Tarot Update 1/2017

I figured it was time to start explaining these tarot cards somewhere. Why not do it publicly cuz who fucking reads this shit and who cares. Yeah, me. Maybe just me. But me.

FYI: Read First

Mae Mae The High Priestess:
Major Arcana: Trump II
Why Mae?
Melisa Gabrielson is an amazing woman, talented artist, phenomenal mother, and dear friend. She's one of the most up-beat, upstanding, tell it like it is, beautiful females I've had the pleasure of meeting. She works hard, is down for anything, and loyal as the Nevadan sky is vast. She is layered, complex, open, and fascinating. She fits in no box, constantly impresses with her strength, and has been a delight (and struggle) to attempt to capture in paint. In short, Mae has seen some shit, been through some shit, and can smell bullshit coming from a mile away. She also don't take no shit.
Women like her are the bass to the pulse of Reno's heart beat.
That's part of why I chose her as one of my High Priestess.


Why What?
Here we see Mae, all face, all hair, all eyes, all freckles. On her head she wears the triple Reno papal crown of arches (I dunno if y'all know, but Reno likes arches and roundness and spheres). Her hair (or is it her elaborate headdress of magnificence?) flows like the weightless topper of a showgirl. Perhaps harkening the essence of the PrimaDonna. Wrapped in her hair is the Kabbalist Tree of Life symbol. She wears a frock of modest blue and in an amazing 80s fabric because Mae Mae. Blue echos the color of water, intelligence, emotion. She is street smart. The arches act as the head-dress and the gate of the Priestess and, in essence, the gates of Humanity/Choice/Time/Knowledge/Self. Through or around? Into or away? She stands before the gate and is the gate itself, welcoming but fierce. Just like Reno. Her collar is the same as a Catholic priest's because I went to Catholic school for 12 years and have a few thoughts about that white piece of fabric myself... anyway, her collar also has the symbol of a traditional lock and key lock. This makes her the Gatekeeper, seeing both the past and the future. She is wisdom. She is opportunity or success, she is the first of many lady (or gentlemen) lucks you will meet in my deck. Her skin has the freckle and glow of neon light. Her eyes are clear, wide, and penetrating.
She is most strong upright and when dealt her inversed, you'll know why.

And?
I've been working on this painting for three years.
Link to proof.
She's had many incarnations, many renditions, and I'm finally comfortable hanging her in public at Gallery Boom.



Te Presento A: