Nine Lives Playing Cards a new little deck

frejasphere

Hello all :)

For those who've met me here on the forum, you would know I'm terrible at writing about my work - especially while I'm in the middle of drawing and painting :)

So, I apologise in advance for my 'everything-on-the-finishing-line' approach... and hope you'll still be excited about this little Tarot inspired Playing card deck :)

After finishing Nine Lives Tarot (a year and a half now...), I felt inspired to delve a little further and stay a while with the characters from a deck that took me over 3 years to complete (you make friends, you don't want hasty good-byes)... :)

The artwork for this deck of playing cards, began with the Kings, Queens and Knights from Nine Lives Tarot. Each character has been redrawn and redressed to match their corresponding playing card suit.... while still retaining part of their tarot symbolism. Creating reversible characters from artwork which wasn't originally intended to be halved and mirrored, was an interesting challenge... though it was a lot of fun :)

The suits are combined as follows:

:heart: Hearts (cups)
:club: Clubs (rods / wands)
:diamond: Diamonds (pentacles)
:spade: Spades (swords)

I designed the suit symbols for this deck, I know it may not seem like a complex thing - but once I started drawing (in pen & ink) and then scanning - simplicity went out the window! :) My aim was to create something simple - four shapes, which have their individual difference, yet all speak the same language :) I redrew and reworked each symbol to the point where I had spades and hearts dancing in front of my eyes...

The four Aces are illustrated in 'monochromatic suit colour' (not sure that is a proper expression, but hopefully makes sense when you look at the images ;)), combining the symbols of both tarot and playing cards.

I had an interesting time drawing the back of the card... In the midst of huge storms, with flooding and trees falling like matchsticks - and a several day blackout ... I drew the initial design by candlelight, imagining what it would have been like to be an artist in the dark (literally) ages...

The completed back design incorporates the playing card symbols... along with a visual reference to the name of the deck (naturally inspired by my favourite little house cat Filemon :))

To me, this deck pays homage to my love of tarot and cards of all shapes and sizes... My hope is that it will bring both joy and inspiration to all who use it :)

While reading about the history of playing cards, I came across these lines on thehouseofplayingcards.com - which say it better than I could ever hope to:

Decks of playing cards are simultaneously simple and complex. They are small, easy to carry, and colorful. They connect with the fact that people love secrets. When playing a game, only you know your hand, so you hold a secret. The thought that you will beat your opponents appeals to desires of control. The romantic interpretations of the cards have increased the mythology surrounding them. Cards can be used to connect friends, swindle enemies, and amaze strangers. Cards can be whatever you want them to be.

The artwork is completed and I am currently waiting (biting fingernails) for the decks to be printed. They should arrive in the next week or so, and all being good and well - they will be available on my website: www.ninelivestarot.com.au :)

This post on my blog has a little more about the cards:
http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/nine-lives-playing-cards-preview-and-update/

And... here are a few card images from the deck:

The suit symbols: http://www.abolinaart.com.au/images/ninelives-playingcard-w-symbols_aa.jpg
The Four Aces: http://www.abolinaart.com.au/images/ninelives-playingcards-w_aces_aa.jpg
The House of Hearts: http://www.abolinaart.com.au/images/ninelives-playingcards-w_hearts_aa.jpg
The House of Clubs: http://www.abolinaart.com.au/images/ninelives-playingcards-w_clubs_aa.jpg
The House of Diamonds: http://www.abolinaart.com.au/images/ninelives-playingcards-w_diamonds.jpg
The House of Spades: http://www.abolinaart.com.au/images/ninelives-playingcards-w_spades_aa.jpg
The Back Design: http://www.abolinaart.com.au/images/ninelives-playingcard-w_back-aa2015.jpg

Thank you for reading *wave* :)
 

reall

oh! what a beautiful playing deck! probably my fav design so far!^^ lolz :))
 

frejasphere

Thank you reall - you're so kind and encouraging :) <3

It looks like they'll still be a little while to finish printing, though I'm excited to have got to this point :)

*wave*
 

blue_fusion

The look great! I love those little stuff that you added. And i totally agree with your symbols association. (I remember, i tried reading with a pack of playing cards using their tarot counterparts' meanings. It was quite an odf experience!)
 

Madrigal

These are really lovely! I've become a bit of a playing card collector lately. But shipping to the US might put them out of the running for me :(
 

frejasphere

The look great! I love those little stuff that you added. And i totally agree with your symbols association. (I remember, i tried reading with a pack of playing cards using their tarot counterparts' meanings. It was quite an odf experience!)

Thank you blue_fusion :)
I'm glad you follow the suit & symbol association.
I find playing cards can be quite fun to read (as well as play), as they can offer a slightly different (and perhaps lighter) perspective. Some advise keeping cards for different things completely separate (i.e. a deck of playing cards used for readings shouldn't be used for play... and vice versa), though I do find card decks to be quite flexible, as long as I'm clear about what I'm using it for 'just now' :)

I have to ask... what does 'odf' mean? :D sorry - I can only guess and I'll probably be wrong, so if you're passing by and want to enlighten me, please do :)

*wave*
 

frejasphere

These are really lovely! I've become a bit of a playing card collector lately. But shipping to the US might put them out of the running for me :(

Thank you Madrigal :heart:
Glad you like - and, you actually prompted me to visit my local post office to find out... Armed with a 'sample deck' (same size and weight) - I put the deck inside a small mailing box and had the post master try the test package through the '20mm letter size slot' (which they keep behind counter) ...

Good news :) Instead of needing to send as a 'small parcel' (which is expensive from this island in the south), these little babies can travel as a 'letter' which more than halves the postage world wide! :)


*wave*
 

Madrigal

Ooh, that's great news, frejasphere! That makes it affordable for those of us far, far away from your 'island in the south' :D
 

blue_fusion

Thank you blue_fusion :)
I'm glad you follow the suit & symbol association.
I find playing cards can be quite fun to read (as well as play), as they can offer a slightly different (and perhaps lighter) perspective. Some advise keeping cards for different things completely separate (i.e. a deck of playing cards used for readings shouldn't be used for play... and vice versa), though I do find card decks to be quite flexible, as long as I'm clear about what I'm using it for 'just now' :)

I have to ask... what does 'odf' mean? :D sorry - I can only guess and I'll probably be wrong, so if you're passing by and want to enlighten me, please do :)

*wave*

I meant odd. Haha Me and my smartphone typos - autocorrect is turned off because that would lead to even odder typos. Haha