Hello from Brazil

[sibilum]

Hi there, I'm Shendel, 39yo from Brazil.

I began to get interested in tarot around 1996-1998 when I was in art school. Then I studied it from 1998 to 2001 and forgot about it during the 00s, when I sold almost my whole collection of decks. Now, in 2012, I began to miss my decks, so I would "visit" them sometimes, and about 2 weeks ago I began to study the cards again and read for myself.

When I began in the 90s I was interested in everything mystic, I believed in a lot of them and even practiced some. Then, gradually, I began to grow some skepticism and I turned into a big skeptic, the kind that doesn't believe in anything that can't be proved. But it is hard to live the life of a skeptical, it's hard, dry and hopeless. Because of this, I think, I came back to tarot. I'm still a skeptical, but I began to read it again as a form of self discovery, in a psychological approach instead of a mystic one.

But please don't think I don't respect those who are believers. I do, and I wish I could be one again, but this is not something we choose, right? Anyway... talking about decks, I kept some of them, and with the exception of 2, I don't know what was I thinking at the time... so I'm using only the Universal tarot (Lo Scarabeo), rider-waite clone. I also have the Alchemical (by R. Place), Sacred Rose, Secrets, Aquarian and Symbolon (non tarot deck). Yesterday I got Shadowscapes (I also got her books on watercolor painting, I LOVE her work), and I'm waiting to receive Druidcraft, Minchiate, Golden and Tarot of the Master.

And that's it. It is nice to meet you all!
Cheers from Brazil,

Shendel

[Hemera]

Hi Shendel and welcome to AT forum. Enjoy

[Bhavana]

Hello Shendel.....

welcome to AT. Don't worry about being a skeptic at times, there are plenty here like that, not everyone uses the cards the same way, my ideas about reading are very similar to yours...I wish I could believe a little more in all the magic, but I just don't!

I just saw the Shadowscape artist's books this week at the store, was tempted to pick one up, as she really does show a lot of technique, step by step, with watercolors. I may go back and get the book soon. I have recently been working a lot with watercolor pencils, and i think they could be useful for the type of painting she does. Would love to hear what you think of the books once you have a chance to work with them...

[janie144]

Hi Shendel, welcome to AT

[sibilum]

Thank you for the welcome messages! ;-)

Originally Posted by Bhavana

Hello Shendel.....
I just saw the Shadowscape artist's books this week at the store, was tempted to pick one up, as she really does show a lot of technique, step by step, with watercolors. I may go back and get the book soon. I have recently been working a lot with watercolor pencils, and i think they could be useful for the type of painting she does. Would love to hear what you think of the books once you have a chance to work with them...

Hi Bhavana, I'm glad to find someone here with the same feeling towards tarot. About the watercolor by S.P. Law, get it! I still haven't worked with it, but the info on techniques is really good. Unfortunately when I was in art school my watercolor teacher wasn't that good and she didn't teach any real technique beside stretching the paper. It was "just do whatever you want to do". So I got really disappointed with my watercolors because I wasn't able to achieve what I wanted. Now I hope I will be able to do it, because the book explains the basic techniques like dry on dry, dry on wet, wet on wet, wet on dry, etc, salt, lifting the color, etc. Plus she also teaches how to draw, and there are many inspiring works to admire. Even if one doesn't like her style, there are so many info on creating different effects that you can use in your own work or style. I will update you once I really start working with it.

[Bhavana]

Originally Posted by sibilum

Thank you for the welcome messages! ;-)




Hi Bhavana, I'm glad to find someone here with the same feeling towards tarot. About the watercolor by S.P. Law, get it! I still haven't worked with it, but the info on techniques is really good. Unfortunately when I was in art school my watercolor teacher wasn't that good and she didn't teach any real technique beside stretching the paper. It was "just do whatever you want to do". So I got really disappointed with my watercolors because I wasn't able to achieve what I wanted. Now I hope I will be able to do it, because the book explains the basic techniques like dry on dry, dry on wet, wet on wet, wet on dry, etc, salt, lifting the color, etc. Plus she also teaches how to draw, and there are many inspiring works to admire. Even if one doesn't like her style, there are so many info on creating different effects that you can use in your own work or style. I will update you once I really start working with it.

I love the Shadowscapes art - that artist is very talented! I plan on going to the store where I saw the book this week to pick up a few other things, I will be sure to grab it if it is still there.

Too bad you were cheated out of good watercolor teaching. I happen to think it is up there with the hardest mediums....but I love the effects, and keep trying. There are a lot of good videos on youtube that show WC technique, if you search for them. Right now I am doing sort of a mixed media thing on watercolor paper - watercolor, watercolor pencils, and acrylics all together. The addition of the watercolor pencils has helped me to achieve the control that I was missing just working with fluid watercolors....it's cheating a little, but it's a lot less frustrating! And today, anything goes!

We have a "what have you created lately" thread, think it's in the chat section - feel free to share your ideas and artwork there, we have all different types of artists at all different levels, so don't be shy!

[Milfoil]

Hello Shendel/Sibilum

Welcome to AT. Brazil is one of my favourite places on the planet.

[sibilum]

Originally Posted by Milfoil

Hello Shendel/Sibilum

Welcome to AT. Brazil is one of my favourite places on the planet.

Cool! Have you been here?

[Milfoil]

Yes, I was in Sao Paulo a few years ago. There is a wonderful shop called Amoa Konoya in the Gardens (Jardim America), Walter and Silvana who run the shop are just lovely people. I don't think they sell Tarot though.

[jash]

I am drawn to zen and it may because they speak of the Great Doubt in that path. I liken it to seeing letters written as all solids or written only in outline-- the great pattern is still there to view