As far as "the Artist's Fool," as I said a couple of days ago I think the Fool reminds us to experience joy in the absurd & not to take things too seriously. Here's what I wrote about it for the original booklet:

Unleash the spirit of the eccentric in your art. Start a new project: something wholly unexpected, something you've always secretly wanted to do. Decoupage all the doors in your house. Paint your car or your shoes wild colors. Approach ongoing work with fresh eyes and the beginner's mind.Sometimes spontaneity is all that's needed to breathe new life into a stagnant project. The expressions of your Fool may be grandiose or subtle. All that matters is that you act without fear of seeming foolish.

I have to say that I feel most myself when doing art of a very Foolish nature. This photo of my car, which I drive every day, will show you what I mean :) http://ovenall.com/artcar/images/011022_A.jpg

Notes on Sources: the beggar originally danced in a group of people with a trained bear. If I recall correctly, the stick in his right hand originally held the bear's leash. The cliff is an enlargement of a crystal. And the mountains behind may be from the same illustration as the background in the 7 and 8 of Cups. I'm not sure though because I never noticed before. The Fool was done so long before those other two cards that I didn't make the connection until just now. Anyway, if they are from the same illustration, it's the Yosemite Valley.

When I first started VRT, I had the idea that it would be proper to do the cards in order. So the Fool is the very first thing I did for the deck. It's also one of the few trumps I didn't do over years later, when I had learned more and felt like I understood the project better.

Sarah Ovenall