Where Have You Been?

I had a fantastic Fall. 

I got to spend a month painting at an artist's residency in Northern California.

Artists' Residencies are truly special opportunities to immerse yourself not only in your work, but in a community of really diverse creators. I lived with dancers, writers, sculptors, and even an opera composer!

The program is called Djerassi, and it was a really great experience. 

 "Nine Readings"

A series of 10 x 10 inch pieces exploring the symbology of the Tarot.

All painted with a limited palette of Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, Yellow Ochre, and Titanium White.

 My official residency photo - like class pictures in school! :)

Painting a portrait of one of my fellow residents. 

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I have a lot of exciting things coming up, and invite you to read all about them in my newsletter, and while you're at it, please subscribe! 

Thank you, as always, for reading. 

-Sarah

Death and The Sun

"Death and The Sun"

13 x 21 inches, oil on canvas
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This is the Rider-Waite tarot deck - probably the most well-known tarot deck, designed in 1909, and painted by a female illustrator, Pamela Colman Smith! I've given you two, in the title - what other cards do you recognize?

Emptiness - A New Tarot Series Painting

"Emptiness"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

Click to buy

The card in this one is the five of cups. Not the world's happiest card, particularly in the upright position:

"Forgiveness is vital with the Five of Cups, both of yourself and others. If someone has disappointed you, find it within your heart to forgive that person, releasing yourself from the disappointment. And if you are frustrated with yourself, know that you did the best you could under the circumstances and have now learned from your mistakes. Remember, too, that hindsight is much clearer than foresight and wisdom in the present moment comes from the mistakes of the past....

It’s time to shift your mindset and focus on what can go right from this point onwards. Be open to the brighter side of life and know many blessings are in disguise right now."    (-Biddy Tarot)

So, not without hope! I love the ambiguity of Tarot cards. Something in every interpretation for every situation. ;)

The World - A New Painting in My Tarot Series

  "The World"

12 x 24 inches, oil on canvas

$800 

Click to view/purchase

Well, I took a temporary hiatus from my Tarot card series - more like an eight-month "I think I'm done for good" type break - but, proving once again that you never know when it's the last time you'll do something - here's a new one.

The cards are: (In the box) The Tower, The Emperor, Page of Wands, Justice, and - front and center, The World. I chose to leave out the text/titles on the cards. I've included it in previous pieces, but felt like letting the images speak for themselves here. 

Thanks for looking! 

Hope

"Hope"

9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

$350

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I thought I would counter yesterday's sorrow with some of the antidote. A quietly sunny spring painting. 

The Tarot card in this piece is also a hopeful one - the Ten of Cups, symbolizing emotional fulfillment. Not sure how it works when it's sideways - I'll leave that to the experts! :)

Abundance (Nine of Cups)

 "Abundance (Nine of Cups)"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

$400

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From my favorite Tarot website: "It is no wonder that many Tarot readers refer to this card as the Wish Card, as its appearance is often taken as a sign that, whatever your heart’s desire, it shall be granted in the coming days or weeks. Know that you have paved your own way on the path to success."

Here is my value study for this piece. 

It's all part of that way-paving, on the path to success, at least in this painting!

"Abundance (BW Study)"

9 x 9 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

$100 (unframed)

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Ace of Wands

 "Ace of Wands"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

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I paired this Tarot card with my baby Hoya because the wand has leaves growing from it.  The card symbolizes inspiration, and enthusiasm for new creative ventures. Sounds good to me!

Though this painting sold right off the easel, via Instagram, the black and white oil study is available:

$100 (unframed). Frame available on request.

Click to view on Etsy

Golden Ring (Ace of Pentacles) and #30in30!

 "Golden Ring (Ace of Pentacles)"

7 x 11 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

$250

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Here's how this one came together. I can't believe how long these little oranges have lasted in my studio. It must be cold in there or something.....! Spring is on the way, though - I saw Camellias on my favorite camellia-stealing bush yesterday, so, good things ahead! 

And speaking of things ahead - I've decided to try my hand at a 30 in 30 day painting challenge. Gulp! Anyone else doing this one?

A New Tarot Series Painting

 

 "The Juggler"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

$500

Click to buy

The two of pentacles is all about juggling life's priorities. "There is a tendency to be distracted by day-to-day affairs and general busy-ness, so prioritizing your activities and carefully managing your time is essential." A good thought for anyone at any time, but particularly for artists. How do we do the thing we love - the thing we most want to do - but which doesn't necessarily get dinner served on time? Deciding to make painting a priority and balancing your life around that goal is a topic that comes up frequently with my online mentorship students. Self-motivation is endless and fascinating.

But, of course, I chose the juggler for this painting because of the way the round yellow shapes of his pentacles mirror the shapes of the two oranges. The significance, reliably, follows.  😉

The black-and-white oil study for this one is also available, here.

Thanks for looking!

The Star

 "The Star"

10 x 20 inches, oil on canvas

$600

Available

"When the Star appears in a Tarot reading, be open to new ideas and growth. Listen to the still small voice within." 

I love the star card. I chose it for this painting because the shape of the star echoes the rays of light cast by the green glass cup.

 

"There is a deeper spiritual journey that you are going through which is all about bringing greater meaning and purpose into your life and renewing your inner energy." 

(from Biddytarot.com) 

I did feel I was on a spiritual journey as I was creating these Tarot card paintings. I rented a beautiful studio at the Oregon coast during the week before Christmas, and did nothing but paint and sleep. It was really a gift to myself, spending time there. I feel I am beginning the year with new inspiration - the promises of the Star card coming true!

Wheel of Fortune

 "Around the Wheel"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

$400 

Click to buy

The Tarot card in this painting is "The Wheel of Fortune." I've been choosing the cards for this series of paintings randomly - or rather, not randomly, but not due to any knowledge or prior research on their meanings. I've been choosing them like I choose most of my still life objects - for their colors and shapes, the visual elements they add to a composition. 

Looking up "The Wheel of Fortune" once the painting was finished, I read: "The Wheel of Fortune speaks of a pivotal point in your life, where new options become possible. The appearance of the Wheel of Fortune shows that change is not only likely to happen, it is certain to happen, and soon."

....A solid sentiment for the new year, eh? And I thought this painting was just about circles and triangles!

 

Black and White study for this piece, oil on Arches oil paper, approx. 8x8". NFS.

The Hermit

  

"The Hermit"

10 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

$350

Click to buy

The four stages of this painting: still life setup, value study, underpainting, and finish! 

 

 This is a pretty simple composition, but I find it very satisfying. That grouping of lemons on the plate, seen through the viewfinder, makes me want to paint the whole thing all over again. Something about it just clicks in my eyes. 

Value study, oil paint on Arches oil paper, approx. 8x8 inches:

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Over the Moon

 "Over the Moon"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

$500 

Available

I've been making some paintings recently that include Tarot cards. I don't know much about Tarot, but I like the iconography. The meanings of each card are so open ended; I enjoy reading about each one and thinking about how they apply to the imagery in my paintings. The still life comes first, the possible meanings come later. That's always the way it is with me. My paintings aren't narrative - if I try to set up a still life with "meaning," it always falls flat. I approach them with a focus on the formal/visual elements, and the meaning comes as I'm painting - if it comes. Sometimes, a painting really is just about shapes and colors. 

The card in this one is "The Moon." You can read about it here.

Here is the value study for this piece. It's approximately 8x10, oil paint on Arches oil paper:

$100