Saturday, September 30, 2017

An artist's responsibility in an Age of Climate Change.



DILUVIUM (2017) (detail)
Oil and metal leaf on panel 30 x 45 inches by Patrick McGrath Muñiz

At the time of writing this, it's been little more than a month after Hurricane Harvey hit us in Texas. The level of destruction and flooding here in Houston had no description, you just had to see it for yourself. At this moment, we are still seeing not just the aftermath of Harvey, but of two others, Irma and Maria.  This year has seen some major destructive hurricanes within just a month and hurricane season just started! My closest family in Florida were affected by Irma. Maria has caused tremendous devastation in the island of Puerto Rico. My hometown of Aguadilla was not spared from it and my childhood home and studio destroyed. A considerable amount of artwork from my early stages till recently are now gone forever. Over 30 years of work erased in the blink of an eye. These storms have affected so many of us in so many different levels. And even though my family is ok... for now, I still haven't heard from many of my friends and fear for their lives. Maria has now become a major humanitarian crisis with a shamefully slow response from the U.S. government. Let's be reminded, this is an American colony and the people from Puerto Rico are American citizens. It is the responsibility of the U.S. to take care of it's territories and peoples, otherwise let them be free. 


SANTA JUSTICIA (2017) 
Oil and gold leaf on panel 11.5 x 23.5 inches  by Patrick McGrath Muñiz


These three catastrophic events have hit me in a deeply personal level but Im also painfully aware of the "natural" disasters occurring in Mexico, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh. This all has had a powerful impact on me as well. Climate change is real and it is affecting us all. And yes, I know we've always had hurricanes but the fact that these are intensifying and becoming more and more common because of warmer water and air conditions is a direct consequence of climate change. As unregulated transnational corporations keep polluting and our dependence on fossil fuel and rampant consumerist habits grow, we can only expect things to get worse, a lot worse.


BRENDAN (2017) 
Oil and gold leaf on panel 11.5 x 23.5 inches  by Patrick McGrath Muñiz

As citizens of this world we can no longer be immune or indifferent to the effects and most importantly the causes of climate change.  As an artist, a talented person with an extra sensibility it would be totally unforgivable . Artists are story tellers, myth makers and hope bringers. Our impact and influence on how the rest of us think and feel should never be underestimated. We are potential agents of change. But art can also transform our understanding and perception of history, nature, culture and even ourselves ultimately deciding the Zeitgeist or collective spirit of the times and the course we take.   



 PLEGARIA (2017)  
Oil on canvas 24 x 24 inches by Patrick McGrath Muñiz


We could either despair and loose hope in the future or we could get up and do something about our current environmental crisis. Nothing good has ever come out of doing nothing so it's worth giving action a chance, resist and fight back for a better world with social and climate justice for all. Everyone can make a difference depending on their abilities and gifts. Some celebrities have lots of money so they donate their money to help others. Others work in politics and can put pressure and challenge the establishment elite. The media could be doing a much better job at investigating and communicating the root causes of climate change.  We, artists have our talents and art at our disposal in order to bring awareness of the most important issue of our time: Climate Change.  Do your research, learn from others, tell your personal stories and create art that educates and opens minds.  Enough with modernity's obsession with individuality, progress, commodities and consumerism. Make art that's ecocentric, not egocentric.  No more time for excuses, time to get to work !



Wednesday, August 9, 2017

El Desembarco (The Disembarkment) A Documented Painting Process





El Desembarco (The Disembarkment) (2017) Oil on canvas 60" x 38" 

Today Im going to do something different for this blog entry. Instead of discussing my concepts, sources and research, I'll rely more on visuals and share with you my documented painting process for a recent painting I just completed, titled El Desembarco (The Disembarkment). This piece is inspired after historical depictions of  the Spanish Conquest and American Manifest Destiny. Im also incorporating within the composition some personal narratives, pop culture references and other contemporary elements. These are some of the preliminary sketches I worked on before starting to paint.  The short video shows how the painting started, changed. and gradually evolved tilll conmpletion. The idea for this painting has been haunting me since 2016. The painting itself took me about a month to execute but the ideas, research and drawings took me about a year and went through many changes.

I always make as many preliminary sketches as possible before I start to paint. These are just a few...





These last two pages of my journal were drawn recently while whorking on the painting. Sometimes I tend to go back and review my sources and do some more studies. 


 And here's a very short video summarising a month's work on this painting. Enjoy and please share!





Hope you enjoyed this article. If you wish to see more of my artwork, please visit my new artist website at: www.patrickmcgrath-art.com. Stay tuned for more related articles that I'll be posting once a month on this blog. Also check out My Youtube channel which I just started. I'll post more videos soon! Take care and as always, thank you very much for your support!



Tuesday, June 27, 2017

10 Great Ways to Know Thyself

"Know Thyself and you shall know all the mysteries of the gods and the Universe" 

Inscription in a Greek temple at Delphi.





















The Seed (Detail) Oil on canvas 48" x 48" by Patrick McGrath Muñiz

Art is a path towards Self-Knowledge. 21 years ago I started a drawing journal. In it I intended to draw every day. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea" (Not a day without a line).The purpose of it, besides getting better at drawing was to understand myself and how my creative mind worked. Some years were very productive and inspiring, others were very conflictive and even silent. What I've learned so far by doing this, is the more I look into myself, the more questions I had about who I was and why I did Art. Without knowing it, I was taking the "humanist approach" to knowing myself.  I recently posted the following thought on my Facebook account: "To be original is to be yourself, to be yourself is to know thyself. To know thyself, you can start off with a DNA test and digging into your own past".  This is the "dataist approach" to knowing thyself, not to be confused with dadaist. A dataists seeks answers to important questions in Big Data. 



Surviving Doomsday 2012 (Detail) Oil and metal leaf on panel by Patrick McGrath Muñiz


The Humanist approach to knowing thyself:

Since the European Renaissance and scientific revolution, humanity has gradually shifted its world view from an all encompassing monotheist world view to a scientific, anthropocentric and individualist world view. If you've ever been adviced to "Follow your bliss" "Listen to your heart" "Customer knows best" "Find your own inner voice", these all derive from the humanist doctrine that we've grown so accustomed to in "Free" Western Societies. Modern humanism tells us that the most important things happen inside each one of us, namely, "feelings" and that in order to know these "feelings", one must keep a private diary, have heart to heart conversations with a friend, go to a park and be by yourself, go to a museum, be inspired, read a book you like, buy what makes you happy. No one can know you better than yourself and these are some of the things that can help you.



Prometheus, the Awakener returns. Oil on canvas 36" x 57" by Patrick McGrath Muñiz


The Dataist approach to knowing thyself:

As we enter a new age, with the rise of genetics and computer technology, our understanding of who we are and where we come from has been revolutionized. With highly sophisticated ever evolving algorithms, advanced computer processing, biotechnology and AI improving at an exponential rate, it has become much easier to predict and define who we are as human beings, from a Data point of view at least.  All our vital records can be understood as algorithms and big data. If we have a Facebook account, shop at Amazon,, read online news, google images, chances are we've already been deeply analyzed and studied. The more time I spend on the internet, the more I'm surprised by how much information they have on me. The advertisement has become so incredibly more spot on with my interests, it is even scary for a moment. They are getting very good at this in a very short period of time. While the humanist declared "Listen to your feelings!", the dataist declares "Listen to the algorithms, data knows your feelings".



Pasithea. Oil on canvas 20" x 24" by Patrick McGrath Muñiz


Based on these models, I propose combining both and taking a Humanist/Dataist approach to knowing thyself and here are a few things you can do to get started:

1. Get yourself a DNA test done. If possible, also get your parents to get this test done. You'll be surprised about how much hidden information there is about yourself and your family.  I just used 23&me but Ancestry.com and Nat Geno 2.0 work fine. The results from my DNA test not only gave me exact percentages of my regional ancestry, it also went into inherited health conditions and traits.  Further medical exams could facilitate even more information. Gather as much biometric information about yourself as you can afford.  Your health and wellbeing is worth every penny and being able to identify everything you can about your body is just priceless. Also, be prepared to have Identity perception is forever changed. Finding out I had Native American ancestry led me to find who my 6th great grandmother was and it simply blew my mind. 




Partial view of my 23&me ancestry report. If you upload the Raw Data onto Gedmatch.com, you'll find even more surprising facts about your ancestry.

2. Start a Genealogical tree. Once you have a DNA test done, you can start digging deeper  into the past and discovering who your ancestors were. It doesn't matter how far back you can trace your past. Every little bit of information is of great value and can enlighten your understanding of your origins. There are plenty of good websites that can help you with that. Ancestry.com is one of the best but you have to pay. I'm using familysearch.org. It's fee and I was able to trace one of my family lines back to Normandy 986 AD. Now that I know a good deal about who my immediate ancestors are, not to mention a few that go way back, my perception and appreciation of world history and of this country is forever changed. Owning a part of world history makes it even more personal.


A view of my family tree on FamilySearch.org. It takes time but many records can be found and if you have family background from the U.S. you would be surprised as to how much info is out there.

3. Read your history.  I grew up in Puerto Rico so learning about the the island's history,  politics, culture and society  helps me understand my current beliefs, political views and world view. Wether we are aware of it or not, we are all influenced by our culture, the people around us and the country we live in. We either react against it or embrace it. It is better to know the history of all these things in order to better understand ourselves and the way we respond to the outside world. Take some time to look at the bigger picture. In a time of mass information, there is simply no excuse to be historically numb minded and ignorant of our past.



I find history books fascinating. Remember to take everything with a grain of salt and verify your sources.

4. Get yourself a detailed astrological chart. Even if you don't believe in astrology, I urge you to give this one a try. Most astrology skeptics base their judgments on Sunday paper Sun sign astrology. This kind of popular culture astrology is oversimplified for the masses extremely flawed. No wonder why astrology gets so discredited. The kind of astrology I use is  based on the exact location and exact date of birth including hour and minute. By having all this information, your chart will provide you with the precise point of where were the planets, Moon and Sun in the sky at the time you were born, giving you not just your Sun sign, but also Ascendant and Moon sign. Along with all the other planetary degrees, this is a much detailed picture of who you are. I've done mine and can tell you, it is very accurate! Astro.com is a good website to start with and it's free. If you find it useful and insightful, you can dig deeper into this stuff with Kepler, a computer sofware that does all the astrological calculations for you.



Once I have my own chart Im able to view my current and future transits and there is plenty of information online that can help you interpret these. cafeastrology.com is good source.


5. Do the Briggs-Myers personality type test. This is a test developed in by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers based on the typological theories of Carl Jung. There are basically 16 personality types and you can find out what's yours by filling out an online questionnaire. This is not your Fun Facebook personality test. Those that tell you what Greek god are you, or what country is more like you, are a waste of time. There is more that one website to do this psychometric test so choose carefully and compare results. I have used 16personalities.com & humanmetrics.com Mbtionline.com is a paid version. These tests are fairly popular among the business community as they help them define and target  potential customers. This sort of information  helps me understand my social interactions and external responses. It also confirmed and amazingly validated my astrological chart.




There are a few good free personality tests that online. 16personalities.com is one of my favorites


6. Get a Tarot deck and do your own readings. Don't feel intimidated by the 78 cards in a Tarot deck. If you prefer, get a Lenormand or an oracle deck. These may be even easier to interpret. Even though I know the common meaning for each card, I will often go more intuitive with the reading and try to stay away from future divination readings and focus on present day context questions.A good website to start learning from biddytarot.com. They also have insightful podcasts and utube videos. I do readings every morning  in silence and in contemplative introspection, Along with prayer and meditation, this simple exercise helps me find inner peace. Projecting and interpreting meaning on to images is like placing a mirror to your own soul . If you like, you can document each reading.


The Golden Tarot by Kat Black

7. Start an audio blog. Whenever you have a chance alone in the day, take a few minutes to start an audio blog. Talk to yourself and record on your phone. For me this usually takes 20 minutes once or twice a week. This is like talking to yourself but with the advantage that you can replay and listen to your own voice and pay close attention to what you're saying. Often we forget to listen to what we are actually saying and when we do, that's when the OMG moment happens. You realize as you listen to your monologue, that there many things you seldom express to others that didn't even suspect about yourself. It's like going outside of yourself for a moment and being the other person listening. Do you like what you hear? What are your impressions? Is this really you speaking your mind? 



Most phones should already have a recording app

8. A personal journal. Yes, this could not be left out of the list of course. But I would take it a step forward and document the whole process by video or photos. Consider scanning and digitizing your journal. Look at your handwriting, your drawings, your thoughts, your dreams. Which ones are the most intriguing? Which ones ring truer than the rest? What can be improved? If you've been doing this for some time like I have : What has been consistent throughout all these years? There is much to be learned about ourselves  and it is one of the best ways to open your creative channels.



One of my drawing journals

9. Make a movie/music/book list. If you would have to watch 10 movies again, which ones would you definitely choose? Do that! Watch your  top 10 favorite movies of all time, one each day for 10 days. Than ask yourself: What all these films have in common? Is there a recurring theme? Do they share similar values? How do all of these stories end? Believe it or not, this speaks volumes about you. What are your 10 favorite songs of all time?  Make a playlist and listen to them one after another. If you're like me then it's a playlist of 101. What kind of music is predominant in this list? Are they sad or happy? Are they hopeful or gloomy? If you were stranded in a desert island, what  books would you bring with you? Why? You can write down these lists in your personal journal. It is amazing how much the things you love describe you and your vision of the world.




Most of the music I listen to often triggers back childhood or more recent memories. 

10. Get in touch with Nature. In the information age when most people are glued to their mobile devices it's very easy to lose sight of where we all really come from and how much we are subject to our animal instincts of fear and domination. Most people ignore their natural surroundings and devote all of their attention to an artificial world, one which holds on to an inter subjective reality and collective fictions. We forget our days in the African Savannah as early hunter gatherers. Our talent for prehistoric amnesia is quite unforgiving specially when you look at what we are doing to the planet's environment and every living being in it. We live in the Age of the Antropocene and it did not start with the Industrial age. It started more than 10,000 years ago when we started burning the forests and wiping out most of the planet's mega fauna into extinction. Take some time to go out and be more appreciative of the natural world. Without it , you wouldn't be here. Take some time to reflect on your own evolution and where we are headed as a species. Go beyond the personal. What can we do in our own lives to wake up and make a better world?


Me with my sister back in Puerto Rico, where we grew up during the 1980's.

We live in an age of rapid change and information overload so it is quite easy to feel overwhelmed. While many may opt to "go off the grid" and become "Invisible", this is not practical for many reasons. Global society and economy for better or worse has become irremediably intertwined with Information Technology and the Web.  So, why not be open to all advice and see what works best for yourself? Of course, I'm aware of how all this shared personal information can and will be shared among corporations and government, with an  nightmarish "1984" scenario in mind. That is why I prefer to keep some of my information as private as I can. Still I believe at this point the real benefits of sharing some of your information outweigh the risks. Since we are at a turning point in history where within a generation you can be sure, nothing will ever be the same, with no turning back, it seems like an appropriate time to embrace the future with data while holding on to some of the humanist values we cherish while we can. I say this even as I fear the obvious dystopian future scenario, We might as well make the best of it while it lasts. As the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurerius once said: "You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength"




Mirabile Futurum. Oil on canvas 16" x 20" by Patrick McGrath Muñiz

Hope you enjoyed this article. If you wish to see more of my artwork, please visit my new artist website at:www.patrickmcgrath-art.com. Stay tuned for more related articles that I'll be posting once a month on this blog. Take care and as always, thank you very much for your support!





Saturday, May 6, 2017

Library & Garden and why everyone should have them.

"Si Hortum et Bibliotheca habes, deerit nihil"
-Cicero
To Varro, in Ad Familiares IX, 4



This quote from Roman philosopher and consul Cicero, has often been translated as: If you have a library and a garden, you have everything. But the literal translation would actually be: If you have a garden and a library, you'll lack nothing. In this fast age of I-phones and consumerism, think about it for a moment. What do we really need? As an artist I could easily add in an art studio as well. But why is a library and a garden so important to have these days, no matter how small they are?

Enjoying a beautiful garden in Apaneca, El Salvador.


Growing up in a  farm in Puerto Rico left a deep impression in my soul. Now that I look back, spending the days surrounded by trees, animals and such a fertile land you could throw about any seed and it would grow unattended, this was key to a fertile imagination. Not only was I blessed by my natural surroundings but also by the family book collection we had. Perhaps it wasn't the best and it was lacking some important books, it was more than enough to inspire me to read and make a habit of it from an early age. We didn't have computers or smartphones growing up in the 80's. There were other toys to play with and the huge mango tree by the house was the best playground of all. At night I always went to bed reading a children's book. Sometimes my brother or sister would read these to me. I will never forget the nights there were blackouts and all we had were candles and lamps, a perfect time to play with shadows and tell stories. At night you could see so many stars and even a UFO flying by if you were lucky. We had chicken, geese, cows, dogs and many cats but I also remember insects that have either gone extinct or rarely seen these days. 


Part of the remaining land where I grew up. Not a farm anymore, but still a place full of memories. The signs on the trees are quotes my mom wrote with her calligraphy.


Sadly that farm is now gone and replaced by an empty strip mall. They destroyed almost every beautiful thing there was in that land. But our house remains with a small lot of land I planted with many new trees nearly 14 years ago. And now I live in a big city in Texas, in a relatively small apartment with a decent balcony. I enjoy all the amenities of living in a big city but I keep my personal library. The improvised garden is still a work in progress but it'll get there. Once you move from the countryside to the city, you begin to fully appreciate  the value of certain things in life. The city has much to offer, don't get me wrong, but I can see how much of a positive impact my early upbringing surrounded by nature and books had on my creativity. And yes, I know, we can all go to a park and play, or to the public library, but its not the same. I keep a small collection of books and plants to remind me of who I am and where I come from. These things define my sensibility, my mind, my humanity.



Emblema XLII from the alchemical text Atalanta Fugiens by Michael Myers.
The Alchemist follows Nature, with his lamp (knowledge by reading) and cane (experience).


By having a small library and garden, we nurture our mind and soul. Having a digital library in the cloud or a screen saver image of a forest is no substitute for the real thing. In an age of traffic rush hour, overwhelming information technology and mindless consumerism, we need more than ever to slow down a bit. We need time to enjoy the simple things in life. Not only a garden provides a nice opportunity to be responsible and take care of beautiful living beings, it can also provide food for our bodies and souls. A garden attracts insects and other animals bringing a little piece of nature into our enclosed artificial vessels we call homes. A library on the other hand opens up a world of human ideas. Depending on our books, of course, it can define our character and the way we think of the world around us. For instance, my library is primarily composed of art books, philosophy, history, mythology and mysticism. This is one of the things I enjoy most after painting. Life is short, the Romans knew this, and Cicero was right, the best sources of inspiration in life come to us from nature and knowledge. As an artist I of course add in the art studio. The studio, home for the heart, the garden, home for the body and soul and the library, home for the mind. In our times, these are urgently needed. 

Hope you enjoyed this article. If you wish to see my artwork, please visit my new artist website at: www.patrickmcgrath-art.com. Stay tuned for more related articles that I'll be posting once a month on this blog. Take care and as always, thank you very much for your support!


Saturday, April 1, 2017

Painting Process & Tarot, A Creative Journey. Part 3


My first self-portrait in 1989

28 years ago I drew my first self-portrait and from there started to dedicate hours to drawing and painting. In just a few years I already knew this was what I wanted to do for a living. I was in high school at the time and remember not just my art studio filled with drawings but also my interest in the occult. I was still young though and when introduced to the Tarot for the first time, I did not understand the full meaning of it and kept that Tarot deck in a safe place. I already wanted to create my own deck but any attempt would have been utterly foolish and didn't give it much thought at the time. 25 years later (Last year) I went back to Puerto Rico and found that Tarot deck I had kept and forgotten for all these years. I instantly knew what had to be done. Like a divine spark lighting up in my soul, there was no question in my mind about it. Previously I've been doing  research into the Tarot and incorporating it into my work. At the present moment I'm also working on my first Tarot deck.  I've found it to be an invaluable source of inspiration with endless narrative possibilities. But I also see in the cards a way of thinking creatively, of approaching the art of painting. As we wrap things up and finish this three part series about the creative process and Tarot, let's review our journey so far. 


 My first Tarot deck from 1992

We the artists started off our adventure as The Fool, not really sure of what we are doing and where to begin. Every blank canvas is a "cero" full of hidden numbers and aesthetic potentiality.  As we embark in our journey we are first encountered by The Magician. He teaches us the importance of craftsmanship, technique and getting hands-on with our work. The High Priestess is our mystical guide who encourages us to rely on our intuition and imagination. Next we are greeted by The Empress. She inspires us with beauty and urges us to materialize it in our art. Along comes The Emperor who bestows in us a sense of responsibility and structure. For every "Great" work there should be a plan. The Pope instills in us reverence for the sacred ritual of creating. We must also have faith in our  artistic vision. Then we are liberated by the ecstatic joy of TheLovers. Art should be an act of Love free from all limitations. As we move forward to the final stage of our process, we should be reminded, this is just one of many paths we may take in our creative endeavor. There are 78 cards in the Tarot, I've just concentrated in the first 9 trumps, the period of gestation.



Pa' Florizona (2011)
 Oil on canvas, metal leaf and toy cars on wood frame 
11" x 17". Private Collection.




El Carro (2013) Oil and metal leaf on panel 24" x 44". Private Collection.



This is the hero's march towards victory. Sometimes painting can become sluggish and seem to be going nowhere. Somehow it does not advance and we feel stagnated. Along comes The Chariot with Mars/Ares, the warrior on board. He shouts at us to stay focused and drive forward. His transportation is pulled by either two horses or sphinxes. They usually represent the opposites within us but they are now under control and given a common purpose. The Chariot can only go in one direction: Forward. So we choose our priorities  and aim at the most important elements in our work. In order to get things done, we should focus on the things that stand out and become focal points. Just like the warrior's spear, we take aim at something and give it our best shot. We cannot be all over the place unless we wish to fail. Define the prime directives of your own chariot, keep your horses together and conduct them mindfully towards your main goal. We are almost at the finish line.


Allegory to Justice (2009) Oil and metal leaf on canvas 24" x 24"


Spraying Global Occupation (2011) 
Oil and metal leaf on wood tryptich 18" x 24". 
Private Collection.



With Justice we enter a period of discernment, where abstract thinking becomes imperative. Justice is the first full figure we encounter that is more symbolic than real. There is no such thing as justice but we humans imagine it and wish to believe in it. A sense of order and truth is needed to keep things in human perspective. Justice carries a sword, representing truth and valor residing in the mind. She also holds scales. Notice Justice is attributed feminine aspect. She is the judge who decides what deserves to stay and what has to go. In other words, she is the editor in chief of our work. Listen to her advice and trust your own inner judgment. Discern and decide what elements in this painting are really necessary and which can be omitted or delegated to a minor plane. Often we are too harsh and become our worse critic. Other times we become too laid back and complacent. Justice holds on to her scales to bring balance into the equation. Be just and objective with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others but rather measure your work to your own standards. Is this painting better than other paintings I've done? How does it compete with similar pieces I've already done?


Mcolonial Mendigo (2011) Oil and metal leaf on panel 11" x 24". Private Collection

Saturn (2008) Oil and metal leaf on panel 11" x 24". Private Collection



Finally The Hermit pays us a studio visit. This comes in the form of solitude and silence. There is a moment when we need to be alone and in silence in front of our nearly finished painting. This is a time for contemplation and silent dialogue with the accomplished work. The Hermit teaches us to stay away from all the distractive noise coming from the world outside us and just listen to what this new artwork has to say. This is a time to rest and put all your brushes down. The Hermit is shown as an elderly man holding a staff and lamp, as if searching for truth and hidden meaning in life. As we sit back and study the piece , he will then tell us if it's finished or not. If it isn't, we'll know and go back to work. If it is, this is then a good time to reflect on the process and study what we've accomplished so far and what it means for us in the greater scope of things. The Hermit is now a wiser Fool, having wandered through life. and art, the Hermit doesn't stop there and proceeds to his or her next creative journey. This is just the beginning...




Photo of me in my studio taken in 2016

We hope you enjoyed this archetypal exploration through the Tarot and the creative process of painting. If you wish to see more of my original artwork visit my new artist website at: www.patrickmcgrath-art.com. Stay tuned for more related articles that will be posted on this blog on a monthly basis and as always, thank you for your support!

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Painting Process & Tarot, A Creative Journey. Part 2


Hercules and the Virtues (2013) Oil ad metal leaf on panel 36" x 28" by Patrick McGrath Muñiz

We now continue this creative journey using the Tarot in our artistic process, but let's have a quick recap before we take off . Last time we explored The Magician, The High Priestess and The Empress and of course we started off with The Fool (The artist himself). With each one of these archetypes, there was a lesson to be learned and applied in our creative process. Each one of them sees the world from a different perspective enriching the ways in which we think about creativity and Art. The Magician taught us to use our hands and master our craft. The High Priestess showed us  the power of intuition and imagination. The Empress inspired us with beauty and love for what we create. As a painter I shall be referring to things that relate directly to painting but these lessons apply to any other art form as well.  Now let's continue our journey.



El Emperador  (2013) Oil and metal leaf on panel 24" x 47" Private Collection. 

Mcolonial Politician (2011) Oil and metal leaf on panel 11" x 24" by Patrick McGrath Muñiz 


4. The Emperor

As we encounter this powerful father figure archetype, we are reminded of our capacity to be in full control of our work and to think of our studio as our personal kingdom. A painting can be a territory we are about to conquer, build and govern. The Emperor is both pragmatic but ambitious and he teaches us to have a clear purpose and reach our goals with discipline, clarity and determination. In order to succeed we will need a plan, a winning strategy to expand our empire. This is the type of language we might hear from someone like him and there is much to be learned from it as an artist. For example: Our palette can be seen a the camp where we train and prepare our soldiers (paints). Who are we fighting against? Idleness, chaos and fear.  Some of you may now be thinking: "But I love chaos!". We may argue there is a difference between "ordered chaos" and chaos without purpose and meaning. The Emperor does not take part in either one as he is the capital representative of civilization as opposed to the barbaric and undisciplined . Order is the principal command and lesson here.  Once in a while we must clean our Empire (studio & also mind) and have Laws (a set of rules and daily schedule) in order to be an effective ruler/creator. This will bring structure, clarity and guide us further in our creative journey.




 St. Nick before the consumerist festivities (2008) Oil on canvas 11: x 14".
 Private Collection. by Patrick McGrath Muñiz 


Mcolonial Tele-Evangelist (2011) Oil and metal leaf on panel 12" x 24"  by Patrick McGrath Muñiz 
While The Emperor  is the supreme ruler and guiding principle of practical matters in the material world, The Pope (Also known as the Hierophant) is the supreme ruler and guiding principle of the spiritual world. He may be dogmatic and even severe but he teaches us the importance of reverence and ritual when making art. The Pope tells us that we should not obsess over the material aspects of creation. There is much more to it than that. Art is bursting with divine meaning and we should seriously consider the hidden gospel in every work of art.  It really doesn't matter what you believe in or what religion you profess. The important thing to remember here is to be clear about what you believe in, stand by it and express it in art. He encourages us as artists to become missionaries and spread the message with our art. But in order to know what your true message is, we must first prepare our soul and purify our thoughts and actions. Having a moment of prayer, meditation or silence before starting to work is advised. We can adopt a personal ritual and make of our studio a holy space for it is where the "Great Work" will be forged. We are to become a medium or bridge in which this higher truth will be channeled  through in order to create that sacred piece of art. Above all, The Pope wishes us to devote ourselves to our art with principles and faith.




Planet of the Apps (2013) Oil on canvas 36" x 36". Private Collection. by Patrick McGrath Muñiz




Neo-Genesis (2015) Ink on paper 12" x 12" by Patrick McGrath Muñiz


And now we fall endlessly in love with what we do. Along came The Lovers and as we now sneak behind a tree and watch them kiss passionately and become one, we reflect on how arousing and intoxicating Love and Art can be. The sweet scent of Ambrosia and beautiful sound of wind chimes soothes our soul while we feel butterflies in our stomach and our heart is aroused. This is the kind of exciting feeling and addictive sensation The Lovers wish us to have when we make art. When we feel this way about art, everything else disappears and it is just the artist and his work. Artistic creation then becomes a true labor of love. They teach us to paint with pleasure, passion and highly concentrated in becoming one with our art. Pour your whole heart into it without any fears or inhibitions. When we are fully committed to creation totally focused with zero distractions, the muses start whispering in our ears the true meaning of Art. After learning to be in full command of the material aspects of our work with The Emperor and in spiritual bliss and contemplation with The Pope, The Lovers free us from all societal restrictions and allow us to be children once again, playing and discovering the world for the first time. To be in Love is to be connected to the Universe and in harmony with creation. Be free and allow Love to become your creative compass.


Mariamundi (2016) Oil and metal leaf on canvas 50" x 35" 



Stay tuned for the last segment of this three part article: Painting Process and Tarot, A Creative Journey, Part 3, where we will end with The Car, Justice and The Hermit.