too!

Here's a bookcover-in-progress I did last year.

I also had a 10 year stint as a Collectible Card Game artist, but after over 100 images I retired from the industry.

I also studied martial arts and earned my Black Belt in TKD as a means of getting healthy and feeling more balanced while in the studio. It's easy to neglect oneself when one is so consumed by one's artistic passions! (2008)

I loved writing this book!

Here's a framed press sheet of The Fairy Tale Tarot that hung at a local gallery in 2009.

Here I am at work in the studio. I use the TP for painting--just in case you were confused. (2010)

Here's what I'm working on now...

and here's what I'll be working on next.

It has been a wonderful journey so far. I can honestly say that I feel a deep sense of gratitude for my life. Yes, I did make things happen, but I also feel I’m a blessed person to be able to live my passion and know who I am. Who knows what will be? But for now, I’m perfectly content with the here and now. But sometimes it’s good to reflect back and take pause. I don’t take anything for granted!

~ Lisa

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I’m offering some amazing deals in recognition of “Black Friday”.
They are:

1. Half-off original paintings!
2. Custom drawings
3. Buy 1 get 1 FREE prints
4. Buy Animals Divine and The Fairy Tale Tarot & get a FREE copy Celestial Goddesses
5. Buy Celestial Goddesses and get a FREE print

Check out the specials here: http://lisahuntart.com/blackfriday.html

Offer good until December 7, 2009, so don’t delay!
______________

Don’t forget to sign up for the Celtic Dragon Anniversary print giveaway!
http://is.gd/4Lf4x

The Fairy Tale exhibit opens Friday, October 23 at the Kris Waldherr Art and Words Gallery in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. Lisa is one of the artists with work in the exhibit. Visit this link for more details:

http://www.kriswaldherr.com/press/ftpress.html

First up: It is an honor and a privilege to be part of an extraordinary gallery event focusing on the theme of Fairy Tales!

FAIRY TALES: FROM DARK WOOD TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER
featuring the art of
Leela Corman, Mary Louise Geering, Lisa Hunt, Amy Saidens, Carisa Swenson, Kris Waldherr, Karen Zuegner and Kristina Carroll.

I am so honored to be sharing artshow space with these immensely talented artists, each bringing a vision of Fairy Tale land that is uniquely their own. I will be having original watercolor paintings from the recently published The Fairy Tale Tarot (Llewellyn Publications) as well as pencil drawings from the book and limited edition prints showcased in this splendid collection of outstanding fairy tale works. This is a rare opportunity to see my original art and the work of others on display for viewing and purchasing. I have to tell you, I LOVE this gallery. It’s a treasure filled with books, art and endless inspiration. I was so lucky to have been able to spend some time in this beautiful sanctuary with my close friend and owner, Kris Waldherr. It felt so comfortable and lovely and was filled with this ineffable artistic energy that really induced feelings of creative satiation.

If you’re in the NYC area, please stop in for a reception and viewing*~* opening October 23, 2009 – opening reception 7 – 10pm ~*~Come meet some of the artists and have the opportunity to meet the proprietor of the finest gallery in Victorian Brooklyn, Kris Waldherr.

Located in Victorian Brooklyn, Kris Waldherr Art and Words is Kris Waldherr’s working studio during the week and a gallery on the weekend. Not only is her gallery a stunning place filled with art, it is operated by the internationally famous artist and author of The Goddess Tarot, Doomed Queens and many other beloved publications.

All events are held at:
KRIS WALDHERR ART AND WORDS
1501 Newkirk Avenue
(entrance on Marlborough Road, around the corner from subway station)
Brooklyn, NY 11226
347-406-5811
subway: Q or B train to Newkirk Avenue
street parking is available

Next up:

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale‘s AiFL Alumni Art Show will be held on Monday, November 2, 2009 until November 30, 2009 at the Mark K Wheeler Gallery, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

During the 1990′s, I attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale as a Computer Animation student. And though my specialty was not focused on computer arts (though I was expected to learn and understand 2D and 3D programs), I learned to conceptualize and integrate my traditional artwork within an innovative production environment that enabled me to hone my skills and become a more efficient thinker, painter and project visualizer. Subsequent to graduation, I worked a few years in production houses as a conceptual designer and taught various art classes at my Alma Mater before turning to full time freelance studio work as a writer/artist. But my years as a student and teacher are memorable ones. Not only did I blossom as an artist and person during my time at AiFL, I met my husband, the fabulous photographer and graphic designer Kort Kramer and forged some lovely friendships that helped to inspire and nurture me as I continued on my artistic journey. It’s always a wonderful experience to return to my roots and have the opportunity to display work at the very institution that gave me my wings and showed me the way to endless creative possibilities.

Located at:
17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL

For further information call: 954-308-2109
or e-mail: awites@aii.edu

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

Llewellyn is generously giving away 9 uncut press sheets suitable for framing. Having personally signed these beauties, I can attest to the outstanding reproductive quality of these unique “galleries” showcasing The Fairy Tale Tarot artwork. I am happily the owner of one of these sheets and recently had it framed to hang in my home. What can I say? They’re really cool and collectible!

Here’s a link to the contest. Good luck everyone!
~Lisa

Win Your Own Little Piece of Happily Ever After

“Lisa Hunt is the creator of the Celtic Dragon Tarot, the Shapeshifter Tarot, the Animals Divine Tarot, the Fantastical Creatures Tarot, and her most recently released work, the Fairy Tale Tarot.

Lisa also has created a hardcover meditation guidebook called Celestial Goddesses, and maintains a website at www.lisahuntart.com.

She will join us on Walking the Path with Dawn and Laura on Monday, Sept. 14 at 11:00 am (Eastern Time) to discuss the Fairy Tale Tarot, and will be taking calls at 347/677-0909. Hope you can join us!

Listening is always free, show will be archived and available for download at www.blogtalkradio.com/walkingthepath.

Visit www.DawnandLaura.com anytime for info on upcoming shows.”

I hope that you can tune in!

Despite having a conspicuous display of my growing tarot collection including my own creations, my children never showed much interest in tarot. That is until The Fairy Tale Tarot arrived in the mail. I was really surprised by what followed: a sudden interest in tarot and a desire for me to explain everything that I know about the cards. Well, when I talk about tarot, it tugs at the heart of passion — I mean, these cards have formed me and represent so much of my personal and professional growth; though I am well aware that my journey is still within the Fool’s realm with the ever-ignited Ace of Wands in hand.

As a side note, Ace of Wands has been coming up a lot during my readings coinciding with a burst of creative activity circulating around my house at present.

So in addition to pulling cards every morning for my husband and I (yup, the ol’ a card a day…) I have been helping the kids read and study The Fairy Tale Tarot. My 9 year old son, who has always had “attention issues” seems to have no trouble focusing on the cards and gleaning information from the pictures. He’s quite adept at identifying the illustration with the accompanying tales. As for my spunky, extroverted 5 year old daughter, she has actually started reading them for us, the 3 card spread being her method of choice. And though she does not know all the nuances of the stories yet, I’m surprised at how intuitive she is with expanding on the visuals within the context of a given question. She’s a natural! And now she wants to create her own deck — a creative endeavor I will not discourage.

This is what I’ve learned: one is never too young or too old to learn the tarot. My daughter is 5 and I was 25 when I started. If you’re so inclined, pick up the cards and let yourself get acquainted. For my family, it really helps to expand the channels of communication–sometimes as conversational initiator, and other times as a way to pause and reflect on those things that need our attention or need to be reaffirmed.

The Fairy Tale Tarot has proven to be a hit with my entire family. It’s forging a new collective bond as we move through our days with tarot cards in hand.

Oh, and Timmy, aka Studio Buddy, says “Hi!” He too gravitates to creative spaces. He is proof that cats do indeed smile.

Best wishes,
~Lisa

I’m delighted to be the recipient of so many positive responses to my fairy tale deck. As you know, this project is joy to me. It’s a summation of my creative life in every way—writer, artist, dreamer, lover of fairy tales and all the stories (real life and fantasy) along the way. It’s who I am and it delights me to no end thinking that these stories and art are captivating to others. My deep heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you!

Some generous spirits have emerged with photos and blogs showcasing The Fairy Tale Tarot. Here’s a picture of The Fairy Tale Tarot laid out in an inventive spread. The photo was provided by Hearthcricket, omnipresent member of Aeclectic Tarot and now a blogger herself. Check out her blog: faerymusings.blogspot.com

Here’s Hearthcricket’s “Storybook Spread” that she has generously shared with me:
You read the cards in the same order as you would read words on the page of a book, top to bottom, and then flip up to the next page.  The idea is to get the cards to flow and unfold into one story, thus the querent’s reading!

1   2      5   6
3   4      7   8

1&2 read together as the past events, both physical and emotional.
3&4 read together as the querent and the present situation.
5&6 read together as the obstacles one must overcome and actions to be taken.
7&8 read together as the path one should consider and the final outcome.

And here’s a wonderful blog dedicated to The Fairy Tale Tarot and fairy tales in general, started by Ginger. Her insightful posts and thoughtful interludes demonstrate the richness of these tales and how they can mean so many things to different people. This is one reason why I love fairy tales so much—they’re endlessly fascinating, poignant and thought provoking. And Ginger’s site is full of fairy tale candor that simply whets one’s palate for more…

enchantedfairytales

And if you missed it, here’s a wonderful review posted at the American Tarot Association site:

Lisa Hunt Talks Tarot Art

In further news, though I may be a self-proclaimed studio hermit, I’m emerging out of my shell to give two live radio blog interviews in September. It has been years since I’ve spoken in public (partially because of the all-consuming nature of this project!).  I’m excited (and a little anxious) to discuss the inspiring and riveting nature of The Fairy Tale Tarot project… and whatever else the interviewers decide to throw my way during these “live” appearances. It should be great fun!

First up, the Dawn and Laura show (9/14/2009 11:00 AM ):

www.blogtalkradio.com

And in September, I will have the chance to interview with Misha:

www.themixtalk.com

I hope you’ll be able to tune into both shows!

And finally, Llewellyn is going to have a wonderful giveaway: signed uncut press sheets of the deck. Here’s a photo of these frameable and collectible sheets. They’re highly sought after because of their rarity. Even I am only in possession of one or two of these “hot-off-the-press galleries” showcasing The Fairy Tale Tarot cards on one large poster-like sheet.

Here’s how you can win one of these coveted “posters”:
Llewellyn is going to have 3 drawings for Tarot Update subscribers and 3 Facebook, 3 Twitter contests. Be on the lookout for future announcements on Twitter and Facebook (follow/friend me to get the latest). And stay tuned right here for further details!

~ Lisa

Princess and the Pea...enjoy basal pleasures that nurture the soul. (p.249)

As I emerge from 5 years of deep fairy tale interplay with paintbrush and prose, I’m realizing that life outside the studio can be just as creative as what goes on at the drawing table. At one time I wouldn’t have thought that everyday tasks could actually be microcosms of an internal story. But I’ve grown to think life is literary assemblage–with everything we do having the potential to serve as a plot device: facing challenges, problem solving, redemption, accomplishment and all the other human nigglings that encompass our daily existence. Maybe we don’t feel like we’re performing some stage-worthy monologue as we talk aloud while writing the grocery list or grumbling under the weight of bills yet paid, but we can learn to feel a certain amount of satisfaction and perhaps significance in the basic things we do.

I was particularly struck by this while (believe it or not) kneading dough for cinnamon buns. Anyone who makes baked goods from scratch will tell you how consuming and labor intensive it can be. One may either dismiss it as yet another chore or one can assume the attitude that there is something very gratifying about creating food with one’s bare hands. To see one’s dough rise, the patience, the anticipation, …you get my drift. I do think about the little tasks with more reverence now. Picking fruit from a tree has a lot of symbolic significance and represents the end of a cycle. Gathering flowers and foraging food appears in many a fairy tale. It’s a basic human inclination yet sometimes we forget that these seemingly simple activities have deep roots making for good, timeless plot devices.

The cinnamon rolls are made by rolling out the dough, covering it with filling (sugar, spice and everything nice) and rolling it up into a neat little blanket of deliciousness. Aren’t fairy tale tomes the same way? When opening up a collection of stories, you know it’s going to be filled with all manner of enticing tales. And when the cinnamon rolls are placed in oven, they expand and turn golden and become more voluminous forms of their basic ingredients. That is how I feel when I read a fairy tale book–the stories can be expansive and satisfying filling my being with essential nourishment that I can carry over into all areas of my life. I really believe fairy tales are all around us; the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. If we can remember to see our own daily activities and events as snippets of wonderful story, then we can feel a deeper awareness of those things that compose who we are in our entirety. Our identity is not dependent on profound triumphs or abject failures, but it is all the little experiences along the way, no matter how small they may seem.

~Lisa