ellenmillion | Entries tagged with 78tarot

Guuuuuys, I have so much to blog about I'm just flailing helplessly.

Let's start with this:

My fifth card with 78Tarot, the seven of cups for the Mythical deck is so far my favorite. :) This deck is Kickstarting now! http://kck.st/2CYauY1

(And it's already almost funded!!)

In the tarot deck, sevens are about choices and the seven of cups adds a layer of illusions and wishes. Be cautious when making choices, because sometimes you don't see the whole story at a glance!

In Greek legend, the pleiades were seven nymph sisters, daughters of Atlas and the sea-nymph Pleione. When Orion chose to pursue them, unwanted, Zeus turned the girls first into doves and then into stars, where as a constellation, they still flee Orion.

Here, I chose to illustrate each of the sisters, giving them each a cup of wonders to offer to the viewer. While you may be tempted by the riches that appear to be in each vessel, don't be blindly seduced down a path that could hold danger. A great wave threatens to break over the path they are beckoning you down, and they may only offer dreams and fantasies.

Prints and original at my webpage.

Crossposts: https://ellenmillion.livejournal.com/1639527.html

This is my fourth deck with 78Tarot, an artist collaborative project. (And you know me and collaborative projects... :))

The twos in tarot are all about balance. The two of pentacles, in particular, is about balance of earthly things – wealth, business, and communication most specifically. Here we have an astronaut who is balanced in space, indicating the rich-looking, pentacle-adorned space ship she is attached to, and a satellite, which represents communication and more spiritual needs. It can be a tricky balance, complicated even further by blazing rocket boots! The infinity symbol from the traditional Rider Waite deck is hinted at in the curve of her tether, implying that the figure in question can handle an unlimited number of problems. Below her, a cold-war Russia and Alaska face each other under aurora-lit skies, representing outside conflicts.

This card cautions us to manage our time well, and encourages us to remember that if we do, we can handle all the things life throws at us.

This piece was an experiment from start to finish. I wanted a crisp, vintage look, and painted over my linework with acrylic before realizing that I had completely obscured my lines. Not daunted, I printed out my linework scan and colored it with Copic markers, then cut it carefully out by hand. That was the really sharp feeling I was going for! A few touches with colored pencil and gelpen were made at the very end. The original is 9x12, acrylic, marker, ink, and the kitchen sink (including glittler glue), and it's available for $200, US shipping included.

The Kickstarter to fund this deck is on NOW! It only runs one more week, and has already funded, so if you want to snag one of these gorgeous decks, this is your best chance: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kayti/78-tarot-astral

Crossposts: http://ellenmillion.livejournal.com/1613747.html

It's cold enough today that the LED light by the garage is doing it's disco-strobe. (That happens at about 25 below.) We saw a sundog driving in today, and I got a photo of small animal evidence when I dropped Guppy off at preschool. I have fingers crossed that it's warmer than 20 below by recess so she can go outside and play! (What? What's your recess cut-off??)

The teashop is unfortunately chilly today, so I'm wearing my sweater and fur hat inside.

You'd think, coming off a major project like I just have, that I'd be taking a breather, but I have one more deadline looming. This one is easy! I have more than a week to finish this:

Research for this was really, really fun, as I'm going for a totally vintage vibe, complete with cold war references.

But I'm not working on it right now, because my inbox has 679 emails I need to deal with. My nose-to-the-grindstone February means some things got... neglected. If you're waiting on me, I apologize! Hopefully most of these just need sorted into folders.

Off to tackle that now!

The 5 of wands is often depicted as strife, conflict, and disagreement, but a closer look often shows competition as motivation, conflict as inspiration, and differing opinions as a way to open eyes to new methods and balance. Things that seem like hassles can actually be necessary for growth and success, and different points of view can be combined for a whole that is stronger than its parts. The figures in this card are often shown as many different nationalities, hinting at the idea that there is a greater global balance at work. The five of wands may remind you that you can't succeed without competing. You may feel like you are below others, but if you look around, you'll find that other people look up to you the way you look up to others; you are part of a larger framework than you may realize.

That's a heady amount of stuff to get into a little teeny card. I wanted to stay to five figures, as tradition dictates, but I really wanted to concentrate on the positive aspects of the card, and I had to find a way to merge that all with the Carnival theme of this deck. Acrobats, balancing each other using staffs, seemed like a natural way to translate the meaning of the card.

This card was a challenge to me technically, as well. Full figures are not easy. Five full figures of distinct nationalities, balanced in crazy, acrobatic formations that have no references took a lot of careful work. I erased the figures several times. I am also not particularly comfortable with color, and I tend to default to neutral tones... which this card, and the theme of the deck, did not call for at all. I used Pigma Micron pens, Copics, and a little bit of white gel pen (a first!), and really stretched out of my comfort zone in a big way.

You can pre-order the deck now, through Kickstarter! We funded in less than three days, and now we're working towards super awesome stretch goals: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kayti/78-tarot-carnival

Contact me if you are interested in the original piece.

We got hardpack removed from our driveway on Monday, and I look outside and think SPRING. Then I try to rein myself back and remember that it's still March. This isn't spring, it's a cruel hoax. Don't get your hopes up, self.

Speaking of things that aren't hoaxes! I have a new sampler coloring page to download and color, this one from Brain Celebration:

Download the high res PDF here: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/coloringbook.php?id=52

Tonight, the third 78Tarot deck launches on Kickstarter! There is a Facebook event, at which you can win fabulous prizes: https://www.facebook.com/events/1177635745581680/ I will be officially releasing my artwork for it later! (Sooooon!)

Yesterday, I restocked a local gift shop with coloring books - they were down to just 4 copies from 28. O.o I need to get back there more often! They cleaned me out of pencils, so I have more on order.

Today, we are watching and dancing to Frozen, I am sending artwork (and an ad) to a magazine, eating macaroni and cheese from a box, and the library (for some reason) has been transported from upstairs to downstairs. I am wearing three (red!) braids, and feeling very excited about all of the work ahead of me.

Sunlight is returning, and I'm so glad. It's noticeably brighter every morning, and more and more actual sunlight is hitting our land every day.

I'm spitting distance from the end of my 78tarot piece for the carnival deck. This was the piece earlier this afternoon. I've finished all the marker work at this point, but I will probably go in and do a few touches with gel pen and paint and pencils.

In other news, my daughter is utterly drunk with exhaustion. The last few days she has fought taking a nap or going to bed for hours each time, and then I have to wake her up long before she's ready. It's about three hours since I first tucked her into bed tonight. She just got up to go potty, then announced that her 'underpanties' were in the cat's water dish. She walked up the stairs singing 'Wiggly wiggly wiggly butt!' and careening into things. We have to leave early(ish) for swim lessons tomorrow and I'm basically dreading it.

I've decided to start putting together sampler pages for free download at EMG. The first is for Dotminatrix:

You can grab the high-res PDF here: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/coloringbook.php?id=64

I also got the ink done (really done, this time) for my 78Tarot piece:

Preschool was successful today - I got there in time to watch a ridiculously adorable game of ~~duck-duck-goose~~ heart-heart-valentine played by very cute children who didn't really understand the rules or the basics of which direction to run. Then we got to play outside for a while, go grocery shopping, and come home for lunch and a nap.

Now I get to wake her up and eat ice cream. :)

Blog or eat cherry pie? Blog or eat cherry pie?

I'm running out of my naptime window, and I have Things To Do, so you get the short version of the day (shopped for Guppy's birthday, largely unsuccessfully, got my teeth cleaned) and a peek at the artwork I am working on:

Up to 4840 words on my novella now!

You may or may not remember me wailing and beating my chest about a particularly difficult art piece several weeks back. The piece in question was the Kind of Swords:

Last year, I had the honor of joining in a group collaboration to produce a deck with 78 Tarot, and this year, I was invited back to do the King of Swords for their nautical-themed deck. This is my write-up for my card:

All of the kings in the tarot deck represent strong, adult, male figures, and the King of Swords is no exception. This fatherly monarch is usually depicted on a throne, with an upraised sword, with symbols that represent his will and judgement. Traditionally, his throne is carved with butterflies and angels. These butterflies are monarchs specifically, and act as both a symbol of metamorphosis, and a play on the word 'monarch,' while the angels appear near his ear to whisper words of wisdom to him. The butterflies are real here, to strength the air aspect of the card (a challenge in a nautical deck!), and his throne is a sea rock adorned with subtle barnacles. The wings of his crown are a nod to the angels shown some decks.

Behind him are crashing waves, chaotic and untamed. Before him, the sea is smooth and uniform, controlled by his will. Likewise, the clouds (more of the suit of sword's air element) are split by the two-edged blade of his sword, revealing serene sky behind. He brings order and direction from a place of balance and serenity. The flying fish in the foreground represent the ability to rise above emotional turmoil and make sound decisions, and the book and blue vestments remind us that the King of Swords is an intellect. The owl pin shows us a glimmer of his wisdom, and the rubies in his sword, crown, and pin are signs of self-confidence and strength.

The Kind of Swords is about order, discipline, and making decisions, and urges transformations using willpower and logic. His sword is two-edged, and while he may be kind and generous with his truth, he may also be over-forceful or judgmental, demanding order and a rigid interpretations of rules.

The deck is in crowdfunding at Kickstarter now, and got past 75% in a week: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kayti/78-tarot-nautical

But that's not all... Ellen Million Graphics is producing a companion coloring book!

This is a gorgeous coloring book; I am so pleased with the way it has come together. I should be able to order a proof next week, and it will be sent out with the Kickstarter rewards. It will be generally available in the future, but right now, the only way to get one is through the 78 Tarot Nautical Kickstarter itself: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kayti/78-tarot-nautical - and they are limited to 100 through the campaign!

It's 20 pages, and there are print and PDF options as add-ons.

The Kickstarter will (probably) be the only opportunity to get the PDF version!

I have always, always wanted to do my own tarot deck, but I knew that I couldn't do 78 polished pieces any time this decade. Or possibly next decade.

But this month, I sat down and did a few sketch cards for the 78 Tarot Kickstarter... and thought "I can do this..."

These are simple ink sketches, not too involved, though I am careful about incorporating some traditional tarot symbolism and ideas. Each one is 2.5 x 3.5 inches, archival ink on acid-free bristol art cards with rounded corners. And they are available for sponsorship!

Early Adopter Pricing - good until December 31!

(This is a soft launch - it's not a secret project at this point, but I'm not going to be pushing it until early 2015... when all the pricing will go up significantly.)

If you have a personal card you'd like to own the original for - and maybe even dictate your vision! - you may sponsor that card for $50. That nets you a copy of the final deck, AND your original card. Add to cart

A sponsorship of $40 or more will get you a random original* and a copy of the final deck Add to cart

A sponsorship of $30 or more will get you a copy of the final deck. Add to cart

A sponsorship of $10 or more will get you a random draw* - you'll get a printed copy of a card I draw from the deck for you. I will sign your card. Add to cart

A sponsorship of any level will get you a pdf of the final deck that you can print (and color?) for your own personal use. Add to cart

*Random draws will be of fully illustrated cards - if we don't make the stretch goal of illustrating the minor arcana, I won't send one of those!

Stretch goals (not set yet) will include fully-illustrated minor arcana, printed tuck boxes for the decks, a booklet of meanings, and other goodies.

00 The Fool - available! (finished)

01 The Magician - available! (finished)

02 The High Priestess - available! (finished)

03 The Empress - available! (finished)

04 The Emperor - available! (finished)

05 The Heirophant - available! (sketched)

06 The Lovers - available (finished)

07 The Chariot - available (sketched)

18 The moon - SOLD

All other major arcana and face cards available for claiming! If you claim a card before I sketch it, you may make suggestions about specific things you'd like to see on your card. (Minor arcana will be simple counting cards unless we make stretch goals...)

Please note that it may take me as much as a year to complete the Sketch Tarot project. I am sure it will go faster than that - but I like wiggle room. Check back for updates!