Thursday, September 8, 2016

Tarot Deck Update and 2-Prize Giveaway!

If you've been around here for a while, you know that I and fabulous illustrator Elisabeth Alba have a uber-cool tarot deck coming out from Llewellyn on January 8th. (See the Everyday Witch Tarot Deck on Amazon.)

We're planning to do an update every month until the deck comes out, along with some cool giveaways, including signed prints of Elisabeth's wonderful art for the cards. Elisabeth is doing this month's update, along with some input from me. Enjoy!

FROM ELISABETH:


In four more months, the Everyday Witch Tarot will be published by Llewellyn! Deborah and I are super excited. So excited, in fact, that we're revealing the process behind another card, AND having a giveaway (see bottom of post for details)!
We'd like to share the Judgment card, which is also used on the cover of the kit box. Everyone has seen the image by now, but here's a bit of the work that went into making it.


 
Here is the original Rider-Waite version of the card that ours is based on:



Deborah: "I tend to look at the Judgment card in a more positive way than some. Not so much as a judgment ON you, but more how you judge your own life. Do you like what you see? This witch is clearly following her own path with joy, which is what I was trying to represent with this card."

Elisabeth: The image description Deborah gave me was, "A witch in a black hat dances merrily down a path playing a flute [think Pied Piper] with her black gown hiked up to show her striped stockings, a black kitten bouncing in her wake, chasing a butterfly which flits in amongst the musical notes from the flute. A shining light beckons from the direction they are heading in. The mood is of anticipation."
I began with rough 'thumbnail' pencil sketches, and once a composition was approved I moved on to the drawing and digital color rough to figure out how I wanted to paint it.



Before doing the drawing, I took photo reference of myself pretending to be the witch in the image. I wanted all the figures in the deck to have accurate anatomy and feel more lifelike and dynamic, so I took a lot of photo reference!



I also looked at photos of canyons, shrubs, and playful cats.
Here is the image after inking on watercolor paper. Unfortunately I don't have any process photos mid-paint, but this is what I painted on top of!



Here is the final painting, and below is the text from the guide book that comes with the deck.


“Here we go again.”
Where has your path led you and where will it lead you now?

A witch in a black hat dances merrily down a path playing a flute with her black gown hiked up to show her striped stockings, a black kitten bouncing in her wake, chasing a butterfly which flits in amongst the musical notes from the flute. A shining light beckons from the direction they are heading in. The mood is of anticipation.

The Judgment card is often perceived as something ominous due to the traditional picture that features naked dead people being summoned by the Angel Gabriel’s trumpet. What isn’t clear is that this call is less about “being judged” by someone else and more about taking a look at your own life and finding it unsatisfactory. Our witch on the card is following some music that only she can hear, playing along as she moves happily down the path towards rebirth, renewal, and letting go. She is light of heart and feet because she has put down old grudges and hurts that were dragging her down. There is joy in finally heeding the call to the life you are meant to be living.

Things to consider: Are you following your own music, or dancing to someone else’s tune? The Judgment card reminds us to listen to our own inner wisdom. It can also be a suggestion that we are judging ourselves too harshly, or taking others judgment of us to heart. If this card shows up in your reading, it may be an indication that it is time to let go of the old and embrace the new. Rebirth and renewal await, if you are willing to go down the path that will take you to them.

And the Judgment card on the cover of the kit... The team at Llewellyn did a fabulous job with the design. We couldn't be happier!



Elisabeth and I are having a double giveaway!!!! Two winners will be picked! Use the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of the blog. We are offering a copy of Llewellyn's Witch's Coloring Book (which has some images from the deck that you can color in yourself!) and a signed print of the Judgment card! The print is on archival matte 11x14 paper, signed by Elisabeth!




The Everyday Witch tarot deck can be pre-ordered now direct from Llewellyn at https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738746340 or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Witch-Tarot-Deborah-Blake/dp/0738746347.

And if you can't wait four months for a new deck, you might want to check out The Modern Spellcaster's Tarot by Melanie Marquis with illustrations by one Scott Murphy (aka, Mr. Elisabeth Alba). It looks so cool, I can't wait to get a copy for myself!

*No purchase necessary

55 comments:

  1. I am so excited about this deck, I have never bought my own deck before. I have never felt the right energy for myself to buy one. Watching this process really makes me feel connected and I cannot wait to buy it!

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    1. I'm so glad we were able to come up with a deck you feel like you can connect with!

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  2. I love Tarot cards, these new ones are so beautiful . It was fun and interesting learning the process . Thank you

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  3. I can't wait for the deck. Love the card.

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  4. I love tarot cards! And these look awesome!

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  5. I can't wait for these! I love her artwork and have the coloring book already! :) WOuld love the print!!!!

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  6. I would retire my old tattered deck for this one. Wonderful and inspiring artwork.

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    1. The artwork IS amazing, isn't it? I suspect I'm going to trade in my own much-loved Rider-Waite deck for this.

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  7. Whoa! just saw the double give-away!!!

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  8. I am sooooo excited!! I already ordered mine, so i'llyn be getting them around my birthday. Can't wait!

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  9. I am more excited about this deck than I have been any deck!! I love tarot and can't wait!!

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  10. I cannot wait for this gorgeous deck!

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  11. Love the new deck! Hope it's out soon, can't wait!

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  12. I read Tarot and I need a new one definitely! The one I use most frequently was gifted to me by my ex husband (and I totally want to get a replacement for it!) This is on my birthday wish list - good thing my birthday is this month! You can totally hear me say "Oh, hubby of mine....pre-order gift"?

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  13. I have been waiting so long!! Love the preview! The artwork is wonderful and the explanation. . Can't wait to see how this goes!!

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    1. I just preordered I can't wait. I was so drawn to this deck. Its been a great wait getting to know Deborah Blake, I am a fb follower and have enjoyed reading your books! Love Elizabeth's artwork!!

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  14. I am so excited to receive my order of these tarot cards. The art is stunning and the spoke to me at first glance.

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  15. I LOVE Tarot decks. This one looks like so much fun! I can't wait!

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  16. This would be a lovely replacement for my current tarot deck (that is only 40 years old). Thanks for the giveaway. kuzlin at aol.com

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  17. These are beautiful . I love different decks of tarot cards . I find different decks make some people more comfortable , relax , easier to read for them . If the illustrations are different from traditional , seems "friendlier" not as scary maybe. I don't know , but makes my job easier . I will be ordering these. My oldest daughter loves them
    . The illustrations r gorgeous .

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  18. I have loved the images of this deck as long as Debra has been posting them. Can't wait for it to come out!

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  19. I am so excited and can't wait to get your tarot cards. The art work is beautiful!

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  20. I can't wait to get my hands on this deck!!!

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  21. I can't wait to get my hands on this deck!!!

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  22. This looks like my kind of Tarot deck! Awesome giveaway!

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  23. My friend introduced me to this deck, we were ready to order. Awwww, can't wait!!!

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  24. I haven't been this excited for a new tarot deck since following the creation of the Steampunk deck. Thanks so very much for sharing the process with us, and for creating such a gorgeous deck!

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    1. I used Barbara Moore's Steampunk deck as part of my research/inspiration :-)

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  25. I haven't been this excited for a new tarot deck since following the creation of the Steampunk deck. Thanks so very much for sharing the process with us, and for creating such a gorgeous deck!

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  26. I am so excited about this deck! Beautiful in every way and it has black kitties and witches! Perfect! :)

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  27. I've always wanted a deck, but have never bought one...this will be my first! The art work is fun and beautiful... Thanks!

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  28. i already pre ordered this deck so it's safe to say i'm REALLY looking forward to it!! i was thinking about the art style and it reminds me of the sabrina the teenage witch show. sabrina lived in a normal house and went to normal school but there were elements in every episode that were magical and whimsical. its easy for me to imagine the scenes in these cards as taking place in real life, but each image also has this otherworldly property like a magical secret! :)

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  29. I had it on my wishlist already, perfect time to preorder! What a great look at the process too. I can't wait to use this deck. :)

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  30. You know I love tarot cards and that I'm looking forward to this deck! You ask silly questions!

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  31. I am SO excited for this deck! The artwork is so fabulous, I bought one of Elisabeth's originals, the 9 of cups! How amazing would it be to have the judgement painting as well!! OMGoddess!!

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  32. I absolutely love the concept for the Judgment card. Thank you for sharing its development.

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  33. I am SO looking forward to this deck! You've both been doing an amazing job. I especially love the interpretation of Judgment, and can't wait to see the rest of the deck. <3

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  34. I can't wait to get this deck. My girls are so excited too! They love the non traditional tarot and these are beautiful !

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  35. I can't wait for this deck! I have entered many of your contest and I hope I win this one. As always Blessed Be to my favorite author!

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  36. I have been so excited about this deck, there is not one part of it that I don't love.I just know it will be THE deck!

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  37. Hi! Can't wait for the delivery. I love the artwork and imagery the deck provides.

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  38. Gosh I've been following your deck, beautiful art work, with great readability can't wait to get my hands on this deck

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  39. Excited! Love the whole vibe of this deck!

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  40. Love this deck the minute I saw it and can't wait till January to get it!

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  41. Just preordered and cannot wait to see it in person.

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  42. Just preordered and cannot wait to see it in person.

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  43. Definitely resonating with the direction you are taking this ... can't wait to see more!

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  44. Can't wait to see all the cards in the deck!

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