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Hi! I'm Tara, The Portrait Witch

Catalyzing Curiosity and Growth

Sign up for my New Moon Missives, an email newsletter full of current events in my Spelling Room, access to my latest Grimoire pages, glimpses into the future, a special message for my subscribers and a creative mission. You can see previous Missives below.

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A yellow image of a woman walking down a path.
Featured Post

December's New Moon Missive!

HAPPY DECEMBER NEW MOON! November was a rather peaceful month! Which I probably needed after my whirlwind adventures! I have been enjoying my time at home. Even having to spend time alone felt good. Typically I only like being in an empty house for a day or two and then I begin to feel very lonely and miss all my people. But this time spending a whole week on my own with just my pets and plants felt good. No pressure to worry about anyone's needs but my own. Ok, I still had to feed the pets...

5 months ago • 7 min read
A witch at the ocean framed through rocks.

HAPPY NOVEMBER NEW MOON! October was a whirlwind month of travel for me. Last New Moon I wrote to you from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Since then I visited Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Salem and Boston. In fact, I spent my birthday learning about the Salem Witch Trials at the Peabody Essex Museum, doing a History and Hauntings Walking Tour and eating at the awesome Howling Wolf Taqueria (so good by the way) with my sister. She took me on the trip. I didn't take much more than...

6 months ago • 7 min read
Concert photo of Avatar

HAPPY OCTOBER NEW MOON! Where did the last month go? I guess time flies when you are having fun! It's currently 6 a.m. Atlantic time and I am starting this newsletter while I wait to head out for a morning shoot on the Highland Heart Workshop with Offbeat Photography. I had good intentions of writing this while I was hanging out at my first AirBnB in Margaree Valley but the day got away from us. In 2021, Offbeat Photography had a year-long creativity challenge in their Facebook group called...

7 months ago • 3 min read
Dark image of masked man.

HAPPY SEPTEMBER NEW MOON! I can't believe we have reached September already. Time flies when you are having fun. Or maybe it's lots to do? With a little "OMFG what I am doing?!" mixed in for good measure. Did you do your creative homework? Did you try something new? I did something new (for me) immediately after I hit send on last month's New Moon Missive. I had to collect my daughter from a welding workshop she was at and an accident happened on the outgoing lanes of the bridge as I was...

8 months ago • 4 min read
Peggy's Cove Lighthouse as reflected in the rippled water.

HAPPY AUGUST NEW MOON! Wow! Where does the time go? I can't believe another month has passed already! So much has happened since we last spoke that I don't know where to begin. Your creative mission for the last New Moon was to observe a work of art. Did you do that? What did you learn? Did you find it challenging to sit and focus on something for so long? I'd love to hear about your experience, so hit reply and tell me about it! CURRENT EVENTS IN THE SPELLING ROOM Camping We took a weeklong...

9 months ago • 7 min read
A water droplet on a skinny leaf at sunrise.

HAPPY JULY NEW MOON! This month flew by! I did so much that I don't know where to begin this newsletter. Today is my anniversary. My husband is unfortunately away at work so I won't get to see him for another week and a half. And I haven't seen him since the end of June. He held down the fort while my daughters and I explored PEI and Nova Scotia. Your last creative mission was to iterate. In other words, to make variations of the piece of art you are working on. Did you give it a go? How did...

10 months ago • 4 min read
portrait of a cocktail inspired by the Gemini Horoscope

HAPPY JUNE NEW MOON! Thankfully this month has brought some much-needed rain! As I write this, yet another storm is approaching. I'll take the storms! Last night we had quite a loud one! Now that I think of it, I should have gone out and photographed it!Last month, your creative mission was to notice the things that speak to you and compile them in a folder or on a board. What did you learn about yourself? I'm dying to know. Reply to this email and share your board with me or tell me about...

11 months ago • 7 min read

HAPPY MAY NEW MOON! Things have been pretty dry around the western provinces of Canada. Alberta especially is suffering at the moment. Please hope for rain! I just might go splash in it like a little kid. Speaking of kids, did you embrace your inner toddler last month and ask why repeatedly? If so, I'd love to hear what you learned! CURRENT EVENTS IN THE SPELLING ROOM I've been in a bit of creative slump this month. I did invest a lot of time and energy into a maternity shoot that I'm excited...

12 months ago • 5 min read
Lightning Dog in the sky.

HAPPY APRIL NEW MOON! Spring is almost here! Are you excited to start enjoying nice weather? Does it make you feel like dancing? Speaking of dancing, did you watch that dance video I sent last month? Did you explore dance in relation to your own creativity during the last moon cycle? I'd love to hear about it. CURRENT EVENTS IN THE SPELLING ROOM The Witch Experience Since we chatted last, I've been working on editing the additional images from The Witch Experience and setting up the galleries...

about 1 year ago • 7 min read
Alice in Wonderland reading the "pull me" tag on a sword.

HAPPY MARCH NEW MOON! Can you believe we are almost at the end of March already? I hope this last month treated you well. It was a full month for me. Did you "make up a backstory" for your creative endeavours last month? I'd love to hear the stories you made up for February's creative mission! CURRENT EVENTS IN THE SPELLING ROOM As I mentioned in last month's missive, New Moon is an excellent time to begin new projects. I did a number of new things during the last moon cycle! And I have been...

about 1 year ago • 7 min read
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