Looking Close

25% off sale is extended until 12am tonight! 

I wanted to extend the sale and add the 2 newest paintings into the shop! Use Code : SPRING25 for 25% off!

I also wanted to show you some close ups for the new paintings and explain why I used what I did! 

These are some of my favorite works so far and I wanted them to be included in the sale! I've included some details and closeups of the paintings. 

Sterling brought me home Danish farmers almanacs from the 1920's once. He found them inside an old trailer he was working on. They smelled awful. They had been sitting in storage for years!

I was elated when he brought them home. After they aired out and were cleaned, I looked through each page.. putting bookmarks in for future ideas.

This woman's bust started out from an ad from the old farmers almanac. This one was 1923 I think. The painting also has charts and dates of moon phases and planetary alignments behind paint.

 The owl was free handed with no reference photos. In my original photograph that was a light from someone's porch, but I didn't wand houses in this, so I chose to paint an owl of similar hue.

Owls have been showing up a lot for me. Barn owls especially. This one in particular reminds me of a memory where I came face to face with an owl.

He was perched on pole directly in front of me, he seemed to glow in the dark night sky. We only caught a glimpse of each other. Before I could take a breath of pure awe, he stepped off his pole. His body dropped, but his head remained, eyes still locked with mine. And with a swoop of his wings, he flew upward revealing the moonlight.

"Arranging Stars"

9x12 Mixed Media on Canvas 

Original Prints 

This next piece I called "Your Voice" I started out not knowing where it would go. I've already blogged a bit about this piece earlier, so I won't mention too much more, but I did want to point out, that the cathedral painted in there is The Cathedral of The Madeline. This is the cathedral I'm constantly taking photos of and posting on Instagram. The other papers and ephemera in this painting are from old books from the 1960's. 

"Find Your Voice"

9x12 Mixed Media on Wood 

Original Prints 

I would SO appreciate the help of spreading the news! 

Play Time and Transformation

Lately my "play time" has been the most productive part of being an artist. Who knew so much transformation could take place over one weekend. Especially since I technically took this weekend off! 

I decided to take this last weekend off from the structured illustrations and cards I've been doing and instead, play in the studio. I even said it wasn't work.. and I really mean that! I DO have a hard time relaxing because I love to stay busy... but I took this weekend off from my current work demands, and gave into my creative and intuitive side. 

I recently signed up for Mindy's E-course Permission To Play. It's a 12 month art course on loosening up and learning to play while making art! I thought it would be great to do on the weekends as a way for me to stay creative and learn a few new techniques. I've always wanted to add a little more "play" into my artwork, and I saw the class the day before sign-ups ended so I jumped right in! So far I've done a bout 3 of the projects and I've already felt myself loosen up so much.. but what's more, is I'm really liking the new work that is coming from me! 

Most of my work is planned out, with reference photos, sketches and a good idea of what I hope to see as the finished piece. But for the last year or so, I've been wanting less structure and restriction in my work. I look at old work and see boxes, structure and plans... So I have decided to play more, leave mistakes, and let things transform. I try to go in with an open mind and no real expectations of what the end piece will look like. 

I've been focusing on creating more intuitively. To express with color and brush stroke, rather than details and stories. I want to paint moments of emotion, and the colors of thought. 

I've learned a lot about myself in these last few years. I have had a lot of self discoveries, and an acceptance of traits that I've been suppressing..  Like how I'm a total clean freak! I love my closet to be arranged by color. And I pay very close attention to details. Accepting these traits and using them has really enhanced my well being.. but I've always felt that when I create, I would like to feel less in control of every detail. I want my work to be expressive. 

I love illustrating, and I love painting portraits, but I there is something wild inside me that makes me want to loosen up and just express myself. An urge to go with the flow, and watch something transform in front of me. 

I love hidden symbols within my paintings and illustrations. When I plan paintings, I like to hide the symbols.. but when I go in with no real plan, I end up finding symbols.

Many of my Tarot Cards and illustrations are carefully planned and detailed. I love hidden symbology and meanings. I do so much research on my symbols and meanings. Many of my cards are meditated on or seen in a vision. I will have the meaning of the card in mind, or the emotion I would like to convey, then I meditate on it or sleep on it, and pretty soon I will have a vision of that card. 

But finding symbols and meanings within splatters, textures and and colors is not only eye opening, but soul opening.  Finding faces hidden in splatters and movements is intriguing. I could get lost in outlining hidden eyes, uncovering trees and cathedrals, unearthing words and moments. Then Finally to take a step back and find the meaning that my subconscious wanted to express. Not just for me, but for the viewer. 

When I finished "Find Your Voice," (pictured to the left) we looked over the completed painting and searched for the possible meanings.. I was asked questions over the story and meaning within the painting.

Is she sad? Why is she touching her throat? Is she turning from the church? Are they mourning? Why the butterfly? Is she happy? Is the woman being comforted? Restricted? 

And I really have no answer for anyone about the meaning of this piece, other than to ask what does it mean to you?  I can tell you the meaning to me is profound, personal and relieving. I finished it and took a step back and said "Ohhh!" in realization.. "Well, I'm glad that came out." as I felt an odd weight be lifted from my shoulders.

I feel a sense of relief and empowerment when I look at it. But that's only how I feel when I look at it. Sterling said it felt political and rebellious, but others have said peaceful and happy. And I think because it was an intuitive painting, it's up to the viewers intuition and initial emotions when they see it. 

What's interesting is that this came from a time of "play." Where I had no real structure or rules to follow. No worries, stresses or problems... Only the urge to express myself, and follow my intuition. To take a step back and let my higher self paint for a bit. 

 Here is the new painting I'm working on. This one was supposed to be a paper-hearts Valentine's themed painting, but I was a little bit behind. So instead of painting something Valentine's Day themed, I chose to paint the conjunction between the moon, Mars and Venus this last weekend. 

I took a photograph on Instagram  and was inspired to use that shot as part of my background. I also happened to be listening to Radical Face while painting, and the perfect words spoke to me.

 "And I spent my evenings pulling stars out from the sky. 

And I'd arrange them on the lawn where I would lie.

 And in the wind I'd taste the dreams of distant lives." 

I still have a bit more to finish with this one.. so stay tuned to see the end result! I'm very excited about it and the direction it's going. 

My soul is loving this new process of creation. 

Making the decision to take Mindy's Course has been such a good one.. and I'm only one month in! I can't wait to keep learning, and continue to transform. 

Feeling Alive

I am alive! My head is clear, and my neck and shoulders are nearly pain free.  I spent more time in bed yesterday than I spent out of bed!  After I wrote yesterday's post I did everything nourishing I said I would, but by 3:30 pm the migraine was bigger than ever and it broke the pain scale. I swear it was a 24 on the pain scale, and my pain scale only goes to 10. My neck, shoulders and back were so tight, there was so much pressure in my head, I thought it would explode. I went to bed and tried to sleep it off. I woke up around 6 to Sterling asking if I was okay. I had been holding my head in my sleep and probably looked like a train wreck.. plus I missed several of his calls and texts. He brought me pain killers and started rubbing my neck. I didn't end up getting out of bed until about 8 pm. After Sterling rubbed my neck and back the pressure felt released for a bit. I knew I had about a 30 minute window to get a few things done. So we ran to the grocery store and bought ingredients for soup, salads, meat, cheese, and crackers peppers and ranch, and gummy bears. I seriously went and bought all the food I was craving.. Not worrying about the price or anything. I just wanted to eat all the food.

Sterling helped me cut up the ingredients for soup and do the dishes as the migraine started coming back. I settled into the couch for some Doctor Who and alternated the heating pad, ice pack, and massages from Sterling. I swear I ate everything in the house last night.. but I woke up with a feeling of relief. The migraine has subsided.

The migraine started last Friday and had been eating away at me all weekend. The stress I put myself under didn't help one bit. I'm thinking the migraine started out from eating processed meat, which my body doesn't like. The migraine started out as a familiar "You ate something you shouldn't have" pain, and I felt like it would pass. So, I continued on my week. I was trying to get tons of illustrations finished so I could take that trip. When the trip didn't work out, my body still made sure I had a vacation... though this vacation was not enjoyable in the least.

I tend to carry my stresses in my shoulders and neck, which is what continued the outrageous migraine. That and my sensitive stomach makes me very prone to migraines. Every time I eat something that ends up giving me a migraine, I know that this journey of what I should and shouldn't eat will be a long, painful and expensive road.. Maybe by the time I'm in my 30's I will have a good understanding of the things I can and can not eat.. Because it doesn't seem to just be gluten and processed meats that makes me sick.

All week I was in a fog, barely able to get a thing done. I don't mean work, I mean anything. Taking a shower was hard work. But today I finally felt clear. And I kid you not, I woke up this morning.. stretched one hand into the air and exclaimed "I am alive!" And I woke up and made some art.

"Feeling Alive" 

Mixed Media on paper

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Beyond Thankful

Today I am beyond thankful. 

Yesterday I posted a link to my newsletter and my inbox has been overwhelmed with new subscribers ever since! I haven't even had a chance to write the first letter! 

So, those who signed up for my newsletter... this above painting was created for you. 

I woke up with an extreme sense of gratitude and thankfulness in my heart.. 

Thank you to those who have signed up! 

If you want to sign up, there is a link under my header, or you can go here. 

The newsletter has been stirring in my mind for a few months now... but I never got around to doing it.

One day during my Tarot Class, I noticed tons of spelling errors in my handouts that I gave to people.. Someone in class suggested I just email an error free copy to the people in the class.. and that I should also include the Lunar Forecast I do. And we spoke of a newsletter going out each week.

So, I went home and did it! 

The weekly Newsletter is called Tree Talk. 

Each newsletter will include a Lunar Forecast and some Tarot Tips from class. I will also include some rituals for the current moon phase, and a few other tidbits from classes.. On top of all that I will also post art news, book releases and artistic announcements, events and upcoming classes. 

The newsletters will be fairly short, and won't repeat too much from the blog.. my plan for this newsletter is to help bridge the gap between my online shop and blog, and my local classes and artwork. Inside each newsletter I will also include coupons and discounts to my shop. 

If you are interested in sponsoring the newsletter  email me! I'd love to chat with you about getting an ad in each newsletter. You could even include discounts or coupon codes for your shop. 

I've also listed a few new originals and prints in the shop. 

Prints                  Original

Prints                       Original

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Elation and Creating From The Source

Happy Full Moon friends,
So much has already happened in this Lunar phase. A shedding. Yes. I've been teaching Moon Classes at Sacred City. While I've been moon charting for over a year now, teaching the class has left me way more in tune with the moon than I ever thought. This Full Moon has given me vivid and prophetic dreams. I wake up with this warmth in my heart, and this knot in my throat.. Tears come easy to my eyes. I recently felt the need to watch the movie I AM, in which they described this emotion as "elation." That term in of itself made my eyes well up. For a long time I thought this "crying" thing made me broken. It made me feel that my emotion were unstable.. because  I would cry at the simplest things. I would see the beautiful fall trees.. and cry. I would see something touching, and tear up. For a long time this swell of emotions I would get made me feel ashamed. It made me feel "scary." I cried so easily, but how could I explain that these were not tears of sadness, but tears of feeling the heart.
After watching the documentary I AM, when they spoke of the feeling of elation, I felt whole again. Not broken. Because I feel. A spectrum of joy so overpowering it brings tears to my eyes.

For the past few nights I've dreamed of spiders. Spiders crawling all over me, in my bed, on the walls.. but I have not been grossed out or afraid because the spiders speak. They are all whispering to me. In fact I've seen spiders in my third eye more this last month than ever before. Spider Medicine speaks of weaving and creating.. but more importantly I feel The Spider Woman near when I dream of these Spiders.
Spider Woman is a metaphor for "She who creates from a central source." She is assosiated with spiders, webs, weaving, creating, and dream catchers. She sits at the center of "The Web" of life, connecting all people, things, places and events. She is the divine feminine, the source of creativity and life. She is the feeling of elation.
During dreaming we are removed from our conscious level to float freely through this web. We learn and experience things outside our realm of physical consciousness.. This is when our subconscious learns lessons for us to "re-learn" later in life.

Today I woke up from a dream with the above image in my mind's eye. Before anything else (except a quick espresso) I sat down and created this. There was no sketch or calculations.. it was created directly from my heart. The way art should be made... from the source.

I sent a quick picture of it to Sterling.. saying "This is the first piece of art that I've created that I actually like." 

Last night I captured this image of the moon. Her reflection was cast on the near by buildings and I felt a swell of emotions again. This time extreme gratitude for the path I'm on, and all of the opportunities along the way. Opportunities to teach, learn, and grow.



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Feel The Rain

Last Friday I finally posted pictures of the finished painting "Feel The Rain." I couldn't be more proud of it. I don't think I've ever been this proud of a painting to be honest. So much of my soul went into this. This is the first real painting for myself that I did since my little painting "hiatus." I used my super high quality professional paint, using different techniques than I've used before. I had to admit to myself... I'm still learning. I am never ever going to be done learning this stuff... so the more I learn, the more proud I will be of myself.
I think you can see the differences in this one vs my past work. I still enjoy my older stuff, but there are differences. The skin tone is more realistic, and I really stuck to a color scheme. As I finished it I said, "Wow... I'm actually proud of this one."
Usually I finish and say "I think I like it, but there are things I would have done differently."
Here are some of the progress shots I posted on Instagram throughout the weeks I worked on her.

I also photographed the painting in a different way than I normally did. I made my entire home a light studio and took the photo on the easel with a white background. I really focused on photographing this one. The details came out amazing. Not a single detail is blurred and the lighting was perfect as there is no "noise" in the dark areas.

I have the original listed in the shop, as well as some prints! This painting is oval, so the prints will be oval too. The prints will be roughly 8x10 on 8.5x11 inch paper, so set in a standard 8.5x11 inch frame it should look like it has a white mat..  Of course you could always get it matted, but I'm not too sure on the matting process. (I did learn it in college, but for some reason that part never stuck, probably because it involves numbers and a little bit of math.) No regrets.

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From The Archives: To Hold The Moon

So, I am trying to post every day, like I used to when I had a lot of free time.. And I kind of ran out of ideas. I have so many photos I'm trying to get edited, but I'm just running out of time. Sterling gave me the brilliant idea of sharing past paintings with the blog. Some of them were created over 2 years ago, some even more and it would be cool to feature them again, since some of you guys are new. Anyways.. I thought it was a brilliant idea, since Sterling has those quite often.
So, in honor of this last new moon... I'm bringing back art from the archives, To Hold The Moon.

8x10 prints here

Original post here.  I originally posted this around Halloween. I was living in Memphis, Tennessee I think. It was 2-3 days before Mowgli's 2nd Birthday. I was having severe marital problems and we were talking about divorce. I would stay up really late in my studio spending a lot of time alone, trying to be happy and love myself. I was living half way across the country from my family.. and didn't have a friend anywhere close by. It was actually a very very dark time in my life...  I was doing a lot of pastel work during that time too. I still have that colored pencil set, in the same box. It's been about 3 years since I finished this one, and there has been so much change. Reading through that old post was cool though.. I loved the moon even back then. I am not sure I realized the significance of it back then, but I still loved it. This is one of the rare prints where my name is signed Rachael Thomas. I sign all prints Rachael Tree Talker, even if it is signed Thomas.
Seeing this, going back through blog posts.. I just want to say wow, thank you for those who have stuck around on my crazy blog adventures... All my dark times, and happy times. Like the moon, things are always changing. New beginnings, full, new, dark and light. It's pretty beautiful huh?



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