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PDX
• art for the enchanted + nostalgic
• creating magical flora + fauna illustrations
• living human @theatomicfirstgrader
💌 [email protected]

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What do you think the High Priestess is reminding us to do?

THE HIGH PRIESTESS | II

The third card in my illustrated tarot deck is here! Meet The High Priestess, a card representing intuition, mystery, hidden knowledge, and the wisdom we carry within ourselves.

I’m continuing my journey through the Major Arcana, giving each card my own spin with a mix of Art Nouveau, 1970s-inspired colors, and vintage botanical illustration.

I kept much of the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith symbolism, including the pomegranates, lilies, crescent moon, and pillars, but made a few changes of my own. I replaced her cross necklace with a third-eye amulet and swapped the Torah reference on her scroll for a Latin inscription:

“Nosce te ipsum. Per silentium audi vocem internam.”

“Know thyself. Through silence, listen to your inner voice.”

A fitting little message from The High Priestess, don’t ya think?

And can we talk about her headpiece? It’s probably one of my favorite parts of this entire illustration! What’s your favorite little detail? I’d love to know what catches your eye!

Three cards down, 75 to go! The Empress is up next.
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#thehighpriestesstarot #highwestwildart #esotericart #tarotillustration #tarotart by @highwestwild

How much symbolism do you want me to share as I go?

Meet The Magician!

Card number two in my tarot series is finished!

I’m working my way through the Major Arcana in order, starting with The Fool. Part of this project is giving myself a reason to slow down and really learn each card, its history, symbolism, and all of those tiny details, while doing what I love most: illustrating.

The Magician is a card of creation, will, possibility, and turning an idea into something tangible. One hand reaches toward the heavens while the other points toward the earth, “as above, so below.” On the table are the four suits of the tarot, the wand, cup, sword, and pentacle, representing the elements and the tools already at her disposal.

I surrounded her with red roses and white lilies, both found in Pamela Colman Smith’s original Magician. Rather than placing the flowers below her, I wove them together into the garden growing around the edges of my card. I also tucked in an ouroboros among the stars.

This one took me around 50 hours to finish, which is somehow an improvement over the nearly 60 hours I spent on The Fool. These cards are definitely a labor of love, but I’m having so much fun with them. It’s a very different style and way of working for me, and I’m excited to see how the series evolves as I make my way through the deck.

And yes, The Fool and The Magician will both be available as art prints in my shop later today!

Next up: II, The High Priestess.

Which upcoming card are you most excited to see? 🔮
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#highwestwildart #rebeccazwanzigart #themagiciantarot #tarotart #tarotillustration by @highwestwild

Meet The Fool!

Would you like to see me illustrate more of the tarot?

I’ve been working on something a little different, and after nearly 60 hours of drawing, she is finally finished.

The Fool is the first card of the Major Arcana, traditionally numbered 0. She stands at the very beginning of the journey, stepping into the unknown with curiosity, possibility, and a little bit of blind faith. She doesn’t know exactly where the road is going to take her yet, which is sort of the point. The Fool is about beginnings, trusting yourself enough to take the leap, and being willing to discover what comes next.

Which feels pretty appropriate for this illustration, because this was absolutely a leap for me.

I wanted to create my own interpretation of The Fool while still honoring some of the symbolism that has made the card so iconic. There’s the white flower, the little bundle she carries, the edge of the cliff, the mountains, the sun, and of course, the dog. My dog is actually a little nod to Ramona, because there was no way I was illustrating The Fool and not sneaking one of my own creatures into it.

This is also a very different style of illustration for me. I pushed myself much further into figurative work, storytelling, symbolism, and all of those tiny details, while still trying to make it feel like it belongs in my world. It was challenging as hell at times, but also incredibly fun to make.

And now I need to know: should I keep going?

I would LOVE to make more cards from the Major Arcana, but at close to 60 hours for this one, it’s definitely an undertaking. So I genuinely want to hear what you think about this new direction.
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#highwestwild #tarotart #thefooltarot #rebeccazwanzigart #esotericart by @highwestwild

✨ Meet Pamela, my newest illustration, named after Pamela “Pixie” Colman Smith. ✨

Tarot friends: Which Pamela Colman Smith card has your favorite artwork? Mine is the World or the Star. Share yours in the comments! 🔮✨🌞

If you’ve ever held a Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck in your hands, you already know Pixie’s work, even if you didn’t know her name. She was the artist and illustrator behind its 78 cards, creating the imagery that would become some of the most recognizable and influential artwork in the history of tarot.
I’ve always been fascinated by women artists whose work became woven into our visual culture while their names received far less attention than the men associated with it. Pixie was an illustrator, storyteller, and artist with an incredible ability to turn symbolism into images that still speak to people more than a century later. So this one is for her.

Pamela is a garden of deep cobalt blue flowers, curling stems, and long green leaves emerging from a black background. I wanted the flowers to feel a little otherworldly, somewhere between something you might find growing wild and something that could only exist in an imagined garden. There’s a darkness to her, but also so much life.

Naming my illustrations after women has become one of my favorite parts of creating them. Some are named for women I know and love, and others for women whose creativity, strength, or lives have stayed with me. Pamela “Pixie” Colman Smith absolutely belongs among them.

Here’s to the women who made beautiful, strange, powerful things, and to making sure we remember their names.
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#highwestwildart #pamelacolmansmith #floraltarot #magicalillustrations #vintagebotanical by @highwestwild

Billie is my first blue piece, what’s the next vibe?

Meet Billie! Named after the incomparable Billie Holiday!

I usually live in a world of warm oranges and olives, but I couldn’t resist this deep cerulean and tobacco-brown story. It’s a bit of a departure for me, inspired by 70s mod textiles, vintage stoneware, and the soul of Lady Day.

If you swipe through, you’ll see the woman behind the name. Billie was the blueprint for resilience and authenticity. She had this unmistakable grit and glamour, and she was rarely seen without her signature white gardenia tucked in her hair.

This piece is for her. For the late-night records, the rhythm, and the effortless cool she brought to everything she touched.

Drop a comment with your vote for the next color direction! 🦋✨
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#highwestwildart #vintagebotanical #flowerillustration #retroflowers #floralperfection by @highwestwild

Hey all you lovely humans! Meet Anna Marie. @annazwanzigphotography

This piece is named after my sister-in-law, Anna. I already have an illustration called Anna, so this one gets her full name. She’s one of those rare people who feels steady in a chaotic world. Very witchy, wonderfully weird, strong, funny, endlessly patient, and always ready for a late-night conversation or some strange moonlit adventure. She listens deeply, gives thoughtful advice, and somehow always knows the right thing to say. The kind of woman you’re lucky to have in your corner.

The illustration started to feel like her as it developed. Deep blue bell-shaped flowers hang like quiet lanterns, tall leaves stand steady behind them, and golden stems weave everything together. Calm, grounded, and a little mysterious.

I ran a poll for the background color, and black won by a landslide, which also happens to be Anna’s favorite. I may still release a cream version as an option because it changes the mood of the piece in a really beautiful way.

Comment your fave background color (black or cream) and I’ll DM you a 20% off code for my shop!

The world could use more Annas. Tag the “Anna” in your life.
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#vintagebotanicals #highwestwildart #artnouveaustyle #floralillustration #womenillustrators by @highwestwild

Introducing: William. 🧡

Just some late-afternoon blooms and the color story behind them. I’m focusing on consistency over perfection lately, so here’s a new favorite.

This piece was deeply inspired by vintage botanical plates and that warm 70s floral palette. I’m curious which slide in this grid is your favorite vibe? I’m personally partial to the sun-soaked dog, but I’d love to know if you are more inspired by nature 🍊 or by the quiet moments at home 🐈.
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#highwestwildart #rebeccazwanzigart #vintagebotanical #colorinspo #retroflowers by @highwestwild

New energy, new studio space, and a nameless new gal. 🧡✨ I need your help naming her! Drop your favorite 70s-inspired name ideas below, and I’ll pick my favorite and send the winner a little surprise! 🎁

Hey, all ya beautiful humans! I’ve been a bit quiet lately, so I’m curious…if my work will show up in your feed today...

I’m finally back in the studio and feeling the rhythm return. This new piece (Slide 1) doesn’t have a name yet; she’s one of many new pieces taking shape as I settle into my freshly finished space. Getting everything set up again flipped the creative switch in the best way. The table is full, the ideas are moving, and new work will be heading to the shop soon! Yay!

Swipe for the full studio tour:

🔍 Macro & micro details of the new work.

🖥️ The new desk setup & my favorite art wall.

👋 A quick hello from me!

🐕 And the real boss of the studio, Ramona.

I’m also popping up around Portland next month:

🍀 Portland Night Market — Lucky Charms | March 13 + 14 @portlandnightmarket

🕯️ Rae Loft — Wicked Craft: Ostara Night Market | March 20 @raeloftatthebakerybuilding

Life is getting busy, and it feels like I’m stepping into that full energy of the Fire Horse, and I am so ready! 🔥🐴 Thanks for being here! xo

Retro botanical illustration | 70s floral art | Portland Artist
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#highwestwildart #retroflowers #70saesthetic #pdxartist #portlandnightmarket by @highwestwild

$Meet Hattie 🌿 My first illustration of the year, named after Hattie Carnegie. I kept thinking about women who built beautiful things in complicated times. Women who understood shape, restraint, boldness, and how to take up space without apology. Last year held so much. Change. Beauty. Real challenges. We moved to Portland, Oregon. We walked through a major sadness fracture in our lives. We somehow also purchased our dream home. It was a year that stretched me thin and cracked me open at the same time. Now we are settling in. The boxes are gone. My nervous system is finally catching up. And I can feel the part of me that makes art waking back up. This year I want to return to creating more consistently, and creating just for me. To drawing and painting often. To sharing more. To being present here, even with this platform’s many flaws. If know the world feels scary right now; I see and feel it. The noise is constant. The cruelty feels louder. Watching policies and threats that push people backward, and target real lives, is exhausting and infuriating. So I’m choosing what I can control. Making work that feels steady. Paying attention to beauty. Staying human. I’m grateful you spend a little time with my work. Thank you all for being here. xo • • • • • • • • • • #highwestwildart #rebeccazwanzigart #botanicalart #retroart #vintageinspiredart by @highwestwild$

Say hello to Nelly! named after @nellyghaffar from Season 15 of the Great British Bake Off.

She was one of my favorite bakers; funny, vulnerable, honest, wildly creative, and so full of heart.

She once said, “I don’t want to teach my kids how to win, I want to teach them how to enjoy.” That stuck with me; in a world hella obsessed with outcomes, competition, and perfection, Nelly reminded us that joy is the actual win.

This piece is for her. For her warmth, her stories, her resilience, her joy, and her spicy-sweet energy (she loved apple, cinnamon, and true crime…same, girl).

Here’s to all the bold, bright, beautiful creatives out there! Keep on shining and stay true to your authentic self! xx
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#highwestwildart #rebeccazwanzigart #highwestwild #folkartflowers #abstractbotanicals #inspiredbywomen #boldbotanicals #vintageinspiredart #imaginarybotanicals #floraandfauna #retrofloral #enchantedblossoms #nellyghaffar by @highwestwild

Hello all you lovely humans! This is Goldie, named after Goldie Chu, an activist, organizer, mother of five, and trailblazer in the feminist movement during the 60s and 70s.she spent her life fighting for what too many systems still refuse to offer: equity, recognition, dignity.

I named this piece after her because it’s bold and unapologetic, just like she was. A bright presence growing in every direction. Goldie once said, “I may be traditional in manners but not traditional in fighting for change in the community where there is so much to do.”

And there is still so much to do. We are living in a time where women’s rights are under constant attack, where AAPI voices are still being sidelined, where school boards are once again battlegrounds for erasure.

This is a reminder that we don’t need to look far back to find resistance, we just need to look around and remember the women who already paved the way.

If someone in your life embodies that same bold, unapologetic strength, tag them here.
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#highwestwildart #visualstorytelling #folkartflorals #botanicalillustration #retroartstyle #vintageinspiredart #goldiechu #artwithpurpose #illustrationdaily #creativecommunity #groovyillustration #folkartinspired #femaleartist #botanicaldesign #imaginaryflora #handdrawnflorals #highwestwild #rebeccazwanzigart by @highwestwild

Rebecca Zwanzig

@highwestwild