Tarot

I picked up reading the Tarot for myself about a year ago. Something about it just drew me in. I was gifted the Rider-Waite deck, then I bought a book to help me read it….and I was hooked.

Above is The Rider-Waite deck, definitely the most recognized Tarot deck today. The art is by Pamela Colman Smith, who was a bohemian woman living in NYC at the time, and she completed the art to be published in 1909. I learned she attended Pratt in Brooklyn! I find this so interesting, myself being a graduate of a similar art college, Rhode Island School of Design.

…… So I decided I needed to illustrate my own deck.

Art I created for the “create collections” online class by Victoria Johnson

Here is how it started. I took an online art class called “Create Collections” by Victoria Johnson. The assignment was to illustrate a bird and a butterfly. Which I did, as you can see in the top right piece of mine. This is gouache and digital procreate. Then I created the coordinating pieces you see here. As I was working on these pieces it dawned on me that they needed to come to life, and I believe the Tarot is their path.

The Emperor Tarot card

I spent more time sketching out my plan for this deck than I have illustrating it so far. Since there are 78 cards, it is a lot to think about. I have decided to pursue animals, flora, and some sacred symbols. I envision the deck being paired with a small book explaining the symbolism in each card.

So there you have it! This is my big project that I have been working on between other projects, and life of course. I hope to post more progress for you another day!