Spilled Milk Loteria

"The Water Pitcher" Loteria Card

"The Water Pitcher"

This is a very fitting card for me to have finished painting today because yet another heat wave is rolling through the High Desert and making life difficult and uncomfortable for everyone around here.  It reached 109 today and as luck would have it, I needed to make a trip to the DMV.  When I got there the line of people stretched out into the parking lot.  The cause was revealed to be a statewide computer system going down.  I think it was just because I'd failed to do my morning loteria divination readings.

Loteria Hat Trick!

"The Cactus" Loteria Card

 "The Cactus"

I'm not sure what stars were arranged in which patterns, but for some reason I actually found some time today to do some painting and I managed to knock out three difficult cards for the upcoming loteria deck.  Now there are those who will say that any art project has it's equal share of ups and downs. To these people, there aren't any 'hard' projects or 'fun' projects, just projects that have their difficulties and fun in different areas.
I don't believe it.  These last three cards were hard.  In fact, I'm intentionally skipping over "The Apache" and "The Musician" because I don't feel like putting my face through canvas in frustration.  But "The Cactus" came together in a way that I'm very pleased with and I don't think that I could have done anything to improve it.  It's perfect exactly how it is.
Funny, when I look at this painting I can't help but think that it's some sort of Green Man for the High Desert.  We don't really go for ivys and vines in Victorville.  If there were a reason that would inspire us to dance around a symbol of growth and fertility, it would have thorns like this green guy.  It isn't that we don't like growing and flourishing fauna.  But when you live in a place that regularly goes over 110 degrees and only has about 20 percent humidity, you take what you get.

"The Soldier" Loteria Card

"The Soldier"

I've been going around town posting fliers for the upcoming "Hot August Nights" and I am seeing a measure of support for this event.  The event will be at the church and will host a variety of local artists and entertainers.  I'm hoping that artists will be able to not only show and sell their creations, but use the opportunity to network and meet others with similar interests.  We have painters, sculptures and ceramic oriented artists around here.  Now is there time to shine!

I'll be setting up the sound equipment, but for the life of me I just can't make myself bring my guitar to this event.  I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem, but my fingers are soft and I'm out of practice with the guitar.  Not good!  The music is there, but finding an evening free to practice on a regular basis is harder than I'd have thought. Because I'm really trying to improve my guitar playing, I picked up a copy of the X360 "Rocksmith" which should give me the incentive to practice more.  I've checked it out quickly and it seems to be in working order.  I was even able to hook up my handwired chrome guitar tri-cone resonator to the machine, and it recognized it!  That shouldn't be possible, but I can't argue with success.  It plugs in and can tell when the guitar is in tune.  That's more than I can do most of the time!

"The Ladle" Loteria Card

"The Ladle"

Thank you Kirstie for all your wonderful support and guidance on this loteria project.  I'd be lost without you!

"The World" Loteria Card

"The World"
I really had to do some stretching of the original work to make this fit on the card in a pleasing manner, but when all is said and done it looks fantastic.  This is the way the card should look!  I tried not to overdo the living creatures appearing in this landscape work because the focus of the card is on the World (with a capital "W") and not the creatures that inhabit it.  What that means from a practical viewpoint is that all the breathing critters we have around us are getting the short shrift.  But I didn't invent the cards, I'm just following the deck designs as they are outlined.

I really should be posting these on the comprehensive loteria site first.  If I put them up here, I have to come back and edit the post to add the link. Ah well, too late now.  I'll be back with a link.

UPDATE:  Do your loteria readings with accuracy and style.

Guiding Star to Loteria

"The Star" Loteria Card

"The Star"

One of the best things I could have done when starting this project was to make a simple and foolproof method by which I could change the card's suits if necessary.  The icon in the upper left corner of the card is painted, as is the symbols for each suit.  The only thing that isn't paint is the number of the card.
However, when I started this project I treated the corner graphic and suits like a computer generated graphic.  The means that by choosing which layers of the Photoshop image to make visible, I can give any value to the card I want.  It's simple and elegant and a dang lifesaver by this point.
Somewhere along the way I knew that the card value for "The Spider" had been made the six of spades.  It should have been the six of hearts.  I've corrected that error so even though the image you see on this blog still lists the card as being a member of the Spades group, the printed and official deck will have it correctly appearing as a Heart.

Update:  Further explanations of the symbolism in this card has now been posted on the loteria divination site.

Queen of Spades : Cards of Loss

This is one of the most attractive queens in the deck for the "Cards of Loss".  I was thinking of having a more sinister woman to grace this card but when I looked at the other queens, it just made more sense to have someone pleasant and warm.  The deck needed balance.  The other queens are hard and waspish, so a softer side was called for.
I did check out the possibility of getting blocks to carve for block printing.  To my surprise, it is a cheap and seemingly simple process to turn a block of rubber into a working stamp for inking.  But still, I really do like Photoshop and even though it might be a crutch for my artwork, it works for this project.  The colors are clear and bold.  I'm able to weather the paper and give it a realistically worn look that is scalable.  There are lots of benefits to running the art through a computer first.
So block printing is going to have to wait until I've got another project on my plate, or until I decide to ruin my wardrobe with ink.

Five of Diamonds : Cards of Loss

The Five of Diamonds came out better than I could have hoped for and really raises my spirits when I think about how many more cards I have to do before I've got a working deck in my possession.  If they all look this sharp, creating unique images for each card will be a pleasure.

Time Flies with Loteria

"The Arrows" Loteria Card

The Arrows

I'm noticing a trend with my blog posts where I mention the cool things that are hidden by the banner on the template.  I'm going to stop doing that.  For one thing, the main image should be the focus of the card and that is something that should NEVER be covered.  But secondly, its way too easy to be overly critical of my own work.  I should just lean back and be happy with a job well done.

But indulge me for just a moment here.  Beneath the banner on this loteria card are four leaves that range from spring green to autumn gold.  It illustrates the passage of time just as effectively as the face of the clock.  However I refuse to end this post with a self criticism of the painting.  So how about that moon, eh?  It totally rocks!

Update: The Arrows are pointing to fortune telling now on the main loteria site.

Cards of Loss Showcase

Kings and Queens of Loss

To make up for a more concise blog post than my norm, I'm including a showcase of the Kings and Queens of Loss.  I experimented with different brushes than the ones I'd been using previously and so far the effects are suitable (if you'll pardon the pun) with the other cards in this deck.
But I swear I'm not slowing down on Loteria.  I swear!  New loteria card post soon!

Within Each Heart, Beats a Drum

The Drum Loteria Card

The Drum

This is the first time that the template that I established at the start of this project has come around to bite me in the hindquarters.  Considering that I'm a hair over the halfway mark, I really should be counting myself lucky.  I really thought that if there were going to be major design issues they'd have shown themselves before now.
The scroll looks fantastic, but is hiding the fact this the drum for "El Tambor" is enclosed in a ribcage and has blood vessels snaking out and entwining themselves in the structure of the drum.  This is a card that came out much better than I thought possible, but most of the nice detail and great composition is hidden and there's not too much I can do about it.  I'll post a template-free picture of this painting later.

Update:  Until the template-free image is posted, I've updated the loteria site to include this fortune telling card.

Hat Trick! Cards of Loss

Three of Diamonds : Cards of Loss

Two of Spades : Cards of Loss

Three of Hearts : Cards of Loss

A Call For Art : August Art Event

 

Click to View and Print!

St. Hilary's Episcopal Church is sponsoring an evening of Fine Arts and Entertainment on Saturday, August 25, 2012.  "Hot August Nights" will be a showcase of local talent from the High Desert and is an opportunity for artists to meet and mingle as they show and sell their artwork.  The event is open to all visual medium , vocal or ceramic artists in the High Desert.  Click on the above image to view the signup information.  If you have any questions about this event, please let me know.

Lost Mile Marker

Two of Hearts : Deck of Loss

This stone cross is being used as a mile marker on the Kings "Good Roads"  The figures are stone monks which are on a wheel which has been mounted to the cross.  This mile marker would be a common sight along the highway.
I've been working on the Deck of Loss all day and ignoring the loteria cards which is a horrible habit to get into.  So for tomorrow, I'm devoting myself to doing another loteria card.  The Deck of Loss is a neat project and I'm impressed with the effects that the woodcut like images are able to create, but I really don't want to slow down on the loteria deck.  I've been making good progress on that project and want to keep the momentum going.

Pajama Game Reviews are In!

Pajama Game Review

Well it's good to know that at least someone saw us perform on stage!  I didn't mention it earlier, but the audience for this play was extremely small.  The people who did show up for the performance were treated to an evening of fantastic entertainment by an energetic cast, but far too many people stayed away.  I think it was either because of the timing (summer break) or finances (the economy sucks).  One way or another we're going to have to make some money soon or this will be the last play the community theater company does for awhile.  That would be a shame because I loved acting in this play.  Look!  Ted Puffer is right there in the cast notes!

Hanging Deck of Loss

Four of Clubs

I think this proves that the Deck of Loss is a viable project.  The striking silhouette for the Four of Clubs looks fantastic and is improved with the weathering of the parchment paper and woodblock engraving.  Now the only question is to find the time!  I'm a little over halfway through the loteria deck and I want to keep painting full speed so I can get it published.  However, there is something so rewarding about making these cards.

Yes, I realize that I'm saying that now but after a good 30 cards I'll be grinding my teeth!

The Deck of Loss

Three of Clubs

Two of Diamonds

I'm not sure what to say about this deck yet.  This is mostly a "proof of concept" so far.  The images on these cards are influenced from "The Face in the Frost".  Should I decide to continue with this theme, other influences will make themselves known.

The Parrot of the Loteria Deck

"The Parrot" Loteria Card

"The Parrot"

There is no doubt that this is one colorful and garish bird, but good grief it's hard to paint!  I've got countless tubes of color in my paint box, but that doesn't mean it was easy to do justice to this guy.  Just look at him!  I had no idea the different shades of blue on your standard parrot.  Some are flat, others iridescent, and all of them are combined into ways that made my head spin.
But all in all, I think I got it about right.
This was the final card that I needed to complete for the Diamond suit.  I'd made The Rooster card months ago and had forgotten that it had a value of the King of Diamonds.  So suddenly I realized that one more suit on the loteria deck is now complete.  Half way there!

Update: For details on what this card means for fortune telling, I've updated the main site.

The Heart of the Loteria Deck

"The Heart" Loteria Card

The Heart Loteria Card

I'm going to have to repost this painting without the banner on the front to make the subject more clear.  This is a metal heart cast from copper and arranged to serve as an aeolipile.  The vessel is filled with water and suspended on an axle over a fire.  When the water inside turns to steam it escapes through two tubes bent at 90 degree angles.  This causes the whole 'heart' to rotate.
Due to the placement of the banner on this image, this isn't immediately clear.  The steam escaping out of the artery is visible but the lower tube is hidden.
Although the numerical value of the card is exactly like what should appear in the Pope's Deck, I am using some license as far as determining what the suit value of the card should be.  In this case, the card should be either the king or queen of diamonds.  But c'mon, it's a Heart!  So I bumped it's value to the Ace.
What this means is that I'm not quite done with the diamond suit.  I'd planned to be finished today, but that's not going to happen.  It will happen soon, but not just yet!

Update:  For tarot readings that include this loteria card, more information is available on the main site.

Watermelon Loteria, the Card of Summer

"The Watermelon" Loteria Card

The Watermelon

This loteria card features a design carved into the rind of a summer watermelon.  This actually isn't a new thing at all limited just to buffet tables on cruises.  Although most people in North America are familiar with the classic Jack-o-lantern face carved into pumpkins, the watermelon has a rind which is more suited to the purpose.
Designs like this one have many meanings for farmers and others who depend on crops and a full harvest for their livelihood.

I'm including a more detailed analysis of the meaning of this card on the main Loteria site.  Updates coming shortly!

It really was cruel to paint something so refreshing during a heatwave that is ravaging the High Desert.  I think my Id was longing for something to escape the 110 degree temperatures!

Update:  Loteria divination takes this card seriously, as is explained on the fortune telling site.

What is Behind Loteria?

Back of Loteria Card

This tessellation pattern was created for the back of the Loteria cards.  I wanted to do something that would capture the intricate nature of an M.C. Escher print.  Actually, when designing the cards I was originally thinking of having lots more Escher-like patterns, but there is a catch that wasn't obvious at first.  Patterns that repeat themselves make for great card backs, but hard to format as acard FRONT!  For the face cards, a single, large image is preferable.
But the back of the cards are a different story.
This figure in this painting was based off of Shimbo of Darktree Tower, the avatar of Francis Sandow.  The painting is different only in the fact that it doesn't include the greenish cast to the skin which is a staple of temple images of Shimbo.