Soul Radiance Tarot - again! :)

Gerbear

Hi spunch,

I think your cards are really capturing the 'essence' of each particular archetype. You seem to have taken the lack of a human presence, and turned it into a positive, accessible and pure. Needless to say, I like these cards, and can hardly wait for the rest to appear.
 

Astraea

spunch said:
To create a deck without human figures was my aim from the start. The Majors are easy...but when I start to think how on earth am I going to make and present the courts archetypally, I immediatelly start to sweat.
Spunch, not to worry! Many, many decks have pips illustrated with only the requisite numbered items of their suits -- ten cups, six swords, etc. You might also consider making this a majors-only deck. I have complete confidence that whatever you do will be authentic, creative, and a joy to behold.
 

spunch

A question regarding The Hermit

OK. I am really serious about this deck. I want to get it published (one day) and I want it to be perfect :) I keep messing with the cards, adding a shade, here, removing a thing there. But I have a question regarding The Hermit
(http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/12830543/)

Would the card be better without the pink flower tree in it? I wanted the icey landscape to present the idea of aloneness, some place where one doesn't go willingly but has to go in order to purify him/herself, a place where everything is clear, devoid of feelings and emotions, place where one's thoughts can be made as clear as the ice in the card. The tree was supposed to be the actual Hermit. Somebody who blooms despite of the coldness and someone who will, by glowing and being beautiful and attractive and strong (because, it takes strength to grow in such landscape) summon people to join him/her in seeking for deeper answers. (This is just a brief idea depicted by the card)

But, is the tree too much?
 

baba-prague

As you've said that you really want constructive feedback, I'll be honest and say that in this card, I like very much the idea of the tree and the way in which you are using it, but I don't think that its style fits with the background very comfortably. I understand that you want it to shine out, which it does, but somehow it makes the background look a little grey and sad, so that I'm not sure that the overall tone of the card is exactly right as yet.

However, it's a lovely image - I love the delicacy of it.
 

Owlface

Tree or not ?

I've had another look at your Hermit . . . and I think the tree is absolutely right. Without it, there would be a feeling of bleakness in the card and no light at all. The pink blossoms are a particularly nice touch, evoking the GENTLENESS of the Hermit whilst the tree in itself evokes the Hermit's STRENGTH.

Just my money's worth but : DON'T CHANGE IT !

love and blessings,

rosyelf
 

Astraea

I like the card very much, from a visual standpoint -- though I do think that the stark contrast between the icy background and the tree might limit the card's range of meanings. The tree is quite beautiful and a wonderful representation of the Hermit. The background might be a bit intimidating, suggesting polarization, stark contrasts and a bleak condition that (for me) the Hermit usually mediates, moreso than stands against. But that's just my take on this archetype, and I do see where you are coming from in your description of the card -- you must follow your inner vision, and if this image expresses your understanding of the Hermit, then it is exactly what it needs to be.

(Edited to say that I think this would make a lovely 8 of Cups -- it has the feeling of that card to me, moreso than the Hermit.)
 

baba-prague

Astraea said:
(Edited to say that I think this would make a lovely 8 of Cups -- it has the feeling of that card to me, moreso than the Hermit.)

I would agree with that. It's the slight sense of sadness in the background - that I still feel - that would make this work so well as an Eight of Cups.

But that's only an opinion - ignore it if it doesn't feel right to you. It's your deck.
 

Astra

Love the tree, but somehow pink doesn't do it for me. Perhaps shades of gold instead, to echo the light of the lantern, or icy blue at the base shading up to gold? The background is wonderful, and the single contrast of the tree works for me as the Hermit.
 

Astra

More comments - I've been backtracking the thread, since I haven't been around for a while. I love both the Empress and the Emperor as individual pieces, but I had trouble thinking of them as a pair in a deck, simply because they are so very, very different in style.

I'm assuming the contrast was intentional, but I'd looked at the Empress first and was holding my breath to see how you'd put the Emperor into the same type of scenario, and --- whiplash is a good description of my reaction to the Emperor. I could get used to it, probably very easily, but my initial reaction was "huh? what?"
 

spunch

Some new cards are up!

Here they are:

The Magician http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/13821399/
The High Priestess http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/13821443/
The Hierophant http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/13821253/
Wheel of Fortune http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/13821292/
Judgment http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/13821355/
The Hanged Man http://www.deviantart.com/view/12861022/
The Lovers http://www.deviantart.com/view/12905359/

Hope you like them!

To everybody who are interested in this thread and are helping with their comments, a huge thnx. I've read and observed all your comments very carefully. Keep writing. Give me some positive energy boost! :)