I have used the title before, most likely more than once. The concept has been unfolding its secret to me ever since chemo, now almost two years past.
Yesterday, I think I may have had the single greatest epiphany in my time as an artist. Unfortunately, it will need to wait just a it before gaining priority in my life, but I was clever enough to put down the thought while I had clarity about it.
I will not go into full detail for I know how slow I can be to develop these things and I would not want to give a brilliant concept away before I have it in the physical. Kinda like protecting an invention while waiting for the patent process… I guess.
So, hush on the specifics. But the general concept…
I have a good amount of my initial concept and structure on paper. The flow and concept of the Major Arcana is well establish and a third of it sketched out on paper. It is nice and strong. The minor suits have been in various states of flux. A HUGE undertaking. This is a minimum of 78 images, not including the design of the card back or any extraneous panels for descriptions. I would like to add a card describing each suit and the flow of the Major Arcana, more for the purpose of the print series then for the actual deck itself.
I have been itching to pursue a book. I had its concept all mapped out on paper as well. Completely unrelated to the tarot deck. The initial concept includes 30 to 40 images which a cohesive subject (keeping it secret, too) These grand epics repeat often in my life. Basically, this would be my first coffee table effort. I like that idea.
I have been wanting to write a weird, small book about my cancer and chemo and how it impacted – good and bad – my life as a leather-queer.
So, back to yesterdays epiphany. I can do all three of these in one set of works. Of course, the initial subject matter of the big book would be shelved, mostly, but it will always make a good book, so I could go back to it for the second book…
I want to tweak my concept for the tarot deck slightly, and use it as an illustrated narrative to my experiences as a leather-queer, a person with HIV and a (I hate the term) cancer survivor… I think this is just brilliant! Really. And the lines all converge clearly in my head. Something I can not exactly will to happen since treatment. (A co-worker this morning call that chemo-brain. Her sister has it too.)
Tarot is – at its root – a metaphor for the full spectrum of life-experiences. It is also a grand history of spectacular imagery. It also allows me to return to incorporating my spirituality back into the rest of my life. It has been tucked away in a box under the bed ever since chemo… actually for years before that.
Of course, I have to thank all these hectic things piling up in my life of late. They wore down my mind enough to erode the partitions that normal would have check them all neatly tucked from away each other. I have worked to permanently remove these dividers, but they are not ingrained in my default processes – yet. This may become a great reminder to encourage just that.
I am very happy.
gryphon's hole 