The Potato Print Tarot

[OnePotato]

It's absolutely gorgeous! I love the shading on the lion. How on earth did you get it that way?

Thank you WolfDeca. There's no trick to shading. It's just a matter of imagining the overlaps correctly. I start with a grey key plate, and build up from there.

One Potato, unless you are seriously mashed you should get over to the cutting board and start chopping. Turnips are cheap, I have some great turnip recipes and the community loves your work.

That card is astounding considering it was done by a vegetable with a vegetable!!!

Thanks elf! (I never said I wasn't mashed!) I'm glad you like it.

OnePotato: A truly unique idea for a deck, & one I would like to see more of!

Like that Strength, & it looks Marseilles-inspired. It would be viable as a Major Arcana-only deck.

The creation process obviously involves the painstaking & time-consuming, but as seen from Strength, the results worth it! (Also see further possibilities--such as for a limited run of prints; also greeting cards & T-shirts.)

Years ago, made giftwrap & greeting cards, using a 'carved' potato half & poster paints respectively on brown paper & cardstock. Challenging to apply sufficient paint evenly to avoid paint blobs & extended drying time, I used a paintbrush to apply paint to the potato.

World Spirit Tarot a block-print deck, & its unique qualities--vitality & freedom--seem largely due to its art medium. Please do not abandon the project, because it has the potential for the similar qualities.

Thanks MeeWah.
Yes, the time & energy are my problem. After finishing this one, I found it took about twice as long as my original guess/estimate. I use a brayer (rubber roller) and waterbased block printing ink to maintain better control and consistency.

I want one!

Thanks for the encouragement, Hannanma.

We did the same and found that other root veggies (carrots and jicama) also worked well for holding the right amount of paint...it helps to put the paint on a sponge and then use that as a stamp pad. Everyone should do it--it's easy and fun, better than watching tv, say. But our little stars and moons can't hold a candle to this wonderful Marseilles image!

Thanks Debra!
A sponge sounds pretty good, but I used a roller to keep it as even as possible, and allow for better predictability with the transparency on the overlap. It also allowed the background blend. (I should confess here that I have done several traditional woodcuts, and came into potatos from that experience, rather than the more usual other way 'round. ) Anyway, I'm glad you like it

oh...now you HAVE to continue this project...

don't abandon it completely...

It is absolutely as awesome as I suspected it might be!

Thanks Chronata!
That's very kind of you.

It's a lovely card.

Thank you Pumpkin.

 

[OnePotato]

So anyway, thank you all for the kind encouragement!
Obviously, it would make a lot more sense to do this as woodblock, or linoleum, or even silkscreen.
But it just wouldn't be the same...

I guess I will give it another go, and see if I can keep it going in the background of some other things that I have going on.
I'll post the next one when it happens....

Thanks again,
OnePotato

 

[Chronata]

I agree! You could do a wood carving or linoleum print... and I am certain it would be absolutely lovely, as you have such great talent...

but there's something so wonderful in the idea of a potato tarot!

It has that ephemeral quality... something so beautiful as well as off-beat...having to be accomplished in a limited amount of time...

and the organic nature of it is really wonderful too.

I do hope to see you try this again! I would love to see more!