I was born and raised on the island of Jamaica. It was much like living in a noisy, overheated paintbox. The colours were vibrant and people’s lives seemed confusing and overdramatic.
As a child, the kitchen was a strange and mysterious place, governed by a succession of matriarchs that were either feared or loved. The cook of my childhood was the lynchpin of a well-run home that could either make or break a family’s social standing. This is where I first learned that a good cook does more than simply put food on the table.
Years later, I may have left Jamaica but it has not left me. I still crave the sunshine. Bright colours find their way out through my paintings. I love to cook with lots of spices and have gravitated towards a loud and chaotic work environment in the Emergency Room.
In addition to a Bachelors degree in painting and printmaking, I have a degree as a Registered Nurse. I have always had dual careers. The spirit of an artist and the practical abilities of an Emergency Room nurse might seem to be at adds with one another, but I have found them both necessary in order to feed body and soul.
My work seems to be best represented over the internet. Although the cards are meant to be physically handled, the vibrant colours and strong lines show well when promoted digitally and have generated positive feedback.
I am a contributing member to the Tarot Deck Creators website and feel that I am becoming known to fellow deck creators and collectors. I am also a member of Tarot Canada and have been interviewed by the founder, Cheryl Lynne Bradley. Solendia, of Aeclectic Tarot has also done a very positive review of The Cook’s Tarot “Dining with the Major Arcana”. In addition, The Cook’s Tarot is also a recurring feature in True Blue Spirit magazine and will be included in Major Tom’s 2013 Tarot Lovers Calendar.
Judith Mahay Stirt