The Fantastic, Mystical Art of Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

I have to admit, I've never actually bought and paid for a work of art ever before in my life but, the day I idly surfed to "ShadowScapes.com",  the website of a superb San Francisco Bay Area artist named Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, that all changed for me, forever...

 

I have to admit, I've never actually bought and paid for a work of art ever before in my life but, the day I idly surfed to "ShadowScapes.com" (http://www.shadowscapes.com), the website of a superb San Francisco Bay Area artist named Stephanie Pui-Mun Law,  that all changed for me, forever.

Stephanie's specialties are her watercolors, acrylics and sketches of mysterious and mystical creatures and scenes. To step into Stephanie's world is to be magically transported to extraordinarily beautiful, ethereal landscapes where fairies, angels, dragons and griffins rule.

Stephanie is the illustrator of the collectible card games "Legend of Five Rings", "Warlord" and "AngelQuest" (all ©Alderac Entertainment Group) as well as several books.

Below is Stephanie's interpretation of the Archangel Gabriel -- done for an "Archangel Project" she is contributing to that can be viewed at http://www.shadowscapes.com/image.php?lineid=2&bid=145 -- that, I think, really shows off her expert manipulation of light, color and shadow:

("The Messenger" -- ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law) 

She comments that many people have asked her why she depicted Gabriel as a woman. I'll let Stephanie answer this question in her own words:

"In fact, if you look through much religious art, you will find that if not common, there are many representations of a female or androgenous Gabriel. She is unique as the only female in the higher echelons."

In Stephanie's world, alongside angels, fairies dwell and she is publishing a a 48-page hardcover book later this month entitled "Such is the Way of the Faeries" filled with her black and white illustrations and stories by authors Stacy Higgs and Thomas Moudry. Below is the gorgeous cover -- a breathtaking example of Stephanie's art. (It can be found at http://www.shadowscapes.com/image.php?lineid=1&bid=3):

 ("Such is the Way of the Faeries" cover illustration -- ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law)

(You will be interested, I'm sure, to find out that you can pre-order "Such is the Way of the Faeries" on Stephanie's website right now and, in a very happy coincidence, her original painting of the above is also for sale!)

I am a Tarot card reader (and have been for about 35 years!) and, as such, I was thoroughly delighted by Stephanie's illustrations of a new deck of Tarot that she is  developing.

When I read my own cards, invariably (and I DO mean "invariably"), somewhere in my reading, the card of "The Hanged Man" always makes an appearance.

The lesson of The Hanged Man is meant to show us that spiritual enlightenment always comes at a physical or financial cost. (This is a lesson that I'm altogether too familiar with -- fortunately or UNfortunately, depending upon how you look at it...)

("The Hanged Man", ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law from http://www.shadowscapes.com/Tarot/cards.php?suit=0&card=12 . 8.5" x 11" prints of Stephanie's Tarot cards can be ordered from her website for an unbelievably reasonable sum!)

When I found that the original pencil sketch of this card was available for purchase on Stephanie's website, I took the birthday money that mother gave me awhile back and sent it immediately to Stephanie to purchase it. (As a side note, I do want to compliment Stephanie on her very prompt response and delivery of the sketch as well as a darned superior packaging job!)

While the sketch, of course, doesn't reflect Stephanie's gorgeous use of color as a print would, there is something quite powerful, I feel, about owning the very piece of paper that the artist has touched and labored over -- filling it with their incredible creativity. In the case of Stephanie's sketch of "The Hanged Man", I consider myself very lucky to have been granted that honor...

I may not know much about art but, as some very wise person said a very long time ago, "I know what I like" and "like" doesn't even BEGIN to describe how I feel about the art of Stephanie Pui-Mun Law -- that much is for certain...

I invite all of you to visit Stephanie's incredible website at http://www.shadowscapes.com. You have my personal guarantee that you will amazed, enchanted, intriqued and, maybe, even a little amused by her wonderful talent -- it is TRULY one of those rare "cyber must-sees"!

Graphics Acknowledgements:

All of the above graphics (and many, MANY more!) are ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and available for viewing on her website http://www.shadowscapes.com.