My main medium of choice is watercolor. I practice with color and value studies because it’s a challenging medium to repair errors with. Studies will assist me in selecting a color scheme, and I can consult my studies while painting to ensure that I don’t stray too far from the intended objectives for the image.
In This Article...
Can I create my own tarot cards in paint?
Tarot cards have been created by numerous people over the years. Ones that are blank and have already been cut and sized for you are available for purchase. You can then design your own artwork to place on them. Alternatively, you may print them out on card stock or picture paper and cut them out by hand. The act of creating itself is wonderful and can be a tool for fostering spiritual development. You may simply incorporate any hobbies or talents you have into your artwork if you have them.
I need to smudge my tarot cards.
White sage is the most popular smudging plant, but others like desert sage, cedar, sweetgrass, or a combination of them, may also be employed. Even though sage is the traditional smudging substance, you are free to use your chosen incense. Sometimes herbs like copal, lavender, and others are added to invoke benevolent or protective energy.
These herbs are offered for sale in dried bundles known as “smudge sticks,” which when burnt smolder like incense. The object you want to cleanse is then covered with the smoke rising from the smudge stick.
How to Do It
The cleaning procedure is really straightforward. You can purify your entire house, just your tarot cards, your reading space, or any combination of these, as well as your entire household. If at all possible, the cleaning should occur during the daytime in both scenarios. Alternatively, simply the ones in the space where you are smearing can be opened. This will provide the bad energy a quick way out.
There are only five steps to smudging:
- Open all windows and doors
- Activate the smudge stick.
- Waft the smoke over your object or environment as you focus on cleansing and rebirth.
- Shut off the smudge stick.
- By (carefully) clinking a spoon on a glass, you can ring a bell or create a chiming noise.
Home Smudging Walkthrough
- Start with the front door of your house. Although not often the front door, this entrance gets the greatest traffic.
- Holding your smudge stick over a flame will light it; blow softly on the lit end to make it smolder. Keep a lighter nearby so you can restart the stick if needed.
- Concentrate your will on the notion of purification and rejuvenation. Some people like to say a quick prayer of appreciation or thank the herb for aiding them.
- To clear negative energy, smudge the door by sweeping smoke counterclockwise around the doorframe.
- Smudge the entrances just like you did at the front door, going counterclockwise through your home and each room. Many individuals only smear windows and doorways. Mirrors, reflective surfaces, and even electrical outlets are examples of additional objects that act as thresholds and, as a result, as energy entry sites.
- After you’ve completed your circuit, go back to your primary entry and re-smudge it. You might make an affirmation or a prayer here, or you can ask for good energy to enter your house.
- Put your smudge stick out in a heat-safe container like an ashtray or ceramic dish. The lit end should simply be stubbed out like a cigarette. The majority of smudge sticks burn out naturally, so you might opt to do the same.
- The last step is to chime a bell or click a spoon against a glass to create a sound. This harmonizes everything by spreading a vibration of sound energy throughout the area.
You may reset the energy in your house or your tarot cards using smudging, and you can do it as frequently as you wish. Smudging helps remove any negative energy from readings before you read them again because readings might disclose some truly unpleasant things. Between each reading, some tarot readers smudge their equipment and workspace, while others do it on a weekly or monthly basis.
What is the name of the tarot card painting style?
The most known and well-liked deck at the moment is the Rider-Waite Smith deck, which made its debut in 1909. It was the first English mass-produced game, created by artist Pamela Colman Smith under the guidance of mystic A.E. Waite, and was meant more for divination than for entertainment. Smith and Waite both participated actively in the Order of the Golden Dawn, a covert group committed to the study of the supernatural and occult (allegedly Bram Stoker, Aleister Crowley, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were also members).
In addition to Smith’s esoteric credentials, Alfred Stieglitz supported her as an outstanding artist and acquired her work to display in his gallery. All 78 of the cards were given fully rendered drawings by Smith, turning the deck into a treasure trove for cartomancers who now had access to a considerably larger library of visuals. (Previously, the Minor Arcana cards, which are roughly similar to the suits in a deck of modern playing cards and consist of 22 Major Arcana cards, had not been elaborately depicted in the usual manner. The Major Arcana were based on the Tarot de Marseille illustrations, although they were illustrated in a pattern-heavy Art Nouveau manner. Even the Fool appears dapper as he lazily strolls toward the precipice holding a flowering rose in his exquisite fingers and donning a flowered tunic that appears to have come directly from William Morris’s design studio.
How can a tarot deck be created at home?
What I actually wanted to do was open a store that offered independently made tarot and oracle decks like the ones I collected, first online and then offline. I would purchase these independent decks from vendors like Two Sides Tarot and Little Red Tarot, and I imagined that perhaps I might create my own small collection to offer to Manila residents (and maybe Asia).
Now I know some of you who frequent this blog do have tarot deck creation goals of your own… so I thought I’d put together a guide that can *fingers crossed* walk you through the creation process the way I did it.
Disclaimer: If you think this piece is going to be about suppliers, printers, and the like, I’m going to warn you right away that it isn’t. I get a lot of queries about those things. I encourage you to conduct independent research on execution. You can set together your decks just as easily as I did by conducting your own research. Your best friend is Google.
So let this serve as a guide, but don’t expect any spoon-feeding. Open yourselves up to the experience of learning through process, discovering through research, and creating a tarot deck all your own.
Have a goal in mind. Back in architecture school, we had to begin with a design challenge before we could even begin sketching or discussing aesthetics. You must understand your why. Initially, why are you building a deck? Is your deck an outlet for your creativity or an attempt to tackle a problem? Are you making a deck in order to generate income, support a certain cause, or get a little more tarot knowledge for yourself?
Knowing your why will set the tone for your entire creation process. Give this fundamental step time.
begin with a notion. These days, independently produced cards are based on themes. It’s too general to say, “I want to create a tarot deck.” Make your creation worthy. Do you want an animal-themed deck? Why? Do you favor having a “Stranger Things” theme? Eighties soap operas? political leaders
Select a form of artistic expression. If you’re into impressionism, Op-art, or post-modernism, go ahead and do whatever you feel at home with, unless you’re making a deck to broaden your style or portfolio. I selected collage because that’s the medium I’m comfortable with.
Setting your parameters will help you create a visually appealing deck (unless the concept you’re working with calls for a range of art styles, in which case mixing things up might make sense).
You need to accept your own artistic ability at this point. If you have a deadline, consider what you can actually accomplish in that time. Perhaps painting frescoes, photographing them, and then processing each image is not the ideal course of action if you want to complete a deck in a month. Consider whether you can actually complete 78 canvases (and possibly more since you’ll need extras for do-overs and such) if you’re comfortable working with oil on canvas.
Establish your guidelines so that you have a reference point to use when you build your deck.
Make sure you understand what you’re getting into before you even start. I am aware that many artists who have no background in tarot take on the task of creating a deck. But I think their cards have a distinct vibe than real tarot readers. They aren’t as useful as decks created by those who are proficient in spreads, have a thorough understanding of their archetypes, and can read for themselves or others. Even the most accomplished artists are unable to discern tiny elements when using the tarot, despite their skill.
If you are familiar with tarot, create a deck. If you are proficient with it, construct an oracle deck. Do your research.
Start working. The part that most eager beavers are anticipating, you’ll just have to put in the effort. Tarot cards cannot “magician their way into existence.” Get your iPad out, start using Procreate, get some scissors, paint thinner, and brushes.
Be prepared to make a lot of stops and starts at this phase of the process, and be nice to yourself. whenever you’re ready, display your work to the public. You’d probably benefit from getting feedback from both a non-tarot reader and a skilled reader, just to see whether what you’re doing resonates with both target groups.
Remember to keep the big picture in mind. Although we occasionally interpret tarot cards individually, we often use pairs of cards and broad spreads. You must have the ability to take a step back from your task and assess how the cards stack up. three, five, ten, and twelve-spot spreads. Lay them all out to check for stragglers, see if any visual or thematic trends emerge (extremely important in a deck! ), and determine whether you like the way they all look when arranged in a formation.
Beyonc staging Bey-chella comes to mind. She had to make sure that everyone on stage appeared flawlessly coordinated.
Make a trial run. The effort isn’t ended once the art is finished, whether you plan to build your deck for sale or just want a copy for yourself. You want to check to see how the tarot cards represent everything. Look for a printer who can produce a single copy at a low cost on common card stock, or if you want to wreck your inkjet printer, do it yourself at home. This is to determine whether your art, in any size you decide, works. You can use this to check for border problems, uneven cropping, etc.
Use your test deck as soon as you obtain it. Carry it around and do readings for friends, family, and future clients. Trust me, once you acquire that tester, it won’t leave your hands. Check out how it functions in the wild.
Revision is essential. My least favorite project stage, but one that is absolutely necessary if you want to do things correctly. You will be able to determine what needs shifting and what needs altering after holding your sample in your hands and using it for 10, 20, and 50 readings.
With my initial run of the PM Starter Deck, I saw a few things that I wanted to change. The fact that I only had 11 copies printed allowed me to fix any errors I found without incurring significant costs.
Examine the market. If you’re quite certain about your deck, you can have a professional finish it right away. You can either order a task for a small print run for yourself or a large print run if you want to take the plunge. You may relax knowing that you tested your deck, made any necessary adjustments, and took into account everyone’s input.
See whether people are interested in your cutting-edge independent deck. Consider going commercial if individuals appear to be really engaged. Examine your numbers to see if you can feel as like you are taking a calculated risk.
If you decide to place a large print order, say a Hail Mary and good luck to yourself. Who knows, your invention could be the next item to appear on the independent shelves of Two Sides Tarot and Little Red Tarot.
How are tarot cards created?
The major arcana, which contains 22 cards and is also known as the trumps, and the minor arcana, which has 56 cards, make up the 78 cards that make up this deck. Moon, card number 18 in the major arcana. The primary arcana cards feature images that stand in for a variety of energies, people, virtues, and vices.
How should a deck be edged?
Ideas for deck edging
The top ten techniques to give something a classy finishing touch
- To add further interest, mix up the deck’s materials.
- Pick a contemporary patterned border.
- Plants can soften the edges of a hard deck.
- Add lighting panels for an ambiance.
- The deck is bordered by clean lines.
- Pavers can be used as a deck area boundary.