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:
Hearts (cups)
Clubs (rods / wands)
Diamonds (pentacles)
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:
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*
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:
Hearts (cups)
Clubs (rods / wands)
Diamonds (pentacles)
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*