Lately, I have been feeling an increasingly strong connection to my past lineage. My father's mother descends from a Romani background. While I've always had a streak of mysticism in my nature, reflected in my enduring love of the Tarot, I've also been most comfortable in familiar surroundings. I like having a stable home base. I never felt the need to travel or constantly change my environment.
Traditionally, the Romani people live out of a caravan. They travel, almost constantly, selling and working each new day, and at each new stop, to survive. I never felt a connection to that type of life.
And, then, I began to market my art. Almost every weekend, now, I load my car and travel to an art market. I set up a tent. I hang up my wares. I have established that connection. It's only a mere glimpse, and a weak shadow reflection of their lives, but I can feel that long road of women, traveling, and selling, connected all the way to me, and my new life as a traveling artist.
Last year, one of my long term project goals was to create my own interpretation of the Major Arcana cards of the Tarot. I wanted to honor my past in my present vocation.
I started, made the first three cards, and then stopped. I wasn't satisfied with the images. I couldn't feel my great love for the Tarot and its mysteries reflected in my work so I stopped.
I've received a lot of positive feedback for my first card of the Tarot, the Magician. I took a new look at this project, reflecting again on my new found sense of connection with my Romani past and realized that I really just needed to re-visualize my plans for the cards.
With that in mind, I re-approached the High Priestess card and came away with an art piece that I like. It inspired me to re-boot the whole project.
I'm pleased to be exploring that part of my life and my past even as it reflects who I am now and what I envision as my future as an artist.
Look for more of my Major Arcana pieces as the year unfolds!
