Attention Artists: Tarot project. X-Post.

[Aine of the Fae]

I also posted this in the Arts forum, seeing as I'm looking for an artist! But I'd also like input from other Tarot enthusiasts.

I am not an artist, by any definition of the word. Stick-figures elude my ability.... But I want to create a Tarot deck with a distinctly Christian theme. Each card would illustrate a Biblical passage. I'm beginning to research the associations, what passages I'll use for each card and such. And I've already got an idea for one of the cards, and will soon be working out descriptions for the others.

And that's where I need an artist. I will describe all of the cards, and the artist would illustrate them. The images will be harsh depictions in some cases. The imagery will be similar in ways to modern Tarot decks, but there will be stark differences in imagery and meaning.

For example, the Hanged Man. In the RWS deck, the Hanged Man is at peace, relaxed and often means letting go and releasing your worries. In this deck the Hanged Man will be the Crucifixion of Christ. Certainly not a relaxed sort of thing. Here it will mean accepting your destiny, in spite of all the pain you may feel. A "Not my will, but Yours" sort of thing.

The Lovers will be Adam and Eve in the garden before the Fall. Pure, innocent love. But the serpent will be in the background. Does he bring danger? Or enlightenment? Or both!

The Tower will be the Tower of Babel, etc....

Each card will have associated Bible verses. The reference will be printed on the card, under the card name. For example let's say the reference is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world....." Only the John 3:16 would be printed, not the whole verse.

I have no money at the moment, however if this deck were to reach publication (which is my intent) the artist would receive full credit as co-creator and would therefore receive the royalties associated with such status.

Is anyone interested? I'll need to see a portfolio or sample work. I've got an idea of the style I'd like to see, although I am very flexible. I love the look of colored-pencil, but am certainly open to other mediums.

If you're interested, post here, or PM me!

[Crow Laylancer]

names crow reporting for duty. i would like to help anyway i can just pm me with any details and i will try my best to meet you needs :thumbsup:

[Aine of the Fae]

Very cool!

I've already got a couple of responses :D And hope to have lots more! I'd like to use the same artist for the entire deck, keeps royalty payments simpler, as well as keeps the look the same.

So I'm going to have an artist submission contest. I've decided on the size - 70mm by 11mm This is the size of the Housewives Tarot, and about the size of regular playing cards. That way they aren't too big for small hands to shuffle!

Here's the contest:

You'll draw the Hanged Man based on the following description:

Christ is crucified. He hangs, painfully, from his wrists, his feet nailed together, a crown of thorns on his head. Two women mourn at the base of the cross, while Roman soldiers surround him. But on his face, in spite of the pain, is a sense of peace. This is what has to be done, and he knows that in the end he will rise again.

Also, make sure he's hanging from the wrists. It's an important historical point. While most crucifixes show him with the nails through the palm of his hands, history and biology shows it's not possible and that's not how it was done. In ancient times the hand included the wrist, so to say he was nailed through the hands implied up to the wrist as well. And the wrist can support the entire body if the nail is place properly...

Other than that, you have free license to explore the image, the scene. Use whatever medium you are most comfortable with.

Deadline is February 28th!

[Aine of the Fae]

For the artists:

These are U.S. Games submission guidelines, and most other publishers are similar:

1. Be sure all original art is the same size so that the artwork scales down to the same card size without need for cropping.
2. Original artwork preferably should be twice the size of live artwork on decks such as Native American and Rider-Waite. However, three times is also o.k. Although we print cards in all sizes, we prefer that the tarot decks are the Rider-Waite or Native American size.
3. Artwork preferably should be prepared on Bristol board 2-ply kid or vellum finish, but other boards are o.k. depending on the inks, paints, etc. used. The board should be flexible in order to facilitate color separation by automatic scanners using cylinder drums.
4. All 40 pip cards of the Minor Arcana (10 through ace in each of the four suits) must be full picture scenes, not just reproductions of geometric shapes.
5. Since a complete tarot deck is printed in one sheet and contains 80 cards, there should be 81 pieces of original art; the 22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana, a top card, a description/introduction card, and back design.
6. Please keep in mind that the 22 Major Arcana will have an open panel at the top for the card number and an open panel at the bottom for the card title. The 56 Minor Arcana will need only a panel at the bottom for the card title and/or card number and title combination.
7. It is best to submit one or two samples before proceeding with the entire deck in case we have any comments or suggestions.
8. We accept digital artwork in Mac format Photoshop or Illustrator files, saved as EPS or TIFF. Files may be send via CD ROM, Zip disk or 200 megabyte Syquest cartridge (88 MB also acceptable).


Ignore the format limitation, we'll work with that once the artwork is done.

[SilverClaw]

Oh Aine that sounds awesome what you want to do. Cannot wait to see when it is finished :D

[Aine of the Fae]

Oh Aine that sounds awesome what you want to do. Cannot wait to see when it is finished :D

Know of any artists who may be interested :D I've got a co-collaborator for the project, but still need an artist!

[Morr]

does the competition drawing of the hanged man be on the same types of required art stuff? i mean, can i draw it on sketching paper, and then if anything it can always be traced and redone on a bristol (i <3 tracing paper)..?

[Aine of the Fae]

does the competition drawing of the hanged man be on the same types of required art stuff? i mean, can i draw it on sketching paper, and then if anything it can always be traced and redone on a bristol (i <3 tracing paper)..?

Of course! Use whatever medium you are most comfortable with.

Those were only rough guidelines, and that's probably not even the publisher we'll be going with. I'd actually prefer to work with a smaller publisher, although having a big name behind you is kind of tempting....

[Morr]

Of course! Use whatever medium you are most comfortable with.

Those were only rough guidelines, and that's probably not even the publisher we'll be going with. I'd actually prefer to work with a smaller publisher, although having a big name behind you is kind of tempting....


:lol:
well im going to start doodling over the weekend.. i hope i can come up with something neat :)