From March 2017

“The Magician” Tarot Art by Bea Garth

I think the Magician Card is finally done except for the border and maybe just a wee bit more shadow on the white globe he/she is holding and the snake wrapping around the arm.

"The Magician," acrylic on canvas by Bea Garth, copyright 2017
“The Magician,” acrylic on canvas by Bea Garth, copyright 2017

It definitely has taken me a while to get used to doing this genre. First of all it involves working upright rather than my usual horizontal plane for a painting. Second is figuring out what size to make the original image so it translates well into the size of a card.

Third there is a whole history and tradition I have needed to become more aware of since the images are symbolic of the various archetypes traditionally expressed in Tarot–while also expressing my own  vision I bring to the subject.

It wasn’t enough for me to be somewhat versed in the Tarot, I needed to see more cards and study its history. I thus have been perusing several Tarot decks I now own–including that of my friend Christine and her husband Michael who inspired me to try my hand at this field to begin with.

I am now starting to feel more comfortable with how it all works and look forward to making the next Tarot painting fairly soon.

Christine says in a way its like playing 3-D chess, and I think she is right, especially from the point of view of making the images  meditative pieces designed to take the viewer into a trance to more accurately divine what is or is not going on in one’s life.

“Magician” tarot card in progress by Bea Garth

I finally made some changes to my tarot Magician card the last few nights.

"Majician," tarot art in progress by Bea Garth, copyright 2017
“Majician,” tarot art in progress by Bea Garth, copyright 2017

It finally is really coming along.  As you might be able to tell, I really made some major changes to the colors, plus added in some shadow.

There is more to do, but it shouldn’t take long.

This painting is teaching me that the magician is strong yet sensitive, male but with female traits, or is that the reverse??

The cape seems to want to be the way it is. I tried putting shadow, but it destroyed it. It needs to feel backlit it seems!! Perhaps the conscious light coming from within  Spirit??