#I’ve thought about making a tarot deck before with my colored pencil illustrations

[ink-the-artist]

What if I made a tarot card deck that’s all just that ai image photo-manipulation kind of art I’ve done, barely comprehensible

[houseofvans]

ART SCHOOL | Q&A with SARA M. LYONS 

Influenced by the works by the likes of designer Lisa Frank and Saturday morning cartoons, artist Sara M. Lyons’s illustrations are colorfully eye-catching, vibrant, and filled with fun! Not only ONE thing, Sara also runs an online shop filled with her awesome creations from patches, pins to an upcoming Tarot card deck she’s creating. We’re stoked to chat with Sara and learn about her process, her favorite artists to follow, and about her local art scene in this week’s Art School w/ Sara M. Lyons.  Make the leap! 

Photographs courtesy of the artist

Hi Sara!, Could you tell us a little about yourself ? For sure! I’m Sara M. Lyons, and I’m an artist, illustrator, muralist and product designer living and working in Orange County, CA!

When did you first get into drawing?  Was it a hobby turned career or something you knew from the start that you’d eventually wanna do for a living? I’ve been drawing since before I can remember, and it’s always been something I did for fun, but I never really considered that it could be a career until I suddenly found myself in the middle of it. I didn’t start leaning into this as a living until I was in my late twenties (I’m 32 now), so I feel like I’m still learning the best ways to navigate everything.

Who were some of your early artistic influences? Art mentors? I was born in ’85, so I was surrounded by Lisa Frank and Saturday morning cartoons, and I think a lot of that spirit is present in my work. I also grew up reading Betty & Veronica obsessively, so Archie comics and the drawing style of Dan DeCarlo in particular was what I started emulating as a kid when I was teaching myself to draw. In high school that developed into an interest in indie comics, and I was really inspired by Los Bros Hernandez. I think you can really still see the influences of both of those comics in my character drawings. 

You make some much fun and colorful things, for a lack of a better word, from pins to patches to just about everything? What’s some of the stuff that’s in the works now? I love making small pieces of art that are accessible and affordable, and that’s always been my thought process when designing products like pins and patches. I think I’ll always be doing stuff like that, but this year I hope to try some new things too. I’m working on a deck of Tarot cards right now (I released a Lenormand fortune telling deck in 2016), and it’s really exciting to create a bunch of highly detailed illustrations in that context - knowing that when I’m done with these 78 drawings, they won’t be just one-offs going on a wall somewhere, but that they’ll be accessible to anyone who is interested.

Do you keep a sketchbook or work your ideas as you go along?  Organized, Sort of, or Complete Chaos? What’s your process for new ideas like? I’d say I exist in a constant state of Organized Chaos. My ideas, sketches, and concepts are spread all over the place - I’m usually bouncing between my planner, my journal, my phone, my sketchbook, my iPad Pro, and my desktop computer, and that’s probably the approximate order of where ideas get parsed out as well. When I’m working for a client, I move really quick, but with my personal stuff I’m a slow starter - I’m both heavy on self doubt and a perfectionist, so there’s often a LOOOOOOONG stretch of time between conception and completion of any given concept. I’m not one of those artists who can sit down and knock out two or three completed drawings in a day. Sometimes I’ll have a sketch on a Post-It in my office or an idea in a note on my phone for over a year before I even start to develop it. But once I really get going on something that I believe in, I get laser-focused.

What mediums do you love to work with? What are your essential art tools? My favorite medium right now is a huge wall - I’ve been working on murals since late 2016 and it’s so much fun and such a complete departure from my usual artistic process! 

But my most comfortable, well-loved mediums are digital and plain old pen and paper. Drawing digitally, I used to work mostly in Photoshop on my desktop using an ancient Wacom tablet, but these days I spend a lot more time drawing in Procreate on my 10.5” iPad Pro (rose gold, obvi!). I know they’re not for everyone, but the iPad and Pencil have been a game changer for me creatively - I love being able to sit on the couch watching trashy reality TV while I work on fully layered digital pieces. 

But still, sometimes nothing beats the classics. I pretty much exclusively use Canson Mixed Media XL sketchbooks, any size, because I like the heavy paper, spiral binding, and turquoise blue covers. I’ll draw with any old pencil - I mostly hoard and use ones I take from hotels when I’m in on trips - and Microns are my favorite drawing pens.  

Who are some rad artists you think folks should definitely check out and follow? I love Jenee Larson’s super distinct style and sassy digital illustrations of petulant ladies - @bobbypinss Bianca Xunise makes the most poignant, funny, personal, emotional diary comics - @biancaxunise Ayaka Sakuranbo is a Tokyo-based artist and I’m obsessed with her whimsical paintings and incredible color palette - @ayakasakuranbo Ashley Lukashevsy makes powerful illustrations with a focus on intersectional feminism and anti-racism - @ashlukadraws Ms. Wearer based in the UK does amazing rainbow-drenched pop art - @ms_wearer Lilly Friedeberg in Dusseldorf is one of my favorite graphic designers; I love her clean, fun sensibility - @elfriede_s Yoko Honda’s work makes me want to transport myself INSIDE the beautiful world she’s created and live there forever - @yokopium

What’s a common misconception about what you do? There’s a lot more “boring office stuff” to my job than most people think. I wish I was drawing and painting and creating all day every day, but in truth I spend like half my time answering emails, fulfilling orders, taking inventory, going to the post office, keeping the online shop up to date, managing all manner of legal nonsense, staying on top of social media, hustling for new work, and so on.

What do you do to take a break from art life and just the day-to-day hustle of running a shop? Drawing is still a release for me, and my husband (@therealjoshr) is an artist too, so it’s not uncommon for us both to still want to be making stuff in our “off” time. When we’re not doing that, we like to do a lot of really grown up stuff like going to theme parks, arcades, swapmeets, and toy stores. We also like taking weekend trips, and I really love being in the desert, so we try to get out to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree as much as we can too.

What can you tell us about the art community around where you are? What’s the art scene and culture like? Orange County sometimes gets a bad rap, but I think it’s a really cool and diverse place to be a creative person. A lot of iconic art and punk rock and culture has come out of this area (just look at Vans!!)! 

As an artist today in OC, I feel like there’s breathing room here - the contemporary and alternative art scenes are still growing and finding themselves here, so it doesn’t feel as high pressure as the larger LA art scene - but you’re close enough to LA to get involved in that scene, and you still have easy access to so many amazing shows and museums and events. There’s just something distinctive about Orange County that is hard to put your finger on unless you’ve kinda grown up here. I went to high school in Newport Beach; I’ve lived in Anaheim now for years - of course there are pockets everywhere where those Real Housewives stereotypes are painfully true, but that hasn’t been my overall experience in OC. I love it here and I really hope I can help the creative community here continue to develop.  

What’s something you liked to see more of in art? More women in the spotlight.

What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t an artist? Oh my god, probably working on a cruise ship or something. I didn’t go to school and I don’t really have any other marketable skills, so hopefully this works out!! 

What are your FAVORITE Vans? It’s a toss up between two SK8 Hi’s - blush pink suede or baby blue faux fur. Don’t make me choose!!

What advice would you give someone thinking about art as a career? This is a super nebulous job choice, and “art as a career” in general is really subjective. Know yourself well, but don’t pinhole yourself. The scope of this creative industry is constantly shifting and changing, and things come in and out of fashion quickly. Something that’s your livelihood one year might become a nonstarter the next. If you can identify and remain true to the things that make you unique as an artist and the things people respond to in your work, the knowledge of that point of view will carry you from phase to phase. 

What’s on the horizon for 2018? I’m still trying to figure that out myself! After some major plans I had for this year fell through at the last minute, I’m at kind of a blank slate phase in my career. I have a ton of different ideas and I’m trying to nurture them all to see what blossoms first! I’d really like to paint more murals this year, travel more for events, and continue to develop my more personal illustration work. Something I’m trying to keep in mind this year is that it’s OK to be small - not chasing the giant clients or the big money projects, and just doing work that fulfills me creatively and resonates with the people who care about what I do.

Follow Sara Lyons | Instagram | Website

[rosaofswords]

Tarot Armada Update

A while back I made a little post about my “armada” of tarot decks and what they are used for. Some decks have left the fold since then and others have arrived, so it seemed like a good time to update the list:

First up: Decks I’m not actually actively using at all

Thoth Tarot (large edition) Medieval Scapini (sadly lacking in LWB)

Both of these decks I’ve kept around for study purposes, but if I am being honest I haven’t even been using them for that. :( Whoops. 

Active Decks: 

Aquarian I actually have two copies of the Aquarian now, the old full size I’ve owned for 15 years and the Tarot-In-A-Tin mini. It’s a pretty classic 1970s deck, drawing on the RWS but flavoring it with Art Deco design elements, soft pencil portraits, and some really groovy colors. My first tarot love, we’ll always have a special bond. It is my home base. 

Dreaming Way Probably my absolute favorite deck to read for other people with. Straight forward, down to earth readings with beautiful picture book feeling illustrations. This is NOT a soft deck at all, it’s a Grimms Fairy Tales powerhouse.

Jonasa Jaus This is the newest addition to the collection, but it’s already love. This deck is currently serving as my personal High Priestess/shadow work deck. The images really remind me of 70s pulp illustrations with their limited palette, but the stories and the tone are more like Hades and Persephone. Not sure if I’ll ever read for others with this one, I am really savoring the personal connection I have with it. 

Justice League This deck is an absolute pleasure to work with. I only know a handful of its heroes, but it still reads like an intuitive dream. I pull this one out whenever I feel like myself or a querent needs to tap into their inner hero and kick their inner (or external?) villain’s butt. 

Linestrider My heart deck, this one just speaks right to my core. I do read with it for other people, because it’s so pretty and must be shared, but I value it way more for personal readings. (In those “which 5 decks do you haul out of a burning building” situations this one is top of the list, followed by the Shadowscapes, Dreaming Way, Aquarian, and probably the Jonasa or the Shades of Magick.)

Messages Tarot My only majors only deck. (So far, I’ve got my eye on one other one.) I use this one more like an oracle deck most of the time as each card has a sigil and each sigil is a lovely affirmation/message of sorts. Such a treat to work with, it’s just such an elegant design. 

Mystic Faerie Tarot A gift from @alluvio​, my faerie buddy! I haven’t used these guys a lot yet, I’m sort of saving them for February because this deck deals a lot with duality and I’ve got the Two of Cups that month in my Year Ahead spread. However, I do already know I can rely on the fae to be savage with their advice. It’s a very “well, you ASKED” sort of deck.  

RWS (mini plaid back) The classic. Honestly, I need to upgrade this to the Centennial or something, especially since I have finally learned to love this deck. Reads very straight forward, as expected, but I feel like I keep noticing new details to latch onto. I think I’m finally ready to work with these images on a larger scale. 

Shades of Magick You know, I never thought it was possible for me to love a pip deck this much. This deck is just... it’s everything I never knew I wanted. It’s a dark looking deck full of bones, stars, crystals, and bugs-- and it reads like your best friend and personal cheerleader. I love this bugger so much

Shadowscapes How did I live before this deck came into my life in December? How did I not think a deck so full of unicorns and dragons and mermaids would be my thing? I don’t know. It’s perfect. It’s my soul deck.

Student Tarot Best budget deck of my life, seriously. The booklet and titles are all in Chinese so I’ve had to really cut my teeth into reading intuitively, but the illustrations make it easy work! It’s high fantasy stained glass deck, full of elves and mermaids and wizards. It is a little ray of sunshine that isn’t afraid to punch your teeth out if that’s what you need. 

Tarot of the Renaissance Petruchio! Cheeky little bugger. Everything you’d expect from a deck I’ve nicknamed after that particular Shakespearean character and more. This deck is super, super non-traditional with its meanings and card orders, but the illustrations are generally so clear it hardly matters. 

I do have one more deck coming to me this month, The Golden Universal Tarot, and in April I should have the Ostara Tarot... so I’m sure there will be updates eventually. :)