Tips about Coloring & Tarot Art in general

1) finish all lineart first & color later, it’ll save you time & recoloring troubles & give your deck more uniformed look using same I advise strongly limited color pallet for each suit? maybe something like Dragon age Tarot? or just combine your lineart with old map texture to give it that medieval look? maybe something like I did here will work best https://sites.google.com/view/myluckycard/ancient-lenormand or Take a look at these wonderful Spirit Keeper Tarot by Benebell Wen color samples for idea what coloring style would suit your deck best?;)

 

2) Card design & colors determine card meaning & light Clear and Simple is seen more positive/optimistic and darker more negative!;)

3) avoid main basic colors/hue Red, especially light Blue & Green as printed colors will look much darker/aka flat dark green!x,x unless you are born awesome talent to fill wonderful coloring book pages!:) lolz srsly, I’m thinking creating my next tarot as lineart & publish it as *limited mono edition & bnw coloring book & ask people (who know how to do it!!:) to color it so I can pick best & publish colored edition!XD lolz imo some coloring book pages are best color style EVER!XD

4) Older decks usually (successfully!) ignore some basic art rules like; 3x3 grid/aka do not center your art! & thou shalt not mix more than 1primary color in your art!:) as traditional (Marseilles) Tarot color palette is RedGreenBlueYellow+ black lineart!:) but if you look popular modern decks like; RWS (&Thoth) it’s usually 1 dominant color & few accompanying I.e HP, Emperor, Tower etc all showing how PCS & lady FH were great artists of their time with good theory basis!^^ lol so moral of the story When creating your Tarot art; check how it’s done traditionally, check card meaning & how other great artist did it before you & try not to be much worse?!:) lolz

5) don't be afraid to be you be fresh and bold don’t be afraid to break some rules!;D

There are many *rules & guidelines how to/ or not make your Lenormand or any other deck and fad art trends, but all that don’t guarantee you popularity! And there are many who successfully broken those rules and get favored by public opinion! So be bold and ready to make something you’ll like! And who knows? You may end up creating something new and fresh everyone will talk about!

6) Experiment with different layer modes & effects (imo gradient works best!^^) but Whatever you do remember to 

7) Have Lots of fun! You Are Creating Something You Like & Learning Lot in process!^^ if more people recognize it's just extra kick either way you get exp & Art of a lifetime to enjoy!;D

Note; regardless of media you are working eventually you’ll need to provide digital files for print by taking hi resolution scan or photos so here are some

Digital files tips;

+ Back up of your work on extra usb or cloud & take pic of your lineart before coloring!:) 

+Keep your digital art in progress in your original working format with separate layers (In gimp that is xcf & psd in photoshop or some high res like bmg or tiff and save/export as what you plan to print in png etc (make sure layers are flattened/merged! and there is no transparent areas!) Only when you consider it completed & ready to print! As any changes you do to jpeg and save it again will result in quality loss!

+Text and borders should always be in separate layers! that leaves more options for later! as modern trend is borderless that makes art look bigger & better & saves you of uneven border issue in case of printer drift!;) 

+Remember to remove top/guideline template layer before saving & uploading your img for print & check for errors including text, card size and alignment of layers!:)

Check my next post for *faq about 

How Card Printer Works, Correct Paper size to paint Tarot card & other tech questions Tips 

How to publish & Why Selfpublishing with US based Print on Demand is best

(here is Card Printer list!:)

All best! 

MyLuckyCard
Reall/Irena

Deck Creation and What you need to know if you plan creating your own deck

Every Cartomancer or Artist at one point will get idea to create its own Tarot or other deck by whim or inspiration according to your unique idea how *perfect deck should look like & even you may have plenty ideas how that *perfect deck should look turning it into reality as accomplishing anything else you set your mind!;) require time & effort so start with good plan!;)

Creating your deck require;

1) Theory where you plan & prepare for task at hand by addressing all decisions including but not limited to;

Concept idea for Tarot or Oracle deck you have in mind;

What type of deck you are creating? Tarot or Oracle or Playing Cards or Other;

Number of Cards you need to paint;78 Tarot or 36 Lenormand Oracle+any extra card title card etc

Card Size; Standard Tarot, or smaller; Poker/ Bridge or Larger?;D

Note; tech side of this *Correct size & cardstock topic will be covered in my next post!;)

 

Guidebook?;)

tip; you'll save yourself if you start taking notes & writing your ideas & sketches asap!;D

It will help you track your progress and ideas development & it's easy to turn that working notebook into proper guidebook once you have completed your deck as people like to have basic info on deck they plan to use & read accompanying document for artist insight & process behind each card art & deck creation!;D

 

Card Layout Design;

Deck Theme Topic & symbols you wish to include in each card & design layout;

Color or Black & White or Other

Border; Yes or No

Text; Yes or No (if yes font type & size & will you include it in your artwork or add later digitally =recommended!:)

Numbers; same as above

Card back design; Reversible or Not, Any pattern and colors you wish to include?

Art medium you will be working;

Digital (Tablet & paint program my fav free Gimp & Medibang paint pro for lineart & Scribus for converting png rgb to cmyk pdf!:) there is also free version of photoshop called White Rabbit!;D

or Traditional; aka Pen & paper etc

Your Art Style; tip; Work with style/media you’re good with!;)

tip; *Unique Style & layout help create original style & uniformed look as common thread that will glue your deck!;)

Resources Your Own Art or Public Domain/ Other

tip; never forget to credit original artist and keep link of your source images!;)

Role models & references (if you have any list it with note what you like about each particular deck or card you are addressing & specific elements you would like to include in your card design?!;)

tip; Rider Waite Tarot deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith is most popular & what most people recognize as Tarot but if you are into specific topic i.e animals cats flowers etc I recommend checking google for references & ideas how different people approach to specific card theme design colors & inspiration etc?;)

bookmark webs that shows specific card from different decks side by side, for general idea how specific card concept is represented traditionally vs modern art decks? btw same link should have basic meaning as well so it’s good to read it or download free pdf book Pictorial key to tarot, just to give you quick reference about what meaning your art should represent?  

https://www.tarot.com/tarot/cards/the-fool/universal-waite

http://www.albideuter.de/html/narr.html
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/dragon.shtml
Note don't forget my guide for; How To Major Arcana Court & Minor Arcana table with basic meaning & symbolic reference for eachcard!;)

2) Time it'll take you to create full deck & time you need to spend on each card?;)

imo it may seem overwhelming task at first contributing to procrastination but that's why it's important to keep your goal in mind; Completing Your Full Deck!;) & therefore plan to work on each card at least few minutes/hours/days every week?;) of course even better if your muse is calling & inspiring you to create even faster but imo as long you have at least 1 card to show after week (or two!;) your deck is on good track to be completed & ready to print soon!:)

3) Space for work/free of environment noise and disturbance; this depend on your preferences and art media; so I’ll let you think that for yourself!

4) Actual work!;D After you have it all planed Start Creating Your 1st Card asap!:)

Grab that pen & paper/digital/whatever your choice is here & Start sketching!:D

or even better if you have it all noted like i told you open that notebook & look what you have in mind for 1st card?!;) then just Do it!;D

tip; or commission someone to do *art part for you? imo comic artist are best! Good art Fast and affordable!;D

p.s Another interesting note; while working on this project I often dream of different cards and designs! So don’t be surprised if that happen to you! It just shows how your brain work on it even while you’re sleep!;D

5) Costs; sadly you need money to do anything! (or that’s how it usually goes!) And depending on your media this can go both ways when creating your deck as well as publishing, 

for my 1st deck I had my old lap top and mouse and free paint program Gimp & did all painting myself! however professional programs and tablets are expensive same as good material for traditional painting! for next project I plan *modernization! that’s why if you like this guide consider purchasing its printed form as well as myselfpublished decks here!;) 

tip; work with what you have and what you are most comfortable with regardless of costs! 

it will pay of eventually along with time you invested here as you'll obtain valuable experience & learn a lot about printing & yourself as there is certain ancient magic alchemy involved in process as well as satisfaction you'll receive when your printed deck finally arrive AND MY FAV PART; BE READY YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET TON OF MAIL FROM HAPPY PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD PRAISING YOUR ART & SAYING HOW MUCH THEY LOVE & ENJOY YOUR DECK!;D How Cool is THAT for Legacy?;D lol

tip; you can always consider patreon or fund raising platforms like kickstarter and indiegogo but those are of more use when you have your art ready to print! And will require promotion

and social network & web page (you can create free web page on google like I did here; https://sites.google.com/view/myluckycard/home & levelupenterprises offer best solution for pro web page you need to present your deck!;)

& newsletter you'll need to figure yourself!(I've started it by google Bcc should work & mailchimp is what most people use!;)

As 1st requirement for people to buy your deck is to know it exist & how to order?;D

so checking youtube for reviews is also good idea!;D

tip; Learn from from success! Have a deck you like? Check publisher and artist! And how it get published!

tip; Learn from failure! so you’ll avoid repeating same mistakes!:)

Check my next post for; Tips about coloring & Tarot art in general & 

 *How Card Printer Works, Correct paper size to paint Tarot card card & other tech questions!;)