Julia Zanes: The Golden Game Boxed Notecards

For Julia Zanes, storytelling is a primary function of the human mind, which is apparent in the narrative quality of her paintings. Her work reflects her interest in Islamic, Persian, and Indian art, great colorists, decorative art, children’s art, and fairy tales. Her lush landscapes are filled with surreal figures, birds, flowers, and trees, rife with symbolism and tangled meaning.

The four images in this notecard set are from a body of work called the Golden Game. They were somewhat inspired by board games, formal gardens, and alchemical engravings. (Alchemy is sometimes referred to as the Golden Game.) Painted on hollow-core doors and six or seven feet tall and six feet wide, these paintings are among the largest Zanes has created. She made them as tall as people to give viewers the sense that they could step into the scene.

Zanes has practiced painting most of her life. She also makes marionettes and performs with family and friends. She lives in Vermont.

Contains five each of the following notecards:
The Golden Game I: As Above So Below
The Golden Game II
The Golden Game III
The Golden Game IV: A Fish in the Ocean of Story