Morsoth Posted October 1, 2018 Posted October 1, 2018 Hi everyone! I finally decided to design my own Tarot deck! I'm planning to make this deck for my own use, but I might print more copies to sell. I'll decide when the deck is finished. If I feel that it might interest people, I'll maybe even put it on Kickstarter, but only when the deck will be fully finished. I'll do my best to design and finish the deck in a year. The plan is to make 3 cards in 12 days, distributed on 2 weeks, keeping the Sundays as break days. So, that should take me more or less 39 weeks to complete 78 cards, but with vacation, travels, sick days, I'm sure the schedule will have to be changed! Now, here's the fun twist… Instead of starting with the 22 Major Arcana and then move in each of the suits, I'll let the Tarot decide for me! Each time I start a new design for a card, I'll shuffle a Tarot deck dedicated for that exercise and pick a random card. The chosen card is the one that I'll design next! However, since the Hermit is my favorite Major Arcana, I decided to begin my journey with him! The deck will be based on the Rider-Waite Tarot, with the addition of the Kabbalistic/Astrological symbols. Each Major Arcana will also have a crystal, an herb and an animal associated with the card. I don't think I'll add these to the Minor Arcana, we'll see! Even if a know the meanings of each cards, I plan to take at least one day for study the card meaning and symbolisms from all the books that I own, and takes notes. My goal is to be fully immersed into the world, reality and energy of that particular card. Then, next day, I'll looks at all my Tarot deck and study the art of that card in every decks. At the same time, I'll do some sketches of my own version. Days three and four will be the final drawing of the image and coloring. My first attempt was in watercolor, and since I'm far from being a pro at it, I decided to not do it that way. You can see the watercolor test below. It's not that bad, but I can't be precise enough. Now, I'll draw the lines in black ink, scan the image and then color a copy with either markers or Photoshop. I need to try both and decide what I like best, or what is easier for me. My cards will be at regular Tarot cards size: 2.75" x 4.75". My canvas will be at 200%, which is 5.5" x 9.5", but I'm adding a bleeding area, so it's going to be 6" x 10". Once the art is finished, I'll scan it at 300dpi. Then I'll clean and enhance it in Adobe Photoshop and also digitally add the names and symbols to the cards. The deck will be borderless, but the cards will have some kind of pattern at the top, because I want to add the Kabbalistic and astrological symbols to these for the Major Arcana, and the Element and Suits symbols for the Minor Arcana. I plan to update this page frequently, so feel free to watch or comment! Attached is the first test card, but I don't like it!
Morsoth Posted October 1, 2018 Author Posted October 1, 2018 Quick sketch I made this afternoon! I need to redraw the hands, and spend more time on the face, and clean everything, but I like the new approach! I'll do another version of the sketch tomorrow and ink it later this week. To be continued! :)
reall Posted October 2, 2018 Posted October 2, 2018 oh! I like this plan! especially curious to see your matching animals?!:D who are you kidding? we Are All interested & sure we'll wait until is ready to publish!^^ lol not to mess with your schedule just to say; 1) keep your notebook & pen close All times so you can jot quick ideas & sketches as inspiration strike (it'll make awesome guidebook later & every skech is welcome when you start with blank paper!^^:) also random is ok, but best to work on card you feel most drawn inspired to?:) & for consistency sake good idea to do court cards in one go at least of same suit? i've left these for last! facepalm lol as you may notice how much your art skill improve with practice!:)
Saturn Celeste Posted October 2, 2018 Posted October 2, 2018 The watercolor is really pretty though. It really makes the card stand out. How are you with acrylics or oil?
Morsoth Posted October 2, 2018 Author Posted October 2, 2018 Thanks reall!! :) Saturn Celeste: I'm not too bad with Acrylic at the end, but it's always a struggle and very time consuming to obtain what I want... I'll probably be better with markers or digital coloring. I didn't get the chance to ink the new drawing, but I made a test with the first image, I added some keywords. I like the words in the "arcs" for the astrological and Kabbalistic symbols. It is very small but readable at printed size. I'm not too sure about the main keywords for upright/reversed in transparency tho. It was you an idea but it's clearly not something definitive. Here the update:
HOLMES Posted October 2, 2018 Posted October 2, 2018 if you willing to look at ideas , be glad to help out.. i am with you i think the second sketchs is way better. wheni read the tarot , I go by expressions on faces a lot so this one reminds me of Gandalf a lot. but it is not obiviously..so his gaze is wisde,, yet quizzical at the same time.
Morsoth Posted October 2, 2018 Author Posted October 2, 2018 Thanks! Yeah, it's less a RWS copy-paste on the second! You are right tho, maybe I'll try to remove that "Gandalf" look! I drew this one without any reference on my lunch break at work, but now I might reconsider how much he looks like him! lol :D
HOLMES Posted October 2, 2018 Posted October 2, 2018 I wonder are you influence by the hidden realms, /morgon greer ? to be clear,, no mater what you do, you will get those who love close up,,and those who hate close up.. to me it doesn't have to be either or, some cards you will feel should be close up. nad some far away so you can get full picture. the key around the neck is cool. well what does the archytypial merlin look like.. there is that.. perhaps look at hermits and wizards images to decide which one you feel goes well with you. but sure love the look on this hermit in the sketch.
Saturn Celeste Posted October 2, 2018 Posted October 2, 2018 You are right tho, maybe I'll try to remove that "Gandalf" look! Thank you! That was something else that kind of bothered me. That and the way the owl's head is on the staff. It looks like it was an owl head stuck there but perhaps if you made it appear to come out of the staff. I still love that watercolor sky. The rest of the card could be done in a different medium. Just thinking out loud, you're off to a great start, Morsoth! ^-^
Morsoth Posted October 3, 2018 Author Posted October 3, 2018 HOLMES:I don't have the Morgan Greer deck (maybe I should?!) but yeah, I see what you mean! I'll be away all weekend for the Canadian Thanksgiving, but I might have time to do more sketches. That's my first card and I'll take all the time I need to do it right! Now, seeing the comments, I might do a less "in your face" closeup and give him more space between us! lol Saturn: I'll definitely "kill off" the Gandalf/Merlin look, now it's bugging me! Hahaha! The owl is like a pommel of the staff, not a living one. In color, I will give it a wooden texture and remove the clasps that looks like feet! I'm usually known to make lots of tryout before committing 100% on a project, so it will evolve! Thanks so much for the comments, this is very appreciated. This is how I'll improve the art and the cards themselves!
Saturn Celeste Posted October 4, 2018 Posted October 4, 2018 HOLMES:I don't have the Morgan Greer deck (maybe I should?!) but yeah, I see what you mean! I'll be away all weekend for the Canadian Thanksgiving, but I might have time to do more sketches. That's my first card and I'll take all the time I need to do it right! Now, seeing the comments, I might do a less "in your face" closeup and give him more space between us! lol Saturn: I'll definitely "kill off" the Gandalf/Merlin look, now it's bugging me! Hahaha! The owl is like a pommel of the staff, not a living one. In color, I will give it a wooden texture and remove the clasps that looks like feet! I'm usually known to make lots of tryout before committing 100% on a project, so it will evolve! Thanks so much for the comments, this is very appreciated. This is how I'll improve the art and the cards themselves! The owl would be cool if you make it's claws part of the wood, they just blend into the wood so it is a part of the staff. Oh I wish I could draw! You are a great artist!!
HOLMES Posted October 4, 2018 Posted October 4, 2018 HOLMES:I don't have the Morgan Greer deck (maybe I should?!) but yeah, I see what you mean! I'll be away all weekend for the Canadian Thanksgiving, but I might have time to do more sketches. That's my first card and I'll take all the time I need to do it right! Now, seeing the comments, I might do a less "in your face" closeup and give him more space between us! lol actually I don't think any tarot deck up to now unless it is a collage, or group project does an close up for when a card needs , and a far away when a card needs. I for one would miss the expression on the face you put on the hermit ! Saturn: I'll definitely "kill off" the Gandalf/Merlin look, now it's bugging me! Hahaha! The owl is like a pommel of the staff, not a living one. In color, I will give it a wooden texture and remove the clasps that looks like feet! aww I loved the expression though, but yes you must make your own vision and stay true.. . example think of your overall theme.. what is the best cards you love, and the worst card and perhaps the worst cards fixed first. I'm usually known to make lots of tryout before committing 100% on a project, so it will evolve! Thanks so much for the comments, this is very appreciated. This is how I'll improve the art and the cards themselves! by the way what you think of my old hermit, old page of swords and old five of swords I sent you . ?
Morsoth Posted October 4, 2018 Author Posted October 4, 2018 HOLMES: I like the idea that your Hermit is surrounded by spirits; I picture him communicating with the ancestors for guidance.
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