In a post from a few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was going to write about a certain artist whose work is known worldwide, but her recognition was slow coming. That artist is/was Pamela Coleman Smith. Her main contribution to art was her version of tarot cards, based upon the ideas of Arthur Edward Waite. Her illustrations are very popular, all around the world, but few knew of her life and her part in creating such a work. While Waite may have been the one who directed the work, it was her decisions that helped make the deck as popular as it is today, over a century after it was first published. Smith was born in England to American parents, although the family would later move to Jamaica where her father was employed, as well as possible other ties to the island. It was there where her mother died. Smith would then be in America, mostly around New York, where she became an artist. She was going to school when her father died, which forced her to leave, never completing her studies. She would then move back to England. It is here where she her talents evolved. She was drawn to the theatre, where she would work with set and costume design. She would develop many ties among the theatre community, including some famed actresses of the day. A special relationship developed with the family of poet William Butler Yeats, more so with his father and siblings than the poet himself, as they were more into art and theatre than he was. However, it was through Yeats that she would become involved in the mystic society the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Although she never advance far in that group, as its occult teachings were not quite her primary focus in life, she did meet Waite there. Waite was breaking with the group, due to how much of their teachings should be made available to the public. He wanted to publish his own version of the tarot, which was a critical foundation in the Order's teachings. However, he needed an artist. He ultimately went with Smith, who had left the Order herself. By this time, she had published an artists' magazine and had some shows of her work in New York. However, she was in need of money as well, so she took up Waite's offer. She based her designs on historic common decks used for gaming purposes instead of occult and divination work. She was also influenced by her time with the theatre. the Sola-Busca deck from a museum show, and even her own life. She finished the work over a few months, a fairly quick turnover time. While she was paid for her work, she did not immediately receive the recognition for her part. The deck was successful almost from the time it was printed in 1909, as it was the first mass-produced tarot designed for divination. Alas, Smith didn't get any additional money from this. She didn't even get to keep the original works. In fact, no one knows what happened to them. Smith continued to paint, but she never did create anything else approaching the popularity of her tarot cards, and she died practically poor and almost forgotten. The story of her life could be a focus for a movie, centered on the events of 1909. Possibly told in flashback from her death. An actress such as Zendaya could play her. I almost feel that I could write it. Almost. By the way, "Pixie" was the nickname one of Smith's actress friends gave her. The name just fit her.
