My personal blog about enjoying life, people, art, photography and more
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Art Medley Photo/Art Project 2012 ~ Photography by Renee Keith
My goal with this project is to combine the artist with their artwork. Some will be done with Photoshop, others may be projection, body paint, or simply shot in front of their work, etc. Each image will change completely depending on the artist’s style.
I have always had a major fascination with tarot/inspirational/oracle cards… and I love collecting different decks as well. One of my favorites is the Lo Scarabeo Dream Deck.
I’ve thought about designing my own deck for a while now, and finally got around to making my first card today. The cards are not going to be traditional at all… it will be more like inspiration cards and I will be breaking the unwritten rule of keeping them all vertical. Final images will be mixed mediums including all of my own photography, paintings, photo transfers, ink, digital photography & digital editing, etc. The symbolism can mean different things to different people, so there is no wrong or right way to read the cards. I will keep all of the updates in this blog post, so check back once in a while if you would like to see updates on new cards. I started this project October 2011, and plan to have a full deck by December 2011.
I would love to hear your thoughts, please feel free to comment at the bottom of the page. Thanks!!
*Cards are subject to change. I will delete and re-post if change anything
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Card #1: CrowsAbout this card: The crows came from a photograph that I took in San Francisco. I had my friends stop the car so I could jump out and photograph this awesome bird. He was just sitting there watching me as I got closer and closer. Eventually I got close enough to where he flew away and I just kept taking pictures. It wasn’t until I was home reviewing the photos, that I thought about putting all the crow shots together in one image.
Symbolism:
Crows have many different meanings depending on what part of the world you are in. They can symbolize anything from war, death, ill omen, tricksters, good luck, bad luck, change, spiritual strength, messengers, etc. They are also considered to be among the worlds most intelligent animals.
A Human skull can represent death & mortality, equality of all human beings in the face of death, a past life, or even a past life within this life. The Skeleton Key (master key) can open many doors which provides access.
The circle with a diamond shape in the middle is a symbol for a few different things: The astronomical sign of the sun, The open eye of god;purpose and revelation, Air, pregnancy and new human life, Sunday (Roman), Annual.
The sunset/sunrise is a symbol of death, resurrection and immortality.
The crow is standing on the edge of a gate, and below that hangs a rich tapestry which can symbolize love for luxury.
The symbol on the top left is an oriental symbol of the soul’s pilgrimage through life.
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About this card: This card is based off of a picture that I took of a fountain in Florence, Italy (located inside the Courtyard building in the Palazzo Vecchio). I loved it so much, that I was inspired to draw it once I got back to my hotel room. Something about it is so magical.
Symbolism:
A wishing well is know for being good luck. It can also represent deep desires & inspirations, wishful thinking and good health.It is full of coins which can mean good fortune, power of manifestation, Happiness, Positive thinking.
I may end up adding a fish to this card some time in the future which could symbolize spirituality, going with the flow, searching, subconscious & depth of knowledge, happiness, good luck, eternity, fertility, etc.
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Card #3: Prayer and Protection About this card: I took this picture of my daughter in the Nevada desert (Valley of Fire). We had some angel wings from a previous photo shoot and decided to bring them with us on our road trip. She did such a great job modeling for us! The moon (taken by my hubby) was added in later during post processing.
Symbolism:
Angels are often seen as messengers, warriors, guardians or protectors. They can represent hope, goodness, purity, protection, comfort and consolation.
The full moon shares the symbolism of the circle as an image of wholeness and strength. The Chinese associate it with the essence of Yin and the feminine; to Buddhists it represents spiritual power. The Harvest Moon (a full Moon near the September equinox) symbolizes agricultural fertility. The word “lunatic” comes from the Latin for moon, luna, and originally meant “Moonstruck”. The full Moon was thought to worsen lunacy and is associated with wild behavior in animals and humans.
The Stars are connected with spiritual illumination and divine presence. In native American traditions stars are seen as campfire of the ancestors.
The child is a symbol of the future, youthful enthusiasm, impressionability, and potential.
The symbol on the bottom right is a Triquetra, which represents love, honor, and protection.
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Card #4: Good vs. EvilAbout this card: This card was created from one of my acrylic paintings. It is my take of good vs evil in the modern world.
Symbolism:
I am going to write my own personal definition for this card, and remember, you can always create your own meanings. For me, this is a card of choice… everyone has the choice of good or evil and both are always there and readily available. This can apply to your actions, your thoughts, or hidden in agreements and belief systems you make with yourself. Sometimes negativity sneaks up on you and then builds upon itself. Pay close attention to your thoughts and actions to see what is going on, and ask yourself… are you building yourself and other people up or destroying yourself and other people?
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Card #5: CreativityAbout this card: It was early in the year of 2010 that I decided to buy and airbrush and learn how to use it with the intention of later painting people. A few months later, this checkered image was born. I airbrushed the model, as well as the background and then took her picture in our studio. It is not photo-shopped although, for this card, it has been transferred from rice paper to watercolor paper and stylized in post processing with a grunge look . The original image is crisp and black & white. This is one of my favorite images from all of the body paintings we have done.
Symbolism:
Art and creativity ~ “Imagination rules the world.” Napoleon Bonaparte
Card #6: Spiritual MirrorAbout this card: This photograph was from a shoot that we did for Andrea Hansen /Pretty Macabre (wardrobe designer) , located in SLC, UT. I was also working on creating ghosted images (one shot taken with a long & and multiple exposures to capture movement and “ghosted” images) for an exhibit that is on display during October 2011. This was one of my favorite images from the show. She is wearing a vintage style carnival performer sort of outfit, standing in front of a blue theater curtain.
Symbolism:
Spiritual reflection. The Spiritual Mirror Truthfully reflect the Consequences of our actions along with the Karmic rewards, or punishments, which the consequences of our actions have brought upon us.
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Card #7: Living in the NowAbout this card: This is a collage of about 7 images & textures. The moon image was taken by my lovely husband. The desert image was taken in Southern Utah, the flying bird is form Italy, and the man in the mask is our friend James Morris who models for us often.
Symbolism:
“Now is the only time that has ever existed. There is only now. The past is an illusion, the future is an illusion, time is an illusion. There is only now”
The man standing in the moon light wearing a gas mask is protecting himself from any possible toxic gasses, but as you can see there is a bird flying that is just fine. This card can represent past issues affecting your present decisions. You may be feeling like you need to protect yourself which is preventing you from enjoying the current moment to its fullest.
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Card #8 FuriousAbout this card: I was photographing students for my friends makeup class. This was a fun shot that was later photo-shopped with added smoke and textures. After transferring this image for the tarot card, I painted some mazes on each side of the image.
Symbolism:
This girl came prepared for battle, and she is about to destroy someone! Smoke is rising from her fingers as if she just threw a fireball at someone/something.
Mazes can symbolize that you must untangle the maze in order to clear the path to self-knowledge and inner wisdom. You may be feeling like you’re running into walls in life. Try to identify those obstacles and think of ways to work through them. Are you using the same methods that don’t work over and over again? You may need to change your beliefs and expectations in order to make changes.
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment.
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Card #9: Post CardAbout this card: While out looking for cool, old paper textures, I found this vintage blank post card at a bookstore down town in Salt Lake City.
Symbolism:
You may need to get in touch with someone. These days it is too easy to send a text or email… going out of your way to write a letter is usually done with a lot of thought and care. Make sure you take your time, there is an art to delivering a message.
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Card #10: Young LoversAbout this card: I took this shot of our friends up by the Salt Lake City, UT Capital building for some of their engagement photos.
*There will be one or two more lovers cards in the deck.
Symbolism:
Young lovers, passionately kissing and so in love, about to start their life together. Everything is new and exciting!
This could be about putting your heart and soul (optimistically with the best intentions) into something whether it is is a person, hobby, work, or project.
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Card #11: Adventurous / Travel AloneAbout this card: This is a shot of another friend of ours… we were meeting out at the Salt Flats in Utah to take engagement photos for him and his wife to be.
Symbolism:
Adventurous: 1.Willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences. 2. Involving new ideas or methods.
Could also be about traveling alone (mentally and/or physically)
This card van be about a male person in your life, or possibly adventure & taking risks… or maybe even both 
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Card #12: TimeAbout this card: This shot came from a photography project called “Are You Interesting?” … Our friend who modeled for this had this cool watch collection so we had her put them all on. Who knew it would make such a cool tarot card?! Hehe
Symbolism:
Time. Waiting. Maternal Clock. Time running out? etc.
Numbers falling on clock could mean losing track of time.
We got to do another shoot with Andrea Hanson/Pretty Macabre’s wardrobe today! She calls it the “Burn Dress”, which was shown on the runway at An October Evening 2010. Like I mentioned in a previous post, Andrea loves Horror, and we do too… so we had a blast with this shoot. The dress was made with burned edges, and I added a touch of SPFX burn makeup on Laura’s neck and face. Andrea did a fabulous job doing Laura’s hair and makeup… and we had a pretty cool location to work with! I shot a few fun video’s, one of Todd finding and shooting a dead bird… and the other of Todd setting up lights and getting ready to shoot (posted below).
Model: Laura Kiechle
Wardrobe/Hair/Makeup: Pretty Macabre
SPFX & Photo: Renee Keith
*Warning: Images show blood and gore. Guts are made of fabric and is a part of the dress, and the blood is fake.
Andrea Hanson (Pretty Macabre) is a fantastic wardrobe/costume/fashion designer located in SLC. We had a lot of fun working with her tonight, and hope to do several more exciting shoots… which will probably mostly be horror themed. Erin Chaney Henderson (fabulous makeup artist) did the beauty makeup and hair. Here are some of the shots….
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Every year we do a little photography project for An October Evening, a fun night of short films, fashion, photography, and performances. For 2008 we did the “Death By “ Series, and 2009, we created the “Meet Richard“ Series. ***Both of those links show blood and gore, viewer discretion advised! *** So this year we have a few different things going on and it is a surprise so I can’t quite show images from it yet… but I can post some BTS shots! Later I will update this post with the finished images.
(Image to the right) Here is my first SPFX makeup zombie gash… learned how to do it off of youtube, haha. It was created with some Liquid Latex, tissue paper, some home made fake blood and of course I did some airbrushing on top of it all.
(Image below) And here is a BTS shot of some zombies… the photo includes my husband, little sister and both my kids, so its kind of a fun family picture!
I am dying to show more… but it will have to wait until after the event on October 22nd!
Here are a few more zombie (portrait shots)…
A random vampire shoot…
PULP ART STYLE MONSTER TABLOIDS!! …
Seance
The Zombie Pizza Man Ate My Family!!
A Scary Monster Lives in my Toilet!
Woman Gives Birth to Vampire Siamese Twins!
What can I say? Stephen Simmons is just a really cool guy. And not only is he wicked talented, he is also kind, modest and has awesome energy. He is always laughing and smiling which is nice to be around. So if you know Stephen Simmons, you are lucky to have such a cool person in your life. He is a very talented writer and director (Short Films), plays the guitar and piano, loves vintage and retro, loves old black and white films (silents to talkies) and 80′s horror flicks , manages the Tower Theater, and organizes and runs the event An October Evening in SLC, UT. Todd and I have had the privilege of showing our work at An October Evening, which has been a really fun project for us for the last two years. One interesting thing about his films, that usually only his close friends would know, is that everything he writes has to do something with his personal life. He is very passionate about his work… and it shows! Stephen says “My ideas and inspiration come from real life experiences(relationships, phobias, work, strangers, acquaintances etc etc) I always have an actor to play me in some way. When I act in my films, I always play someone or a character I despise in real life”.
Todd’s Shots…
Stephen’s Website: Night of Productions
More Random Info:
Favorite Artists: Dead Man’s Bones; Brainiac; Fred Astaire; Gene Austin; Skeleton Key; Fog; Oingo Boingo; Ella Fitzgerlad; Nina Nastasia
Favorite Films: Shadows And Fog; Sunrise; Monsieur Verdoux; Amarcord; Lovers Of The Artic Circle; The Apartment; Head- On; Brazil; It Happened One Night; Freaks
iStock is celebrating 10 years, and calling for self portraits for “Faces of iStock”. And of course, since iStock is such a huge part of my life, my work and my happiness… I wanted to go all out on this one 
When trying to brainstorm creative ideas, I usually get out a sketch book and draw ideas. This time all I could think of was a mask, I drew it several times, but wasn’t sure how to make it look cool in a photo. All eyes are going to be watching for everyone else’s self portraits, and I want it to be really cool. I want it to represent me and my creative, artistic side. A mask wasn’t enough, I need a whole backdrop… so I decided to paint one. I posted the sketch I came up with, and the backdrop that I painted afterward (in steps) below.
Juggling all the other things that I do, I pretty much spent a whole day on the backdrop. So I had to wait until today to finish up the shoot. I curled my hair, painted a mask on, got dolled up, re-arranged my bedroom to fit some studio lighting in it (hahaha) and shot away. Anywho, here is the final shot (posted below). I had to hold one hand behind my back because I was holding the trigger to take the pictures, lol.
Update: and here it is on iStock 10: http://www.istock10.com/#/en/3342
I first met Aspen several years ago (2006?), I think his fire troupe performed at an art show that I set up at the Utah Arts Alliance. Of course I was really interested in shooting more fire dancing, so we set up a shoot shortly after out by the Great Salt Lake. We went to that abandoned building by the old train car. 
The fire was quite noticeable by people working at the marina by the lake, and the police did come out to let us know we were trespassing… thankfully they let us go with a warning, hehe. Here is a shot from that night (to the right).
I’ve always known that Aspen is an genuinely nice, super rad person with style… but wow, I learned a lot more after going to his house for this photo shoot! He is extremely talented artistically, with gorgeous paintings, hand crafted masks and clothing. Not only that, but he is also a musician and plays the drums and guitar. If that’s not enough, he is also incredibly smart with two masters degrees in business and art history. Knowing he would be a great addition to this photography project, I had no hesitation asking him and am glad he said yes!
And here are Todd’s shots…
Jim has modeled for us once before during an iStock event… and all I can say is, what a cool guy! Even though our event didn’t pay much, he brought tons of props, bails of hay, and rocked the cowboy look. He has an awesome collection of cowboy and mountain man gear , including some homemade leather pieces. During our shoot for this project at his house in Kamas valley, we got to meet his wonderful wife Deb… and she took us on a tour of their Alpaca farm. And before we left, they insisted that we stay for some their delicious homemade chili and bread, mmmm! He is a government employee by day, and does a lot of part time nude modeling on the side for photography, and art classes at local colleges & Universities. Jim is an awesome person for this project, he is genuinely cool and I am glad I have met him and plan to do some more work (body painting and photography) with him soon!
Jim’s Links: http://www.modelmayhem.com/1003073 and http://bear54.deviantart.com/
Please click here (and scroll down) to see more of this project….
About 10 years ago, I got a job at my favorite local art store in SLC, and had the privilege of working and becoming friends with Derek. He is an artist of many different mediums, including paintings, graphic design, photography, disco balls.. in fact, he built the worlds largest disco ball and was in the Guinness book of world records! His projects and accomplishments are amazing, and effect so many other artists in great ways. In 2003 he founded The Utah Arts Alliance (non profit) which continues to house several creative groups. Besides being an awesome artist and business man, he is also a great friend. You can read more about him on his website at the following link: http://www.derekdyer.com/
Here are some of Todd’s photos… He really captured Derek well in these shots (Images posted below).
