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tarorae — Uphelios Tarot Reverse
Published: 2013-01-07 07:27:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 1618; Favourites: 22; Downloads: 66
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Description
One of our long-time supporters/readers, catchjubjub suggested I do a Tarot Deck, and since I've been wanting to do one for over a decade, I decided to knuckle down and start working one out. Keep in mind, it will take me a number of years to get through all 78 cards, but in the meantime, I have been working on the card Templates.This is the design for the back of the cards.
There will be a different border design for each of the suits, and another for the Major Arcana. Stay tuned as I work on these...
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Comments: 29
It'll take me a long time to do, but I'm hoping that by the time it does, there will be a big enough audience that people might actually buy a copy! XD
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I hope that comes to realization.
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Awesome!!! I love this design, I can't wait to see this little project unfold.
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I really am looking forward to your feedback as the project continues! I'll be posting them as I complete them!
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Oh my... Really? It's just amazing! I love tarot and you draw the back so... Goodness it's perfect ><
Ok...
Ignore my little... Freak out...
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I also love the Tarot! I've been wanting to do my own deck for years and years. Finally I am going to do it!
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It's really good *-* I want to see all the deck *-*
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I'll keep posting the cards as I get them done~
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This is 
I really like the center star, though I'm curious: is it going to remain that way or is it an outline for further design? It looks awesome as it is, but personally I'd love to see a bit more of the metallic steampunk-looking border on it.
But I know (and can do) nothing artistic so it's an opinion, not a criticism 
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It will be round-edged, yes!
As for a further border, nope - this is the finished version. I was walking a fine line between wanting the design to look like a border holding a card within it, but also understanding that it's a flat image, and should look like one in your hand. I also had to ensure that the image stayed symmetrical and that was really hard for me to do, so I wanted something simple, consistent, unifying, and symbolic. The Compass rose in the centre is the classic navigational symbol, with its four points referring to the four cardinal directions, the four elements, the four schools of piracy, and the four suits in the deck.
I'm working really hard to translate the language of the Tarot into an Uphelios-equivalent, but by using pirate imagery and the actual characters from the story. It's a really difficult undertaking, and I'm going to be hard pressed just to finish all 83 images required for its completion.
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Holy flying spaghetti monster 
That's incredible. Do you think you might collaborate with someone down the line to help distribute some of the work? Just curious. I'd offer up my self but I can't do anything except 'oooo' and 'aaahh' at other people's efforts -_-;
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Hrm.... I honestly don't know the answer to that. It would certainly make the workload lighter, but I'd like the art to be consistent, so I should probably do it myself. But it's really helpful getting feedback (whether positive or constructive criticism like your earlier mention), because that lets me know that there are people out there for whom the work matters. And if it matters, I stay motivated.
No responses = no desire to work on it for Astra.
So just the fact that you take the time to give me such wonderful feedback is all the help I will need, likely!
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Yay! thanks so much! I'm thinking of breaking the images up into Calendars as well to help make the project more manageable - what do you think?
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That sounds like a great idea!
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I'll have to look into the DeviantART requirements for Calendars
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Goooooorgeous work.
Looking forward to seeing this progress.
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I will likely get your help en route~ I'm thinking of printing the whole set up as an artbook too - thoughts?
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Art book, or a guide to the deck itself in large format?
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THAT'S AN AMAZING IDEA! I had thought of going with a tarot publishing company that would include a little booklet, but a big one with full colour images is even better! then I can explain the imagery! People could actually learn to read with these suckers!
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I'm so glad you're finally getting around to doing a set! I know you've been wanting to do one for yeaaars. I'm excited to see what you do! The border for this card is gorgeous, I really love the cogs and the baubles. I think my favourite works of yours are the ones involving your illios. What style are you going to do the cards in?
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That's actually a really good question. I am hoping to do them like the chapter illustrations - the solid lineart and gradient shading? I've been sketching out composition/symbolic element sketches lately, but I haven't played at all with the line art for them yet. So far I'm planning on getting all the official borders done first, then I'll have the template to fill in appropriately. :3
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Niiiice. My vote is certainly for illio-style stuff! I really like the texture/colour combination you've have for the chapter illustrations. Are you making a deck just for yourself or do you plan on selling them? I know tarot decks are an intensely personal thing when they're made.
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I plan to use the images both to offer Calendars as well as to offer the finished deck for sale! I'm looking into Tarot deck publishing companies, but it'll like be a couple years before it's all completed.
And thanks! I'm really enjoying that balance of line art and colour too~
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I agree! 
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