Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Tarot Wednesday: Self Published Decks

When I look through my plethora of Tarot and Oracle (and other) decks, I am fascinated by how differently each idea comes across in the art works.  In the age of internet publishing it's easier to find variations from a variety of talented artists, some of which I am happy to share with you today.



The BlueDogRose Tarot by Nakisha is full of beautiful domestic animal images created in ink and watercolor and professionally printed on playing-card stock.  This 2011 deck  is a full 78 cards made up of 22 major and 56 minor arcana.  Swords are represented by Cats, Cups are Birds, Pentacles are Rodents and Clubs are Dogs while the Major Arcana also have goldfish, guinea pigs and rabbits.  I love the vibrancy and personality of this deck!  Check out some of Nakisha's other decks, such as the TaRat, for beautiful are with some standard Tarot imagery.  She can also be found at her blog and facebook page.


The Steampunk Tarot purports to "builds a rusty metal bridge to the edge of your subconscious" and looking at the listing I believe the artist, Charissa Drengsen of curly-cue design, has achieved this.  This digital collage tarot deck is a full 78 cards that blends "post-modern and tribal, ancient and contemporary, traditional and subcultural" images and themes.  The deck is available in multiple sizes and has a large or pocket sized companion book.  I have a soft spot in my hear for steampunk and it looks like this deck does a marvelous job of cohesive digital collage and filling the cards with meaning.  Swing over to the shop and check out some of Charissa's other work as well, such as paper dolls and steampunk patches.  She can alse be found here.




This Oracle Tarot Deck by Lisa Chow is stunning in it's intricate simplicity.  I love the stark contrast of the pen against the paper and I appreciate that she pulls in just a touch of color when it counts.  The artist was drawn in by the classical and intricate art work of the tarot and rose to the challenge of imparting her own spin on the standard imagery and this full 78 card deck is the result.  The prints that color the rest of her shop attest to her artistic eye for color, line and space.  More about Lisa can also be found here.






Thanks so much and please don't forget to enter my current giveaways here and here!

-Kat

9 comments:

  1. That is wonderful to be able to have the opportunity to self publish your own tarot deck, that makes it so special. These decks are beautiful and we appreciate you finding them. Already browsing away a the gorgeous creations. Thank you :)

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    1. Ana, So glad you like them. I also think that being able to create your own makes them super special!

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  2. Thanks for all the information. I've been thinking of making my very oracle deck ... when I do use the tarot decks I just use the major arcana. I don't know why, but the oracle speaks to me. I really love reading all your posts even though I don't always comment.

    Happiness and Peace to all.

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    1. I think you totally should! Your artwork strikes me as so unique and I think you could throw a lot of meaning in there!

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  3. These are beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing these Kat ;o)

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    1. You're so welcome. I think the world may need a set of Baby Crow major arcana... just sayin :)

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  4. Not as impressed by the Steampunk Tarot as I hoped... But that Oracle Tarot is gorgeous!

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    1. It depends on if the style works for you or not. It's part of why I have a tarot card addiction issue, I like to get all of them and see what the differences are energetically :)

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