The Tarot

Last year, the bunny showed to me her set of tarot cards in a green corduroy pouch. The cards were different from the illustrations of the most popular deck, Rider-Waite tarot deck, illustrated by Pamela Coleman Smith for a mystic Arthur Edward A.E. Waite. Still, when I first saw them personally, I was amazed by their obscure meanings behind the strange gestures and positions of the characters. I am quite interested to their symbolism and meanings, and also in their history. Somehow, their intricate allegorical details of these images still haunt me, leading to curiosity on how did these people manage to create such a bizarre and haunting symbols that are usually difficult to understand in our times, that the meaning behind the symbols of the figures had been almost forgotten, or at least arcane in the passage of time and in view of the various readings and contexts by which the present people are now able to read them with.


They said that Tarot card came from Egypt and brought to Europe about 12th century. But the first known Tarot card created about 13th century in Italy, particularly in Bologna. The Europeans added allegorical figures from the four suit deck, and they are called carte da trionfi or triumph cards. The oldest surviving Tarot card are painted for the Visconti-Sforza family, the rulers of Milan during their time. Later on, in the 18th century, the cards are filled with some sort of divination or extraordinary powers. Until the cards became not just a mere playing but possessed powers and even can predict the future.

Probably so far, my favorite illustrations of the Tarot were painted by Hieronymous Bosch. They were as eccentric as his other paintings, adding grotesque figures like gnarled monsters. Aside from Bosch, there are also cards painted by one of my favorite Flemish painters, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, wherein he usually featured peasants. There is also cards by Albrecht Durer, and he probably executed this in watercolor. You can look their works here


I illustrated my own version of the cards almost three years ago. But I did only two, The Sun and Death. The story behind it is that I had a friend who I knew could read the Tarot cards (Aside from the bunny who also know how to read it). Just for entertainment, I decided to consult her using her cards and her skills in reading it. I remembered some of the cards that appeared and I decided to illustrate two of them.
But I cannot recall now what she said about the meaning of the cards from that reading.

Into the Dollhouse

Miniature houses fascinate me, especially when they are executed in exquisite detail that they look like a normal house, only shrunken. Though finding a craftsman for this art is not so easy as what it seems. In my college, very few people have an interest for this kind of craft, probably because it is rather difficult to create these houses, and takes time and patience. I know so since I made the church facade out of cardboard from scratch. But luckily, I found some of these craftsmen's works, and most of it urges me to create something like that. I'd like to emulate their wonderful works in a small scale. Recently, I saw the blog of Sumaiya Mehreen. Well, I want to show to you some of them.

This is a dollhouse made by Robin Carey and it is entitled Key West island house. I discovered it from the blog created by her fan Sumaiya Mehreen. There, you can see Robin Carey's other beautiful dollhouses. Sumaiya Mehreen is also an artist of little worlds, creating miniature people like this one.

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While exploring the world of miniatures of Sumaiya Mehreen, I also encountered this fairy tale like tree house. This unusual dollhouse was created by Christell Jensen. It is a tree house probably the outer layer was made of real wood with barks. And inside, there lived a mouse.

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As I go deeper to her blog realm, I saw this very whimsical tree house, although the both tree house both look good to me. It was created by Penny Thomson. What I like about it is that the tree house looks more suited as a model for a house in a fairy tale setting. Jensen builds doll houses that are as whimsical as this tree house. This one below is his too....


I saw some of Penny Thomson's houses, and they are more on medieval houses, except for the tree house, as far as I know.

Well, I'm in a bit of a bust right now, doing my academics for this year, and doing the household chores. I hope I can draw another work for the next few days that is not so academically related and post here.



Pictures courtesy of dollhouseminis.blogspot.com. Thanks Sumaiya Mehreen! :)

The Air of April

I just remembered the atmosphere of April. The air was quiet, the sky was gray, and this tree had no leaves, but, instead, had flowers. How interesting to look at past events and contemplate on their beautiful memories.

A tour at the Moss and the Tree

Before the middle of the past month, I spent my little spare time walking around my school. In doing this, I found a bit of peace. Searching for palettes in my future illustrations was also the purpose of these walks, so I try saving memories of them.

Roots rising from the ground and starting to conquer the realm of the moss.

Time to sit down on the grass and watch the sun set in the west.

A Narra tree that has roots like a throne, fit for an unknown king of strange creatures.

Moss populating the realm of rocks and water.

When the dark is approaches, it makes the winds cooler, and the sky turns into orange and dark blue. Somehow, this scenery reminds me of departures.

Mother's house

I have just completed my mother's family tree, from my generation to my great grand parents. It is my second plate for my advanced illustration class. At last! My awaited time has come! Before I do this plate, a long time ago, I already had several attempts to create mom's family tree. But I always left it unfinished due to perhaps lack of inspiration. You can look it's finished form in my other blog. I hope you like it!

Crack of the Bloods.blogspot.com