Ex Penna

Art Magick


My apologies for missing you all for a big post on Friday but I was in Cleveland for WizCon to learn from the pros about the art of my latest venture, the comic book.  My husband is a part of a local group that is creating a brand new comic with elements of sci-fi, fantasy, magic, and alternate realities--all within a sprawling story that will take years of adventure to play out.  I am so excited to be a part of this, as the lead artist but also as a reader!  I'll be sure to post some art on Twitter and Facebook so you can see what is stealing away my attention!

So naturally, I've been a little preoccupied, but that doesn't mean I have stopped--or even slowed down--thinking about magic.  On the contrary, I'm delving into ways to combine the two, extract one from the other, and learn something valuable from my experiences with each.  Anyone who works with these two talents knows that magic and art go so well together that there can be times when they are indistinguishable.

Case in point, this week's Quick Link.  Art of nearly any era is rife with symbolism and occult images.  Artists use these elements because they quickly spark our imaginations, make us want to dig deeper into what we see and feel through art.  They can say so much with only a few brushstrokes, thereby bringing a straightforward painting into the realm of the magical practitioner with its call to feel and know on some instinctive level.

Likewise, spells that are cast well are truly objects of beauty.  Think of the spells you see in movies; some are clunky (I'm looking at you, Charmed) while others have a rhythm like a dance and use actions that deftly manipulate, mimicking the swift laying on of paint to canvas.  To cast is utilitarian; to cast well is poetical.

Take some time today to flip through the images on the link and think about the correlation between art and magic.  Then bring out some paper.  Even if you don't think you can draw, put down something on paper that makes you feel magic.  You will be surprised at the results.