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SciFi & Fantasy Art / Gallery 66 of 1003 / Lisa Coleman / Picture 41 of 57 / Strength Tarot Card

"Strength Tarot Card" by Lisa Coleman

SciFi/Fantasy Picture 41 out of 57 by Lisa Coleman. ←Previous - Next→

SciFi and Fantasy Art Strength Tarot Card by Lisa Coleman

This was done as part of a project for Bifrost. I'm still experimenting with this style, it frustrates me, I think because of the flatness of color. Anyway, this thing is loaded with symbolism, most of which is probably impossible to see amidst the dark textures. Hestia, the Fates, and who knows what else are combined in the woman, Athena's probably in there too. Speaking of strength, did you know that spider silk is one of the strongest materials on earth? Done in pencil and Photoshop.

Date	Name	Comment
10 Dec 2002	Michelle E. Mayo	Loading... Whoopsie! forgot to do my dance~ wiggle wiggle wiggle I got the fir-rst commmmmmment! thbbbbbb~ ^_~ continues wiggling
10 Dec 2002	Michelle E. Mayo	Loading... WOW~ that's some wonderful texturing you have there! I think you captured the essence of the Strength card very well, and I think I get most of the symbolism - with the lion and spider's web. Great, now I'm gonna have to get started on my submissions for the project~ heh. I think the "flatness" of the colors actually works to your advantage, it's obviously moody and intense, strong~ ^.^ Yes-yes, faboo execution! scampers off to get to work on her terot cards
12 Dec 2002	H. T. Y. A'Deline	Loading... hoho, look what a response you got out of Michelle, Lisa... I think this is a fantastic rendition as well...dark and brooding, and yet with an eerie grin on the lady's face...gets the heebie-jeebies
25 May 2003	Anonymous	Loading... Definantly portraying abit of boredom on the lions' face. Looks as though he's bored with just lion around! LOL~~~~~~~~ you are good!!
9 Jul 2003	Karen E. Ruiz	Loading... I'm currently illustrating a tarot, and it's great to see other people's visions. This is wonderful.
1 Oct 2003	Patter	Loading... Striking but I find the use of the fates a bit odd... Maybe I would go more for Diana or Atalanta -- the harpies even... Lisa Coleman replies: "I think the Fates showed up because no one is stronger than them. Even the gods must bend to their decrees. The harpies as Strength, eh? I'd be quite curious to hear more about your take on that. Diana or Atalanta, I could see, but the harpies wouldn't have occured to me. I'm always interested in what other people have to say on mythic figures, I'm always finding new insights. "
3 Oct 2003	Patter	Loading... Now that I think about it the harpies are probably more like strength reversed. I've always wanted to do a tarot deck of reversed meanings -- the 'perverse' deck. I have one in my epilogue gallery which is the reversed Empress as a siren.
17 Oct 2003	Tori	Loading... I believe in this stuff, so I think you did a very good job compaired to some of the terot cards I've seen used in realy life before.
22 May 2004	Levi (Ze'ah)	Loading... Very nice. I'm nt sure about your firey (sp.?) colours in reatin to strength, though. I don't find te quicktempered to be very strong. Personally, I think of strength as water wearing away stone over great amounts of time, and being perfetly silent when what you want most is to scream. Blue and...brown? or grey. But tht's just me. Lisa Coleman replies: "Well, the zodiac sign associated with Strength is Leo, which is Fixed Fire sign. I used that as a starting point when I made that. I agree that a quick temper takes away from strength, but this is the quiet flame that burns constantly, the eternal flame of the hearth, or the Vestal Virgins. Strength means knowing when to be rigid like steel (the sword in the background) or flexible, like the spider silk. both are strong, yet will break under the right circumstances. So I think that a changable element like fire is appropriate. Strength also means to me being able to be patient, and wait, maintaining the flame of your passion quietly until it needs to flare up for battle. That's what this picture is to me. She has done her battles, recieved her wounds and rewards, is stronger because of it, She is now allies with her former enemy the lion, and whe works patiently, ready to take up her sword and ride out again if need be."