Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Dreamdance - The Elders

Size: 9x13 inches
Medium: Watercolors
For prints and detail closeup views: -click here-

Based on Native American fancydance.  

Satyros Phil Brucato writes about this card:
It’s a timeless dance: the circle of youth, maturity and age. Within it, we Dance our lives, surrounded by an audience of kindred spirits, loved ones and strangers. Ideally, the Elders among us – including, someday, the Elders we are or will become – show their vitality and uphold the traditions that keep us strong. From those Elders, tokens of wisdom and experience fall. Will those legacies be trampled in the dirt beneath careless feet, or saved and passed on to future generations? Will younger people even want those legacies, or will the Elders’ Dance be lost in the shifting dust? It’s our place to decide what is salvaged and what is lost. 

In the various powwow fancy-dances, salvaged traditions get dressed in bright colors, combined into new and vibrant forms, and then displayed in vigorous displays of spiritual fun. Old and new elements blend into spectacular forms of restorative art. Both Dancers and Audience, however, must remain mindful of the steps and their traditional importance. In a moment’s ecstasy, it’s easy to lose sight of important things and have them snatched up, ignored or destroyed. If and when you join the Elder Dance, be careful not to lose sight of precious things, scatter them, or hoard them for yourself. Age grants perspective, but that perspective does not always involve wisdom.

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Some of the sketches that led to this painting:



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Dreamdance: The Lovers


Watercolors
9x13 inches
For prints, and closeup detail views of this piece: -click here-   
More of the Dreamdance Oracle: -click here-

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Satyros Phil Brucato writes about this card:

The Garden of Love features rich delights and passionate pitfalls. Dancing there, we see little beyond the face of our Beloved. Yet life goes on around us – sometimes drawn to watch or support us, other times to trip us up or simply ignore our existence. Beauty is the order of the day, at least when we first begin that Dance. Where it takes us and what happens as a result remains a mystery as unpredictable as the maze of emotions evoked by Love. 

Capturing the vitality of love and life, salsa dancing is hot, passionate and often improvisational. Following several traditional steps, the Dancers take off from there and let awareness of one another guide them through the flow. In the blur of that dance, however, it’s a good idea to keep your eyes open and your perceptions focused on your surroundings as well as on your partner. Not everyone will have your best interests at heart, and even the most supportive people can become obstacles. Guided only by passionate energy, it’s easy to trip, hurt people, or otherwise make a fool of yourself. Dance joyfully but with care through the Garden of Love. 


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 Initial brainstorming in the sketchbook

Didn't like the first couple of scribbles...looked too much like a Harlequin romance novel cover.  I never realized how much salsa poses resembled that!

 Finalized sketch on the board, ready for painting.

After surveying the thumbnails of the cards I had so far, I realized what I really needed was some more warm colors in my cards.  Didn't want them to all start looking alike. And so...tried this color rough in photoshop to get a feel with some pinks and magentas and oranges and reds.... I'm finding that doing these color roughs are really good for me. They help me break out of my established color palette patterns and try combinations that I would not initially have thought of.
 

Getting started with the painting.

 

 


Sunday, February 3, 2013

Appearances! And finished piece "Whatcha Reading"

Size: 11x14
Medium: Watercolors
Detail closeup views & Prints available -here-

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Some upcoming appearances in the west coast!
 
PANTHEACON - The 19th Annual PantheaCon will be held Feb. 15 – 18, 2013 (President’s Day Weekend) at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, CA. Shadowscapes will have a booth in the main mezzanine exhibitor area.

FAERIECON WEST - FEBRUARY 22ND-24TH, 2013 at the RENAISSANCE SEATTLE HOTEL - 515 Madison Street, Seattle, WA 98104. Shadowscapes will have a booth in the main exhibitor area.

If you will be attending either event, and would like to make any special requests for books, prints, or originals that you would like me to bring, please do not feel shy about emailing or leaving me a note, to request the pieces beforehand, as I don't bring my entire stock to shows!


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So, back to this recently finished painting. Some scans of the journey:

Initial brainstorming in my sketchbook.

Finalized sketch, ready for painting.

Painting.