Fire, Tarot, and the Weight of the World

Despite the horrors of the world, a woman lies prone, taking her feelings from the glasses of wine and turning them into action through the fiery wand. At the time of painting this, I was exploring the symbolism of Tarot.

The initial figure was painted during a class at Fleisher, taught by my favorite teacher, Martin Campos, with my friend Susan as the model. At one point, I even felt compelled to stab a hole into the canvas—a strange, physical need to break the surface. Though I couldn’t break through, the dent remains, a reminder that sometimes art carries scars just as we do.

Originally the figure was blue, set against cyan. Cold and sad. Over time, I worked warmth back into the scene, placing her beside a fire for comfort. Around her, symbols emerged—the Earth as a bomb, Daffy Duck without a bill, a sandwich (or cake?), a bowling ball and pins. Strange imagery, yes, but all carrying personal echoes.

I almost gave this painting away before it was finished. I’m glad I didn’t. It carries too much of my journey to part with it.