Finally! Chronata's tarot deck in progress

[Chronata]

All right already!
I finally got up enough courage to talk about my tarot deck! (Thanks, Baba Prague!)

I have been rather apprehensive about sharing this for a couple of reasons. None of them are particularly valid.

At first I was worried because I am an outsider artist. Not a fine artist, but more like a folk artist. I have had absolutely no training and everything I do is self-taught. Even though my art works have been selling for many years, I still feel a little weird about sometimes...especially since there are sooo many really talented artists here on Aeclectic making decks.

I realize that I have a style...and it may not be everyone's taste, but it is me. And this deck is very personal, to my own taste.

I am calling it the Tarot of the Midnight Masquerade.

I was also a little apprehensive about my own theme. I know there are other theme decks out there with a similar theme. Blue Fusion's got that gorgeous Masque deck...and when I first saw Folchi's Venetian Carnival deck...my heart sank! It was after I did all my preliminary sketches, and I discovered a real similarity, and thought that folks might think my own deck was derivitive.

A good, and very wise friend of mine reminded me that there is room in the tarot world for similar deck themes. After all, there are many many cat decks, and many fairy decks, and most people are not complaining!

The theme of the deck comes from my love of Mardi Gras and Carnival. I have been a costumer, mask-maker and puppetmaker (or "Masketeer and Puppetress"!)for about 15 years, and it naturally has melded with my love of tarot. I have been working on the sketches for about 10 years now.

I wanted to do something a bit different with the idea of the LWB as well.
This deck, when completed will have something more like a story book to explain what is happening in each scene...

Once upon a time, Fortuna, also known as Lady Luck, threw a masqued ball for all the people she knew. Something wonderful and magical and mysterious will happen when the clock strikes Midnight.
Each card will depict a scene of guests arriving, or other things that are happening during the course of the evening, leading up to Midnight.
The story isn't completely worked out yet...but more of it reveals itself to me in each card I manage to finish!

Anyway, I decided it was time to stop being a chicken and share my idea with everyone here.
Thanks for taking the time to look! :D

The file I am arttempting to attatch shows the first card I did.

[Tarot Sparrow]

Oh, dear god. Chronata, you are officially insane. How could you be afraid to show off this deck, your artwork is beautiful!

[MeeWah]

Chronata: I love your deck theme idea & its name, Tarot of the Midnight Masquerade. It promises an intriguing deck, especially if its inspiration is Mardi Gras & Carnival.

I am sold on your deck just from the Empress card alone! Very evocative of the theme.

Are there any more cards?

[scorpio]

Chronata, totally charming card! more more more...

[Le_Corsair]

Good theme, good art! I want to see Jean Lafitte! :D

Bob :THERM

[lunalafey]

I LIKE your Empress!
the colors are wonderful & reflect the colorful nature of the celebrations! festive....how many cards do you have done?
I'd like to see more....
what are your suits?
beads?
coins?
masks?

[HudsonGray]

Why would you think you need to be an art major to do anything? I'm not! Self taught works just fine!

Your card is great! About time you got going on it, right? Let's see the other cards as you get them finished!

[WolfyJames]

What a pretty card! If the rest is as good, you better show them up 'cause I want to see. The image is so cute, childlike, with vibrant colors. You have more talent than you think. I can't even make stick figures. We want to know more about this deck, and see more cards, that's for sure.

[Majecot]

Originally posted by Dead Star
Oh, dear god. Chronata, you are officially insane. How could you be afraid to show off this deck, your artwork is beautiful!

Chronata I have to agree with Dead Star..... you are definatley hiding your light under the bushel!!!

I love that card, it is stunning... please share more!

[Jewel-ry]

Chronata,

Why have you been hiding your talent all this time? I love the theme and I love the Empress1 So glad you've 'come out'. I shall watch your progress with interest.

J :)

[Nevada]

Chronata,

I absolutely adore your Empress.

Nevada

[baba-prague]

Originally posted by Chronata
All right already!
At first I was worried because I am an outsider artist. Not a fine artist, but more like a folk artist. I have had absolutely no training and everything I do is self-taught. .

I wouldn't worry about this at all. One of my favourite artists is a friend who had similar issues about her lack of training - and in fact has sold through major London galleries, had her work used on several advertising campaigns and is much collected. In fact, your work and hers are a little alike - she tends to use fantasy and Alice in Wonderland themes though.

Your Empress has a real "feel" all of its own. I think this will be a beautiful deck.

Please tell us more about your work as a puppeteer. Puppets are a big part of Czech traditional culture and I began to get very interested after visiting a puppet museum at Cesky Krumlov - south of Prague. Some of the older puppets are stunning, but there also seem to be some very interesting modern makers here too.

In our new deck three of the cards include puppets (possibly a fourth but not sure yet). In Tarot of Prague, there are only two puppets used - in one of the Death cards, and in the Ten of Wands. Looks like they are finding their way into our work more now!

[lark]

Chronata you little devil })
You asked me if I was doing a deck and here you are with your very own and you never said a word...
Well, I'd buy it in a New York minute.
Absolutly charming.
And your idea of it telling a story of each guests arrival and what happens at the Masquerade really appeals to me.
I love that idea!
Show us more...Show us more.

[snuffy]

*thud*

(yes, that would my jaw dropping on the floor ;))

your empress is an absolutely gorgeous card; i cannot wait to see more from this deck!

[Chronata]

Wow! (blush!)
I didn't expect such wonderful reviews!
Thank you everyone! :D

to respond to those who sent me PMs about the medium...

I call myself a starving artist, which really means that I can't afford to spend a lot on art supplies! So cheap, recycled and/or free is how I have to work it!

The cards are 5 1/2 X 9 1/2 pieces of scrap press board that my husband got for me when he temped at a paper supply warehouse.
I use the inexpensive craft store acrylic that comes in the little bottles. (usually 49 cents)
The titles are run off on my computer on parchment paper, then painted, cut out and "cut and pasted " to the painting the old fashioned way (because I still can't figure out these dreaded photo and print shop programs!) before scanned into the computer.

Here's a peek at the Moon...the card that has been an endless source of frustration for me! (which I suppose is the Moon's job)
It has been repainted about half a dozen times now!

The dog in the card is named Toby, and will appear in the Fool, as well as a few other cards. He is either the storyteller or the protagonist of the story...I am not sure which one yet!

As far as the suits go, each suit will be represented by a different mythical kingdom that is invited to the ball. Each will have a very different costume style based on historical and regional costumes from around the world, with a bit of fantasy thrown in!

The suits break down as follows:
Cups=Glass
Wands=Light
Swords=Blades
Pents=Jewels

The courts will be:
King=Lord
Queen=Lady
Knight=Prince
Page=Child

Here's the Moon...

[snuffy]

i love the whimsical feeling-- it'll sure be interesting to see the death card with this theme.

[skytwig]

FANTABULOUS!!!!!

Oh my goodness....... what a wonderful deck!!!!!

You are gifted! Thanks for sharing your gift with the world! :)

[spoonbender]

Oh Chronata, those cards are beautiful! They are absolutely charming! They really have a "feeling" to them, chemistry, if you know what I mean. I hope you'll continue with this, you truely have a talent!

Warm regards,
Spoonbender

[mercenary30]

Where does the line start for placing Pre Orders......cause I want in!!!!

This is fabulous work Chronata.

[Chronata]

All my work is on the whimsical side! my business is called "Professional Dreamer" and my business card says "Art Mercurial".

This is a bit of a departure for me, because I rarely do any painting on flat 2-D surfaces. My painting is usually done on walls, furniture, glass candle holders...everything put paper!I like to work in three dimensions, and I like my art to be usable, or interactive in some way. I love the idea that when these become actual cards that they will become usefull and highly interactive!

To Mercenary30...Thanks for the praise! I feel bad because I am working on this at the moment, instead of your tarot bag! It's just because everything that could go horribly wrong with making that bag is happening! I promise you that I will get back to working on it again! I am taking a break from the frustration.

To snuffy...the Death card is one of the ones that I am working on now. (simultaneously with the Devil, and the Lovers) It promises to be very theatrical...along the lines of the Masque of the Red Death. It's one of my favorites so far!

To LeCorsair...no Lafitte, but my love of all things piratical promises that there will be a few swashbuckling Buccanears lurking in this deck. I know there's one in the Court of Blades, and perhaps in the Court of Glass...and possibly the Chariot as well.

To Baba Prague... It's funny that you mentioned your artist friend has a similar style! A lot of my own work depicts Alice in Wonderland,(my favorite thing to collect!) and fantasy themes, too.
Puppets have fascinated me since I was very small. I love the folk puppets made by different artists and storytellers from all over the world! There will definately be some depicted in this deck.
I have a couple of hand puppets that I believe are Czech, and they are just beautiful! One of my silly dreams is to someday be involved in opening a national American puppet museum! There are a few small puppet institutes in the states at various college campuses, but nothing that really shows the extent of the wonderful puppets used in the American media, such as television!
I could talk about my love of puppetry forever!

But...um...back to my deck....
Here's the Sun.
It was done in two hours, as I was taking a break from the other cards in various stages of completion. However, I think it was rushed, and I would like to do more work on it before I would really call it finished.
here's a sneak peek...

[M-Press]

Hi there!

BEAUTIFUL work!

You seem on a natural flow..I especially like the Sun, the way it peeks out of the curtain...So theatrical!
I have been a puppet maker as well, back then when I could still play around with glue-an dhad unlimited time!
I think you manage to transform a unique authenticy, that comes from your love and passion for the scene...
Way to go!
Good luck!

[Tarot Sparrow]

Mmmm....you've sold me, Chronata :)

[Majecot]

Beautiful..... I can't wait till they are all done.

I am sooo close I can drive there and get mine.... mercenary30... I am closer than you are :D

[Mimers]

Chronata! They are beautiful! What a darling deck. I especially love your Empress. I cant wait to see more cards. Your work is beautiful!

Mimi

[mercenary30]

Originally posted by Majecot
Beautiful..... I can't wait till they are all done.

I am sooo close I can drive there and get mine.... mercenary30... I am closer than you are :D

I will take the ferry from Ludington... :P

Chronata, put on some coffee or tea after your deck is done, Majecot and I are coming to get our decks in person. I will bring the gormet cookies (made by me of course).

[Astra]

Chronata, the next time you say you're not a "real" artist, I'll..., I'll..., I don't know what I'll do, but I'll think of something!

Credentials are what companies look for when they're hiring someone with no history of doing artwork and the Personnel Manager doesn't know how to judge. Otherwise, an artist is someone who creates art and works his/her tuchas off to make it as good as it can be, and comes back later and says - "that could be better - what if I....."

The step of putting out out in public to see how many other people like it enough to spend money on it (the REAL test of the work), is always a big one the first couple of hundred times.

[Lady Eclipse]

Hi Chronata,

What beautiful cards! Why in the world would you think you're not a real artist? You're very talented.

Joy to you,
Maralee

[blue_fusion]

it's been quite a while since i last visited aeclectic. and my oh my, what lovely decks we now have in the tarot deck creation section of the forums!

i especially love your deck Chronata. :) the illustrations have that whimsical, dreamy quality to them. for some reason, they remind me of the illustrations on the covers of them harry potter books. keep up good work.

blue_fusion

[Dark_angel]

Oh Chronata, I love your work! And the card you sent me is still up on my desk, as it's so beautiful. I think my favourite card is the Empress, but they're all stunning, so it's difficult to choose. When you take pre-orders, you can put my name down!

In a way, it makes me think of a darker MoonGarden, in that it's a slightly whimsical deck but the dark romance of the time comes through.

I love it.

[Ironwing]

I don't like plays, puppets, carnival masks, the circus, etc...anything to do with the theater provokes a visceral revulsion in me. But I DO like these cards. I too am reminded of Tarot of a Moon Garden...but these are more sophisticated. I like the colors and composition, but it is the faces that really make the pictures - they are very sensitively done, and the expressions make the cards come alive.

On being a "professional" artist: I have been selling and teaching my art for 12 years. I am completely self taught, but this has never been an issue with galleries, customers or schools - all of whom define me as a "professional". The ONLY time it has ever come up is when I have tried to get commissions as a scientific illustrator. I have had two book publishers ready to draw up contracts who backed out angrily when they found out that I have a M.S. in Geology, not a M.F.A.!

For a tarot deck I think it's utterly irrelevant. There are several decks created by people who have never done ANY art that are just as popular as those created by "trained" artists.

Don't hide behind the "I'm not a professional!" statement. Claim your ability. Accept praise and criticism. Seek your true vision and work hard to create it. Some will not understand, but you will also delight many people.

Lorena

[cjtarot]

Chronata,

HEHE..YOUR CARDS AND IDEAS ARE WONDERFUL...

So, I'm posting so I can watch this thread..keep looking for attachments.

I have to say..I love your emperess..The moon and sun are great..but I WANT A COPY of the emperess..lol..I can't wait to see the other cards..

Blessings and keep going..

CJ

[M-Press]

Originally posted by Ironwing
Don't hide behind the "I'm not a professional!" statement. Claim your ability. Accept praise and criticism. Seek your true vision and work hard to create it. Some will not understand, but you will also delight many people.


Can't agree more. Nothing to ad. Print this and stick it up your wall!
;)

[Chronata]

Thank you again to everyone who has responded!
And O.K. O.K... I promise not to be so shy about sharing and to accept that I am an artist...even though I have never learned the rules, and I have no idea how someone uses a color wheel!

Your support of this crazy dream of mine and your wonderful encouragement has made me panic a little less when I realize...78 paintings!!! I must be out of my mind! :D

I wanted to mention a bit about the borders...or lack therof.
My thought is to go borderless with these cards, mostly because I think a lot of the images already have a border built in with the velvet drapes and the collums, and also because one of my favorite decks is the Morgan Greer...which I adore, in part, because of the bold image that completely covers the cards.

But is it too strange to have a borderless deck? And if I were to have borders, can anyone here offer me some ideas on what they should look like? I really don't have any clue what would work with the design.

This next card is Death.
And a weird thing happened with it, that I thought I should share...
Originally there was a child depicted in this card.
Right there...on the left.
He was in my preliminary sketches, and was even drawn into the card itself.
But somewhere along the way to completion...he just vanished.
And the one behind the Grinning Skull is not talking...

[skytwig]

Bravo!!!!!

This is so much fun!!!!

I think you are correct about the borderlessness.... the pictures define themselves..... I think a border would be too much and would end up taking away from the picture.

[M-Press]

Hi!
I really the Death card!
I tgink you are definitely fine with no border, but you are notthat fine woth no bleed....
You need to draw around a bit more, so even when the knife comes down to cut the card, it won't come some of the center image...
If you haven't done up to now, you'll be able to reconstruct in photoshop some, when time will come. But for the rest, make AT LEAST 1/4inch bleed, it will also help give some air, in the composition. OK, so give it 1/2 inch, even an inch, you might want to zoom oput a bit...
look swonderful!!

[HudsonGray]

Yes, that's a printing problem, where they need to cut. You can put cutting guidelines outside the cards on the ends, which is what brochure art does. That gives them a guide as to where & how close.

Wasn't there a thread about people cutting up the edges of their cards to remove frames & borders? A lot of people LIKE their cards with art going right out to the edges. A number of people would be thrilled to see a deck without framing on the sides.

[Majecot]

YAY!!!

I love your Death, it is fabulous... anxiously awaiting the next card..

aren't these previews great? :D

Mercenary30... I see our trip drawing closer :)

I too like them without a frame Chronata.

[Chronata]

I never got to say thanks for the info on borders!

I totally understand the problem of "bleed"...as I have made a few greeting cards from these images, and I realize that there almost has to be a thin black border around each image, otherwise it does get difficult to cut properly.

This next card I am sharing is the Hermit.

He was the second card I worked on after the Empress, and I called him "complete" simply because I wanted to work on the Moon.
But he was woefully incomplete, and I knew it. That's why it's been so long in getting the image up there to see.

He originally was skulking in the shadows, all in dark grey and brown, and I realized that it was just wrong, for the "feel" that I wanted.

He's been completely repainted!

I think I owe the Return of The King for his new look.

[mercenary30]

If you cut your sleeping down to 4 hours a day, and give up all your other hobbies for the next three months.......you could get this deck done.



I'll find a way to get it printed, one way or the other........ :D


Originally posted by Majecot
YAY!!!

I love your Death, it is fabulous... anxiously awaiting the next card..

aren't these previews great? :D

Mercenary30... I see our trip drawing closer :)

I too like them without a frame Chronata.

Heck, at this point I am willing to swim across Lake Michigan for it.....

[Chronata]

Heh. Well, Merc...you are one of the reasons I have new cards to show!
It's good to have someone nudging you to get things done...otherwise, with all the other "hobbies" I would never finish ANYTHING!

So...here's the Devil! Just for you, Mercenery30! :D

The great thing about working on several cards at once... is that you can change them all as you go.

My Devil is linked to the figures in the Lovers, and in the Tower...both of which are still in stages of non-completedness.

I finished him, rather ironically,(or perhaps not...) last night during a broadcast on PBS of Wayne Dyer, and his lecture about Intention.

This has quickly become my favorite card.

There might be some additions later...like a candelabra, but I don't know yet.

[Imagemaker]

Chronata, your cards are totally wonderful! And the Devil is perfect as a puppeteer!

I like my cards without borders and DID cut them off my New Palladini. Love the Morgan Greer partly for that reason too.

[yve]

What an adorable, fun deck! All the world is a stage....

[Nevada]

I love it. :D

Nevada

[Chronata]

Thanks Nevada, Yve, Mercenery, and Imagemaker!

This really does seem to get easier the more I have completed!
Images and concepts are flowing better, and I feel more creative with each card I get done.

Except for those cards that are giving me trouble, of course!

Sometimes, I get these artist blocks, with how I want the image to look.

I have said that this deck is RWS inspired, but that probably won't be as noticable until I get to the minors.

I have had to make decisions about what symboloism I use most, and what appeals most to me in each card.

I am currently having problems with the Star, because the symbolism that I really like in the card, has been compormised by the image I have painted.
I may need to meditate on this one some more before I finish...

When my Mom asked me the other day by phone what I have gotten done (we are reorganizing the apartment...) I told her that I have not done any furniture moving in the last week...but that I did get a few more tarot cards done...

Her response was..."so all you've done is play?"

Oh yes! :D And so much more than play!

I have decided that for every hour I spend surfing the web, I have to devote an equal number of hours painting tarot cards!

So, hopefully...I will have a few more to show you all soon!

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support of this daunting ,but highly rewarding project!

[Major Tom]

Originally posted by Chronata
This really does seem to get easier the more I have completed!
Images and concepts are flowing better, and I feel more creative with each card I get done.

Except for those cards that are giving me trouble, of course!

Sometimes, I get these artist blocks, with how I want the image to look.

I have said that this deck is RWS inspired, but that probably won't be as noticable until I get to the minors.

Chronata, I don't know how I've missed this until now. :|

I love the idea of 78 painting for a deck. It reminds me of the minatures painted for the Visconti decks.

I've also noticed it seems to get easier as you go along - almost as if the cards themselves are helping...

Do you combine any study of the cards with your painting? Study might help you get past some of those blocks....

[Majecot]

*jumping up and down-clapping hands*

I cannot believe I missed the last two cards.. obviously I have not been surfing enough.

Oh Chronata, your mom just isn't right, "playing" indeed. This is genuis at work, and you can tell her I said so.

This is quickly becoming my favorite deck.
Bet I can get there before you Merc ;) Just a little hop skip and jump...lol

[Kirranan]

Chronata these cards are beautiful!! They are visually stunning and the meaning behind them strikes easily too. Please keep posting the new ones you do they are absolutely amazing!!! :o

Kirranan :-)

[rota]

Chronata, these card designs are completely charming! I'm eagerly awaiting future card paintings, and the eventual deck. It's going to be wonderful.

[baba-prague]

when do you think you will have the deck finished? I think it will be a really nice deck to read with you know :-)

[Chronata]

Thanks Kirranan, and rota...and as always, Majecot!

I am just so thrilled that people enjoy my weird, whimsical style!

Major Tom...I have been combining a new study of decks along with this project. I think both really started at the same time, when I discovered this wonderful site!

Right now, I have 4 decks that I refer back to, to inspire this project...The RWS, Hanson Roberts, Buckland Romani, and Morgan Greer...(and sunconciously, the 1JJ Swiss) though I am not sure that the inspiration is readily apparent!


baba- prague...that is a horrible question! :)
Seriously though...I gave myself a couple of deadlines...to finish the Majors by my birthday, which is early June...and to hopefully have all the paintings done by the end of the year!

And then I have to figure out what to do then...whether self publish, or try and find a publisher. ...Something that already stresses me out!

I am working on two cards at the moment, and hope to have them done and up here bythe end of the week!

[Chronata]

Here is the Star.

This has always been one of my favorite Majors...and I had a deep connection to the card when I was younger.

During meditation, She told me exactly how she wanted to be depicted...as a Brazillianesque Carnivale Goddess!

It turns out I didn't have to compromise any of the symbolism in her after all...I just needed to re-examine the composition of the painting.

She is the first one I have painted that is seen on the outside of the Grand Ballroom.

Recently, I made a little map of the layout of the ballroom(and the balcony outside) and drew symbols so I know exactly where each Major card scene takes place, in relation to every other card.

The Minors are another story however...

[Majecot]

WOW!

I love this card. She looks like she was done a little differently from the rest. More vibrant.
Even if you did a majors only deck, I would still want it! :D

[lark]

She is a beauty! I love the feeling I get from the water pouring out.
sometimes it looks like mist..
sometimes water....
sometimes fog...
sometimes sand....
Your eyes are pulled right to it and to all the little stars of light all over her costume.
Very beautiful.

[Chronata]

Majecot...Yes. She does look a little different from the rest...and I was a little concerned about that at first.
But after laying all the cards out on the floor, the Star gracefully eases her way into the whole.

(I am so excited because they all look so awesome laid out side by side!)

Part of it is that I think the colors are a bit brighter. (alas they don't show up well in the scan!) And I think part of it is also that she wears a different style of Carnivale dress...more South American than Venetian.

(She won't be alone...The High Priestess is not quite the European style either! But You'll have to wait and see!) :D

I will have Minors too! Don't worry about that! Although I have been considering selling a limited edition Majors only deck, pretty much so I can finance the printing of the whole deck later!
I'll have to see how it goes!

lark...Thank You! It's funny because the streams of liquid were one of the original problems I ran into...I wasn't sure how I was going to pull it off! But Her voice in my head said "paint it anyway..it will work."
Sigh. I really should listen to the people in the cards when they talk to me! :D

Speaking of listening to voices....I hope this doesn't make me sound like a raging loony...but lately, It seems that I can hear them speak to me as I create them. They will not hesitate to offer me "suggestions" and tell me when I have something wrong!

Right now, they are all vying for my attention, and in a race to see who gets finished next!

Darn Crazy Archetypes!

Here's the Emperor. And a mystery was...sort of...solved...

Remember that child I told you about...who disappeared from the Death card? Well...he showed up here as a page to the Emperor!
He was not in any of this card's original sketches or concepts either! But I guess, he knew where he belonged...

[TemperanceAngel]

Chronata, can I ask you a question please?

What is the significance of the red parrot in The Star?

Thanks XTAX

[M-Press]

Oh. Chronata!!!!
I just find these so marvelous!!!!
You really invite the viewer to a private maskquarade party!!!
keep on...keep on...you must be having a lot of fun!!!
:)

[Chronata]

Heh. Thanks M-Press...I am having a lot of fun with these...
although after last night, I feel like maybe I'm pushing to hard to get too many done at once.
They are really starting to boss me around! (the Emperor was especially bad! And now Strength is doing it to!)
I will probably take a week off from painting!

Temperance Angel...I'm glad you asked about the parrot...it was one of the first symbols I knew had to be in this card, as soon as I saw her costume in my head.

There is usually a bird depicted in all RWS-esque Stars. Waite himself doesn't offer much as to the reason...(the Pictoral Key does mention "that which the figure communicates to the living scene is the substance of the heavens and the elements") ...

but my first tarot teacher maintained that the bird is a symbol of the tranisition between the earthly plane and the heavenly plane....a messenger of Gods, so to speak.

In my experience with the Star, I have always felt that this was a card that is about connecting to the higher self, or the higher source.
The parrot is a very intelligent bird, and a bird that is so often used as a symbol of communication...
So, the parrot is there to represent direct communication with the higher source!

And it is the red variety, because I love all the colors that are found in this parrot's feathers! I thought it corresponded nicely to the rainbow/chakra colors that make up the star herself!

[baba-prague]

Well, speaking as a parrot fanatic, I think it's a great addition.

As to taking a week off, well yes, perhaps it's wise. We haven't done a card for about a week now because we had to do the cover of the picture book (not the companion book, there will be a related picture book too) and that finally got us into a whole different approach we've been wanting to develop, and next thing, a week has gone. But I don't think it's a bad thing. it's given us a fresh perspective on the cards and that's a healthy filip at the half-way point. I bet you will begin again after a bit of time off feeling very refreshed and with lots of ideas.

I very much like The Emperor by the way :-)

[Imagemaker]

In Forest of Souls, Rachel Pollack says about the bird in the Star (p. xxi of the Introduction):

A quick glance at the picture might not even register the bird's presence. Or it might just seem a decoration. Someone who ponders the picture might think about birds and what they inspire in us. But if we know that the bird is actually an ibis, and that an ibis represents the Egyptian God Thoth, then the bird suddenly gives us access to a whole range of stories and ideas. Thoth was the God of knowledge, of magic, science, and writing. He also was the legendary creator of the Tarot itself. Through the ibis--and our knowledge of its esoteric symbolism--we gain access to Egyptian myths, with all their history and wisdom.

Soooo, once we notice the bird, I guess we can apply all Egyptian myths to this card, as needed!

[Chronata]

Thanks Imagemaker! that's awesome! I hadn't known about the Ibis/Thoth/Egyptian correlation! (Got the wrong Rachel Pollack book I guess!)

Another connection...for me anyway...Thoth, Egyptian God of Science, Knowledge, Magic and Writing...can also have a correlation to the Greek God Hermes,( of Science, Medicine, Magic and Communication...) and his planet Mercury...for which the parrot is also a symbol!
Yay! I love when that happens!

[TemperanceAngel]

Thanks for the explanation Chronata :)

I think that a red parrot has a lot of symbolism, so much fun to explore and I can look into it more for you if you like? I have some books at home, just pm me if you want some info :)

Your cards are amazing, exsquisite, beautiful, awesome....and the list goes on....I hope you are planning to get them published?
XTAX

[WolfyJames]

You have added so many cards since the last time I was here. All of them are beautiful!!! Keep up the good work! ;)

[yve]

How's the deck creation going? How many more to go?

[Chronata]

hi Yve!...and everyone...

I had to take more time off from working on this than I intended...
But if all goes right I will have a few more cards to show you all by the end of this week.

I hate to count how many more I still have to go...because than I start to panic! I mean really really panic...there's still Sooooo many left!
But the more sketches I complete, and ideas I finalize, the happier I am.

Keep watching this space... :D

[Majecot]

YAY!!!


Ok one little question. I was re-reading this thread and something in your first post caught my eye tonite. What exactly do you mean by "an outsider artist"????

Your work is so beautiful and unique and brings such joy. I absolutely love my lantern and unicorn you made! I am not quite clear on the use of your term.

:)

[Chronata]

hey there, Majecot!

I first heard the term "outsider artist" in a magazine refering to an artist whose work is popular...or sells, but who does not have any formal art training.

Then, I heard it coined as meaning someone whose work is still considerd art...but who normally wouldn't be considered a "gallery artist"..like hobo tramp art, found object art, carnival banner art, or graffiti art made by a street person.

The term was used a lot at the first gallery I showed my work in...and at first I felt a little hesitant to use the term...but now I have come to embrace it!
Artists don't have to have an art degree, or have studied "art rules" to make a statement, or to share with people thier own view and vision of the world.

As promised...I FINALLY finished Strength, and I'm ready now to share it with all of you.
This card gave me no end of grief...worse than the Moon, and certainly more vocal and insistant than the Emperor.

But I finally got it to the point where I can stop fiddling with it.

I hope to get another card up soon!

[Astra]

I love it! The lion considered as courtier, or Beauty and the Beast? It may have given you grief, but it's certainly given me pleasure.

[Chronata]

Thanks Astra! I am glad you like it!

Part of the original problem was that I had one idea in mind...and the card itself seemed to have a whole different idea about how it should look!

The woman originally had a much more early Norse/Celtic look to her costume, and the lion was quite different too.

Part way through...the woman on the card really needed a hat...and it had to be one similar to the early Marseilles style!

I was just hoping that people wouldn't necessarily see the subconscious connection this card has to the Madonna video for "Like A Virgin" (LOL!)

I have always liked the Beauty and the Beast connection that this card brings up....overcomming the baser, beastier parts of oneself through gentleness and the pursuit of peace.

This next card is a little strange...in that it is only one (so far) that didn't have an early sketch...or a plan or an idea.
The very first thoughts I had on it were drawn directly onto the board with no previous concept in mind.

And she just sort of took shape as I went.

I'm still not sure that it is entirely successful...and I may end up re-doing this card at a later time.
I actually hadn't expected a Greco-Roman Iris to appear in Temperance.
Actually, I wasn't sure at all what to expect...as I had no expectations whatsoever!

Let me know if you think it works...

[September Pixie]

WOW! Since I am so new here.. I think I have missed a lot of talk about these cards..

are you going to publish them? This is a beautiful deck! I can't wait to see it finished! If you are going to sell them.. count me in! :)

[Chronata]

Thanks September Pixie!
no you haven't missed that much...all the talk about this deck seems to be right here in this thread! :D

I have been seriously considering a small press limited edition run of the Major Arcana when I am finished...and then a later release of the whole deck when I am done with it!

Whenever that will be!

[September Pixie]

Please let us know!! I would LOVE to have it :) This is a beautiful deck! Congrats!

[Astra]

Temperance - hmmm. I like the black and white waves - maybe black and white cups to match?

Her expression seems glum rather than stern - a picky thing to point out, I suppose. Is that a castemark in the forehead, or something else and a resolution problem with the small graphic?

[Gardener]

My Goodness, Chronata,

Each card is more beautiful than the last! I fell in love with the very first card, and it has been an unfolding delight. I come check this thread every few days to see if there are new cards yet, and today I found TWO. Strength is darling, it's PEFERCT, it's better than all the mouth-holding ladies who look really weird to me. It is so tender. And the Iris connection for Temperance is inspired. I love it! Definitely do a major only edition - and let me help with the publishing! I noticed that Marie is offering a limited edition of the majors, and then anyone who bought that would be able to get a limited of the rest of the deck, when it is finished, presumably in a year or so. I thought that sounded very smart. Incentive for you to keep going, and incentive for others to start collecting.

What a pretty, pretty deck. Can't wait to see more!

[Ravenswing]

Chronata--

Such a marvelous job you've been doing here :laugh: . I REALLY love the concept of a gathering. It seems that you've tapped into a inner world of your own. Just as real as the outer world we share.

I perfectly well understand the clamoring of cards that you're getting. This kind of thing happens to me-- my cards will let me know if I haven't gotten things quite right... (sometimes I wonder who's doing the drawing/painting) Just remember that you are the one manifesting them here-- remind them of that once in a while...

It may lower the pressure and stress if you have a working order to create them in. They may get in line a bit better.

When you get these published, don't let any publisher stick a stupid white border around them. I think they stand well as they are. And you believe it too.

It may be that your ballroom can become a spread or two. Or three...


fly well
Raven

[Cocobird55]

Hi, Chronata

Your deck is beautiful. I love masquerades and black and white diamonds on the floor. I hope you do publish it -- I want a copy.

Congratulations on getting the parrot (Scarlet macaw) right. I love parrots -- have four of them, and I can never understand why artists usually do such a bad job of painting them...wrong colors, wrong proportions. Anyway, yours is great.

Sue

[lunakasha]

(((Chronata)))

I am speechless!!!! (OK...not literally...sorry! :P)

I had no idea that you have been creating this BEAUTIFUL, fantastical.....amazing work of art!!!! :D I have just spent the last few minutes reading through this thread and looking at all of the cards....they are absolutely perfect! AND the theme is very appealing to me, as you would probably guess (being a fan of the Madame Endora cards).

Congratulations....you should be very proud of what you have created so far....you are a VERY talented artist, and I know these cards well do very well when they are published! :D

BTW....I agree with you and everyone else who has already mentioned this: BORDERLESS is best!!! :P

Blessings to you...I will be checking in here daily to see how things are progressing!

:) Luna

[TemperanceAngel]

Chronata, I love the fact that Temperance is pouring a rainbow from one cup to another....she looks so serious though, is there a reason for this?
XTAX

[ncefafn]

Wow! This deck is sooo coooool! Oh, man, I would love to have this deck! I love Strength, and the kid on the stick horse in The Sun is such a great touch. The Devil with his marionnettes . . . and when you do your LWB, you have to include your story about the Death card.

Let me know when you're ready to take pre-orders!

Kim

[Chronata]

yay! my deck has new fans...how cool is that?

Ok...all you new fans of the Midnight Masquerade have a very important job to do...(ah...you didn't think I would put you to work, did ya? ;) )
You all have to periodically remind me...OK NAG me if you have to...to get these cards finished!
I have set up a tentative deadline...but I'm never very good at keeping to these things on my own...so please keep reminding me that you want to have a deck in your hands...and I might actually finish this huge undertaking!

*to Ravenswing... Don't worry...there will be no border! (especially if Gardener is helping me publish these!) There might be a tiny thin black border just to make sure that they are cut correctly.
And you said somrthing that sparked my imagination...when you suggested a ballroom spread. Because, of course I have a floorplan/map where all these scenes take place...and I have been thinking about how great it would be to create a spread just for this party! ooh...and a spread that deals with the time as well...since something magical happens at midnight..
Youv'e got me thinking...

*To cocobird55...I love to paint parrots...and macaws, and all birds actually! I have painted a few parrots before on various wall murals. You are the expert...and thanks for the compliment! I am glad I got it right!

*To Gardener...your'e on, girl! When I am ready to publish I am seeking you out! (wherever you happen to be at the time!!) Maybe we will meet somewhere in the middle of the country...or maybe somewhere exotic!
You know...I never thought of the idea of giving those who have the limited edition of the Majors...a deal on the Minors. That is pretty brilliant!

*To Astra...Temperance has become my least favorite card so far. Part of the reason was her expression was so strange...so I have repainted it several times...and It STILL looks strange!

I am thinking however, that it looks better in closeup...so I scanned it in so all can see it better. I think I wanted her to look like she was concentrating...but she keeps making that sour face at me every single time I repaint it!

So I am leaving it be for now....although the image may not be entirely safe from a complete overhaul in the near future.
I'm just not sure she is colorfulk enough to compete with the other partgoers.
Then again...it's not really a competition (at least not for the Majors!)

I hope to have two more cards by next week...hmmm...maybe my untraditional interpretations of the Tower and the Wheel of Fortune...
We'll see how the week goes!

Thanks everyone for your continual encouragement!

[HudsonGray]

I wonder if she'd look better if you gave her a bit more chin? Or shorten the nose? She looks sort of like the stereotyped English royalty right now. Could be the puffy cheeks (lack of cheek bones, this gives more of a baby look) but I think it's more likely the small chin.

[mercenary30]

Would it be any more inspiration if I sent you some more tea and cookies?

Majecot and I are patiently waiting to plan our road trip over to pick up our decks in person.......

[M-Press]

Originally posted by mercenary30
Majecot and I are patiently waiting to plan our road trip over to pick up our decks in person.......
Now Chronata, this is what I call REAL ENCOURAGEMENT! Ouaaaaou!!!!
Keep on the work, it totally has a very interesting and unique look!
what ever looks strange, can be fixed at the end...after you'll "learn" your "people" on the way...
:)

[Mimers]

Hi Chronata,

This deck is coming along so well! I too am looking forward to getting my own copy. Keep up the good work!

Mimi

[Majecot]

You have been a busy girl while I was away!!!
You keep it up, I can be there in a bout 50 mins with a mocha in hand :D

I cannot wait to have another piece of your beautiful artwok in my hands.

Your artwork is heart and soul!

[Ravenswing]

Chronata--

You say you need a bit of encouragement now and again?? :confused:

Well, take a look at this thread's rating: 5 stars :laugh:

Can't get much better than that, can you?? :D

Your concept is so very unique... And I'm not sure which I'm more anxious to see-- the deck or your story. There's lots of decks, but not too many Tarot tales...

Are you going to scan in a layout of your gathering some time soon? I'd really like to see how everyone fits together. Do you have an order figured out or do they just come along?

As an artist myself, I'd like to know a couple of things about the cards themselves... What medium are you using? What size are they?

Lot of questions, I guess. But I'm really taken by your project. Keep at it-- you're doing a marvelous job.


fly well
Raven

[Chronata]

Hi everyone!

I didn't want to post here again until I had at least two cards to show you all!

(Thanks especially to Ravenswing for giving me that kickstart that I needed this week!)

First up...the Tower.

Originally had some trouble envisioning it...because I just couldn't see a tower anywhere in the ballroom!

But as I worked on other cards and the story began to emerge some more, it was clear exactly where the Tower was, and how it fit in with the rest of the masquerade.

Some interesting facts about this card...

The hapless servant shares my real name.

Poor Toby, the canine protagonist, feels really guilty in this card.

This scene takes place in the exact location that the Hermit so recently vacated...(just after the tiles of the floor shifted again!)

Enjoy!

[lark]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chronata
First up...the Tower.
Originally had some trouble envisioning it...because I just couldn't see a tower anywhere in the ballroom!
LOL Chronata....
When I read this I thought ...
Hmmm how about a tall layer cake?
And that's exactly what it was.
Wonderful!!!!

[Chronata]

allright...this next card is very special to me.

As some of you may know...the Hierophant has been my least favorite tarot card since I started doing my very first readings.

I was only going to block the color in today...but we just started chatting...and suddenly, it was as if Time had stood still, and I was finished! Probably a record.

This is ,I think, the only card I have done so far, that I painted in silence. No TV, or Music. No distractions.

It allowed me to really get to know him...and I can justifiably say that I finally have made peace with the Hierophant.

At first, he was drawn in with a very different costume...after all this is a masquerade, so I was trying to see how far from himself he would go. but he was having none of that.

As you can see...he looks extremely Popeish.

I was also not sure about the two children (acolytes, I think he called them) But he told me that it was important for them to be there.
"They have to carry on the old traditions...
and the even older mysteries"

So I just shut up, and did what he told me.

Hope you like His Holiness, as much as I do...

[M-Press]

Hi Chronata!
i must say that it was very moving to read what you wrote on teh hierophant, your creative process with him, and your "new" relationship, maybe?

But the Tower, the tower REALLY cracked me!!!!! what a wonderful idea, the cake, and sure enough, a cake like this falling, can create real chaos!!!!
keep on...keep on...gets better & better...!
;-)

[Major Tom]

The Tower is nice, but I half expected to see bits falling off the top of the cake. ;)

I especially like your Heirophant, and am extremely happy to hear that you've made your peace with him. The Heirophant is my soul card you see. ;) He's actually very helpful isn't he? :laugh: I do wonder why we can see the faces of his acolytes?

[Melissa`]

Oh wow..

thats all I can say..


Wow :D

... other than that I can't believe I missed this thread. Then again I haven't looked in this forum in a while. Boy was I missing a lot!

I love all of your cards, Chronata! I especially like the tower card :D

You are extremely talented and I will subscribe to this tread now!

Blessings,
Melissa

[Moongold]

The Tower is one of the most unusual I have ever seen. What a witty concept! I have ben quietly watching but couldn't restrain myself any longer. Thanks :)

[Ravenswing]

chronata--

real nice to see you in action again. and a most excellent tower!!


fly well
Raven

[Kissa]

Oh Chronata,

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your deck is a beauty! I love the richness of colours, and i just realized that all cards shown until now are indoors. I must admit i was too lazy to read the whole thread and just scrowled down to find the attached pictures.

The Tower made me smile, it is very witty and a wonderful way to dedramatize the bad reputation this card carries around. As a pet owner, i know that guy's feeling ;) ...

The Hierophant is one of my less favourite cards in any deck. You succeeded in making this popeish guy look nice... How could you manage that? I am not a big fan of the catholic church (let's put it that way) and usually hate all this card represent. Well the truth is (like with the 10 of Swords before baba's Tarot of Prague) i get blocked by the picture and my intuition get stucked. Impossible to get any message, the only thing i hear is "i hate that card"... Yep i'm a very poor tarot reader but nobody has to know ;)

Well anyway, i just wanted to add my name to the numerous posts of congratulations... and to the pre-order list as well :D

Thank you very much for sharing your work!

Kissa

PS: I love the big face of the moon and the rainbow idea in Temperance. The Devil goes the same way as the Tower: you make your point and stick to the traditional meaning without scarying the heck out of readers ;) Very clever, very witty. Can hardly wait to see from what angle you will be attacking some of the tricky minors!

[lunakasha]

I agree with Kissa....not a big fan of the Hierophant either, for the same reasons mentioned....BUT yours is definitely a kindler, gentler version of His Holiness....I like it VERY much!!! :D

The Tower is also brilliant.....never seen such a humourous take on such an ominous card, and yet the meaning or outcome is the same: chaos and destruction!!!

Thank you so much for sharing these, Chronata....
I am already anticipating the NEXT two!!! No pressure, really.....;)

:P Luna

[Chronata]

Hi again, everyone!

Thanks for all your kind words! :)

Just to answer a few queries....

Major Tom... I'm really glad you like the Hierophant. I do too. :)
As to why you can see the faces of the acolytes...well there's a simple reason.
I decided right off to equate the children in my deck with a feeling of innocence. That is why all the children in the cards have masks with them, but they do not yet wear them.
They are still very open about who they are.

And Alas! there's no bits falling off the cake...unless you count the tiny figures of the Lovers... :D (but since you are one of only three people who have ever seen THAT card...I shouldn't say any more...at least not yet!) })

Kissa and Luna...I have had, I believe, very similar problems with the Hierophant as far back as I can remember...all I could ever equate him with was a very small minded, church view, and a feeling of Righteousness. And it really did come from the illustrations in the decks I have. (don't worry Kissa...this does not mean you are a lousy reader...I felt the same way!)

But as I worked on the image...and really LISTENED to the card speak to me, I found that there are some wonderful things about the Hierophant's personality that I had not really taken the time to notice before...like the strong and respectful father image, as well as teacher of What Has Come Before.

The idea of tradition and ritual was very strongly in my mind, thanks to an earlier thread in the RWS study group about the significance of roses and lilies.

Imagemaker helped me define and refine my theories on ritual...which made me think of why some are so important, and why people hang on to older more established ways of doing things...it's not neccessarily because they are resistant to change(as I have always thought that the Hiero is)...but because there is a Truth in some tried and tested ways of doing things.

That's pretty much what sparked our conversation...and you can see that the Hierophant has a knowing (and somewhat wry) smile!

Don't mean to get so deep into this right now...but I was so very exited about my Hierophant epiphany!!
I hope you can look at him a little differently now too! :D

Anyway...I have finished the card sketches for the Wheel and the Priestess...and I hope to block the colors soon!

I am not even close to finishing all these Majors in the next two weeks (my own deadline...sigh) But I do feel as if I am back on track! I am shooting for about two cards a week at this point(barring any sudden setbacks!)

So keep watching this space! And as always...thanks everyone for your encouragement!

[lunakasha]

Originally posted by Chronata
I am not even close to finishing all these Majors in the next two weeks (my own deadline...sigh) But I do feel as if I am back on track! I am shooting for about two cards a week at this point(barring any sudden setbacks!)

So keep watching this space!

I most certainly will, Chronata!!!

Two cards a week....I can hardly wait!!! :D

:) Luna

[starsongs]

Oh, Chronata :D

I'm enjoying Tarot of The Masquerade so much! Your cards are wonderful!

starsongs

[TemperanceAngel]

Count me in for a deck when it's published and really it is by far one of the greatest decks I have seen in here :)

(In between Starsongs I LOVE your avatar!!!!)

[starsongs]

Originally posted by TemperanceAngel
Count me in for a deck when it's published and really it is by far one of the greatest decks I have seen in here :)

(In between Starsongs I LOVE your avatar!!!!)

Count me in for a deck too, Chronata!

Thank you, Temperance Angel, for your kind words about my avatar! I'm so glad you like it!
:D
starsongs

[September Pixie]

I am with everyone else... I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO want this deck!! :D

[mercenary30]

I have already started saving my change jar, in the case that Chronata has a limited edition special print. That way I can afford it if the cost is up there like Gilded tarot.

The cool thing is, I will pay whatever the price may be......

So I already have about $110 saved up! :)

[lunakasha]

OK.....let's see it, Chronie!!! :P

I heard a rumor....on another thread.....that you have been holding out on us....:eek:LOL

Can we see another card???? Pretty PLEASE???? :):):)

:D Luna

[lunakasha]

Originally posted by mercenary30
I have already started saving my change jar, in the case that Chronata has a limited edition special print. That way I can afford it if the cost is up there like Gilded tarot.

The cool thing is, I will pay whatever the price may be......

So I already have about $110 saved up! :)

WOW merc....you're not kidding around are you???? :P

Chronata....I think you could probably get A LOT more out of him if you hold out long enough.....mwhahahaha!!! })

:P Luna

[Chronata]

I love you guys. :D You are all insane... hee hee!

Merc...I can't imagine that my limited edition deck would actually cost that much...(at least not until they wind up on E-Bay!)

Hmmm...but maybe Luna is right...I should just have you keep collecting those pennies! If I could get into the Gilded price range, maybe I wouldn't have to worry so much about rent anymore!

I promised some of you today that I would have a card to show you...but this one isn't it.

I was originally going to show off the Lovers, but I'm still gonna wait on that card, and reveal it later.

However...I did just get my Priestess finished this evening...(well, mostly finished anyway)

There's still some work that needs to be done..and some way to get the scanner to show the subtlty of the colors (still not very good with all this digital fixing yet!)

She is wearing a snowy owl mask, because she wanted to.

She was also very firm about NOT being inside the ballroom.

I still regret that I couldn't hide a pomegranite in there somewhere. Ah well... There still may be a chance later...

Enjoy!

[Astra]

Hey, you can get a bunch of pomegranates in there - just replace the flowers on her skirt with them (or some of them, anyway). As long as the fabric is patterned anyway...

Oh, and yes, I like it a LOT.

[Ravenswing]

Chronata--

Of course you can't put a High Priestess inside... She is of the wide open spaces.

But I think I've guessed her alter ego. If you imagine taking off her mask, she'd look an awful lot like your avitar. })

Hmmmmm... :laugh:

It's lookin' real good. Keep the flow goin'...


fly well
Raven

[lunakasha]

Beautiful Chronata!!!!

I love her skirt....reminds me of peacock feathers!!! :D

These cards keep getting better and better....cannot wait to see the Lovers when it's ready.....

Guess I had better start saving my pennies too.....:eek:

Thanks for sharing these cards, Chronie.....you've got a lot of fans here, eagerly awaiting the day we can all have our own version of the Midnight Masquerade....

:D Luna

[mercenary30]

Hehehehe

:D

[skytwig]

This is a fantabulous deck!!

Love the Tower!!

And thank you for your thoughts about the Heirophant.... adding that to my view of him..... helps alot :) I love that there are 2 children with him..... that softens the definition for me and actually adds some intriguing dimension.....

High Priestess is as elegant as I see her, too..... thanks!

We're all rooting you on..... can't wait to hold the deck in my hands!

[Majecot]

I can almost feel it shuffling in my hands.
Chronata you must be very excited at being so close to the finish of the majors.

[SilverWing]

I love the name and the card you shared!!! I hope you will share a few more as you go. It's wonderful.

[SilverWing]

That's all I can say. After I made my last post, I went on to read the entire thread. I realized that this was started in Jan. What a delight to see these today. I love, love, love the High Priestess.
You can add me to your growing list to people who must have this deck.

[Chronata]

Hi all!

I have a few new cards to show you...and in the next couple of days I hope to have all of them scanned in!

Actually this first card is not new...and I have been dropping vague hints about it for awhile...

This one was finished in time for Major Tom's Tarot Lovers calendar for 2005...
A few of my fans have already seen the super sneaky preveiw of this card...but I figured now was time to share.

Here is the Lovers...
and if you look back at both the XV and the XVI you will see a connection! (I hope!)

I have actually done a small amount of tweaking since this scan...but it's minor, and probably isn't even noticable to anyone but myself.

[Chronata]

CARD #2...
I want to thank Majecot and Ravenswing for kick-starting me again!
And welcome to Silverwing! Thanks so much for your compliments! Since you read the whole thread now...you know what you have to do ...lend your voice to those who encourage me and nag me to continue!

This card is also not really a new card...exactly...

It's a do-over.

I have been unhappy with the way the Temperance card turned out. While I liked the way she appeared in her Greek Goddess get-up, and the Rainbow/Iris correlation...I really didn't like the way the final painting looked.

And when I put all the cards together...tyhere is something about the oldTemperance card that looked as if she belonged in a different party...maybe even a different deck.

It was actually a tough decision to decide to repaint...and I know there may be some of you who really liked the first image.
(don't worry...she still exists...I didn't paint over it, but started a new painting on the back of the old one!)

But I really wanted a temperance who fit in with the whole...who didn't look too out of place, and who actually looked like she was attending the same gathering.

I moved her out of the planetary alcove and outside to the end of the balcony.
This version of her still has the rainbows...and the Irises, but I lost those Magnificent wings and had them replaced by smaller costume wings.
She looks much more content, floating next to the railing, than the last Temperance did...standing in that dark space she was in.

And I changed the cups to Silver and Gold...keeping with the alchemical/transmutation of elements idea from Waite's musings.

This scan doesn't show the amounts of pink tones that are actually in the card...so imagine she is a bit more colorful than she appears here...

Temp...Take two...

[mercenary30]

After viewing the new Temperance card, Mercenary30 goes and buys $20 worth of quarters to put in his change tin, because $110 might not be enough..........

and he is still very tickled to be a super secret advanced viewer.....(still looking for a suitable frame for that film print of the death card he received.......;)

then he goes back to working on Chronata's reading, because he needs to get it done before she finishes her deck.

[Melissa`]

*drops a few quarters into mercs jar* hehe ;)
Err.. maybe I need to start saving those for myself!

Chronata.. I just love your cards. I went back and looked at the other cards that well.. now pulls together nicely with the Lovers. I just love it.

And the new Temperance card, I believe is just as lovely as the first. :D

~ Melissa

[baba-prague]

This is a lovely card - it feels very happy. It's going to be a very pretty deck, with lots of atmosphere too.

[M-Press]

Keep it up Chronata!
I love the "fairy-tale" feeling about you images... It totally relocates the viewer...
The weather seems great in your deck too!
;)

[Chronata]

MORE NEW CARDS!!!

But before you see them...I was reminded of this old old thread I started way back when...before I was showing people my images, and before I was certain I knew what I was doing...

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17952

This goes a long way in explaining these next two cards...Justice and the Magician.

So, first with Justice...obviously I had already made the choice that since this was mostly an RWS based deck, that I would keep with the 8/Strength and 11/justice...even though it has always made more sense to me the other way around.
If I were simply making this a deck for me...with no commercial opportunities, then I could be confident in my original idea of returning Justice to 8...
but well, in the long run...I got to listening to the cards themselves...and well Strength had probably the most to say out of any I have done so far.

But if you look closely...you can still see my nod to Justice's original tarot position... :D

[Chronata]

This next one is one of my new favorites...but then I have always felt a great connection with the Magician!

In the TdM...le bateleur is rather different beast than the RWS magician.
But I just love both archetypes so much...that I combined them.

My magician has the RWS dualities...the absolute ability of Creation, and the Will...but he also has a bit of the swindler...the juggler, the medieval Con Artiste in him.

All the suits (that you will see when I get around to actually painting the minors!) are there on the table, and of course I had to include the wonderful Rose and Lily symbols that I love in the RWS!

Enjoy!

edited to put the lost attatchment back into the post!

[lunakasha]

Chronata!!!! :D

WOW....these cards are AMAZING!!!! They keep getting better and better...where do I begin???

The Lovers is gorgeous, sweet....definitely deserving its place on the Tarot Calendar cover!!! Congratulations! :D

Temperance is perfect...love the colors of her dress, the bright fiery wings...her facial expression is just right. I don't even remember what the first version looked like...this is "it" for me.

Justice...for some reason could not open it just now (will try later on the GOOD coumputer, LOL!!!) I am sure it is just as lovely as the others....

The Magician is wonderful, unique....almost playful??? I do like the way you combined elements of RWS and TdM into yours....again, the colors are wonderful here as well, just as in the entire deck.

WONDERFUL stuff!!!! You must be very pleased with the results....
are we getting closer to having the Majors completed?????
I am very anxious to see more....thanks again for sharing!!!

:D Luna

[mercenary30]

These cards along with your vision for the book really have the potential to become a cornerstone piece in many a collection......The work is just wonderful!!!!

[Chronata]

Originally posted by lunakasha
Chronata!!!! :D


Justice...for some reason could not open it just now (will try later on the GOOD coumputer, LOL!!!) I am sure it is just as lovely as the others....

:D Luna

I just double checked to see if Justice loaded properly..and it does, but it takes a little longer than the other images for some reason...

Hey Luna don't say that quite yet! Justice was one of those really difficult cards for me...and has always been a card that confounded me.
After working on it, I have a lot of new understanding about the meaning...but the pictures of justice in other decks always seems so...I dunno, blah, I guess.

It took me a long time to find a way to make Justice work in the Masquerade Ball, (rather than just have someone in the costume...)

I kept dreaming about swinging pendulums when it came to this one....so that is where the image led me to.

Now if only I can get through my creative block with the Chariot!
This card's image keeps eluding me...and is one of the last three I just can't seem to visualize properly!

[skytwig]

Splendiforous!

Grand!!

Marvelous!!!

I LOVE the Magician!

What fun!

[Majecot]

Chronata I am more that happy to give you a nudge now and again (hey, what else are friends for ).

Your newest additions are stunning, I absolutely love them. You Temperance reminds me of your very own TA!


I am glad you are following your heart - after all it is your deck, and that in its self makes it special.

;) ( it will be even more special when it becomes mine to play with)

Melissa' feel free to drop some coins in my jar too :D

[SilverWing]

Love the new additions. I can't wait to see what will be next.

[Majecot]

bumpity bump bump!!

maybe the last cards are a secret?

[September Pixie]

I will pretty much join the crowd with the usual ooohs and aaaahhs... I can't wait to see the entire deck! Have you decided on a back design yet?

[lunakasha]

MORE please!!!! :P

Chronata....the more I look at these cards, the harder it becomes to wait....they are just wonderful...please keep em coming!!!!

:D Luna

[Chronata]

I love you guys!
Which is why I hate to disappoint you!

The reason that there are no new cards here...is because there are no new cards finished. :( :(

BUT...I hope to get back to working on this deck later this week! (after catching up the bazillions of other projects I am supposed to finish!)
I really really miss working on this deck...

And hopefully I will have a back design to show you Majecot!

There's only a few more to go!!!

Thanks for the kick in the rear!! :D

[Majecot]

:D:D:D:D:D

[Eco74]

I mean I really really like it.

(And I´m picky so this HAS to be good. Which it most definately is! :o) )


Great theme, great depiction in the cards you´ve made sofar and the symbolism just jumps out at me when I look at them.

Really great work and I think you´ll find plenty of takers when the full set is done. (I may just be one of them if shipping to Europe can be arranged. *s*)

[Chronata]

Thank ye Eco! I'm glad you like them! I just hope that by the time I am done with the full set (which at the rate I'm going...might be awhile!) you will still want one!

Alas Majecot!...I don't have the card back to show you yet! Turns out that getting a perfect reversable image is a lot more trouble than I thought!

So instead I offer Another Card!

Yep that's right! Here is the fabled Wheel O' Fortune that I promised many posts back...

Actually, as some of you may already know, the Wheel is a very personal card for me. And when it came down to finally putting the paint to the image, I couldn't decide between two different ones.

I wanted to do something a little different, and yet I still wanted to have something that resembled the traditional RWS image...

(although I am hard pressed to tell ya at this point which of these images is actually "traditional")

Here is the first.
For those of you who saw the rough sketches...this is the one that got the most votes. I actually had thought at first that this was a really unique idea for the card...until I saw the Inner Child cards!
:)
Ah well...
What I love about this particular image is that I managed to hide 8 of the symbols that I liked from the RWS Wheel in my own version.

The lady in the card is Fortuna...Lady Luck herself.
The nature of the image might have been better suited to her sister aspect, Carnivale...but she said it was her tarot card...and her party, and there was no way I was going to leave her off THIS card.
Never argue with the Hostess!

[Chronata]

Here is the second image. I really like this one as well. It is very very similar to the first tarot cards I ever drew (when I was 10...and I had never yet actually seen a tarot deck!)

I like the images on the gaming wheel a lot. They remind me of an oracle set I created (hmmm..another oracle set based on these symbols? That's not a bad idea...)

Anyway...this is the trio of dieties that for me represents luck and fortune and the turning of the wheel...
Chronata... Oh Goddess of Perfect Timing is on the Left.
Fortuna is on the Right...
and Carnivale is positioned above the wheel.

When I make my first Limited Edition I am considering putting in both cards. Or I might just remove the title from this one (looks awkward anyway) and have this be an end or title card.

You guys let me know what you think!

Only 5 more left in the Majors! whoo hoo!

[September Pixie]

Oh! I cannot wait until you are finished! They are beautiful!!!

This last one reminds me of 3 of cups for some reason. :)

[TemperanceAngel]

Chronata you are so, so talented :D :D :D I will definately be purchasing this deck when it's finished :)

[Eco74]

Definately both if it is at all possible.
Imagine the possibilities of different interpretations and getting not only one but Two wheels of fortune in a reading. *muses*


If one has to choose *mopes*...
Well, having a merry-go-round inside a ballroom is a very daring prospect, BUT a very luxurious one and one definately befitting the feel of the cards.
The actual wheel with many opportunities would be easier for one of the people arriving at the masque to take with them so that would make the card more personal..

But then the wheel is more of a life aspect than a person for me, so... I don't know.... *sniffles*


I'm so sticking with both cards since I just can not decide on just one.

[Majecot]

Oh I love them both Chronata.... cannot decide which one I like better ( good thing I shall be getting both ;) )


Ok, so I guess we shall have to wait for the card back...tehe

And you did a fantastic ATIII card as well... you have been a busy girl!!

[lunakasha]

Hey Chronie girl!!!

Wow.....these cards are both wonderful....I definitely think you should include both of them, as you said maybe one of them could be an extra, "mystery" card....to represent the unknown???
Not all decks have the extra card (Hanson-Roberts comes to mind) but I like it!!!! :D There is no way you could NOT use either one of these!!!

(BTW I vote for the first card--the carousel--to remain as the Wheel of Fortune, and the gaming wheel to be the extra, "mystery" card....game of chance, how perfect is that???)

I am so pleased to see more of these cards....and am getting VERY anxious for the day when I can actually hold these cards, love them, play with them.....your talent and vision are really extraordinary....thanks again for sharing your gifts with us!!!!

:D Luna

[SilverWing]

I'm always happy when I check this thread and see new cards to look at. I can't wait to be able to buy the deck!!! I love each one I've seen. I hate to think that one of The Wheel of Furtune cards would not be in the deck. I have always loved carousel, but take two speaks to me.

[M-Press]

Fabulus Chronata!
I love them both, although I'm more "attracted" to the one with the wheel... It has more archetypal energy I think, becasue you see the whole of it-as a circle....
I'm sure though that a deck can have two of those!!!!
Keep going!
;)

[Pook]

OMG!!! This deck is amazing!! I sort of feel piveledged to be able to see this deck as its created and not have to wait until I buy it from TarotGarden to see all the cards.

I am having a hard time picking a favorite. Maybe the Devil...or the Moon...but I like The Wheel of Fortune too (carousel edition, though you should definitely keep both)

And thanks for your rendition of the Tower....I needed a little humor with this card right now!!

**going to subscribe to this thread right now**

[Chronata]

I know I know...it's been a while!

I really want to show you a new card, but I still have none of the last ones finished!
However...I have just blocked color for the Fool, and sketched the Judgement card, so I hope to have them finished very soon(in the next two weeks, keeping my fingers crossed!)

Then it's just trying to figure out what I should do with the Hanged Man and the Chariot...as these two images have been eluding me thus far!

And of course...I am saving the World for last...

In the meantime,

I was searching for something completely different and happened to find a box...

Within the box were a few small index cards wrapped carefully in velveteen.

I was very surprised to see them, because I didn't remember exactly where they disappeared to.

These happen to be the first tarot cards that I seriously created...oh, back about 12 years ago.

I managed to do about 25 of the Minor Arcana (I had never really started the Majors at that point)

And because I was disatisfied, unhappy and frustrated(mostly with other things going on in my life)...I destroyed the majority of them.

Three cards survived.

So, I thought I would share one of them with you...
This is the two of Light(two of wands)
done on an index card in color pencil.

I still really love this card...although the Midnight Masquerade's two of Light will probably be slightly different...
I do want to keep most of the original ideas I had for the Minors from this early deck...

A day doesn't go by where I don't get that awful little feeling in the pit of my stomach thinking about how I destroyed all those cards!

[Majecot]

Chronata.. aren't old treasures wonderful??? Some of my creations have suffered a similar fate, not destroyed be me but by the Ex an evil and vendictive person.

Thankfully my wonder had mother saved some of my art from my earlier years and I have have those pieces now.

To do 25 cards and only have three left ((Chronata)). You should frame the three that you have left.

I will be interested in seeing how this card will differ from MM's two of light.
I really like the concept of this card


(and I did see that you have been a bit busy elsewhere... so I was being patient :D)

[M-Press]

Chronata!!!
What a treasure, indeed!!!
I don't dare ask how old you were then!!
I think Majescot is down right, you should frame them, or at least put them somewhere safe...it will be very interesting, when you'll be famous, to have a little exhibition of how you started, and the way tarot has spoken to you so early... The creative process is amazing...

Yes, it is a pity that you destroyed so many of them, but well, think of Death, and maybe this is why you proceeded into more "fancy doings"!!!! ;)

[yaraluna]

i want to see them alll!!!!!! the three you have i mean!!!

plezzzzzz!
yaraluna

[rabble]

Chronata, so many of your cards are quite gorgeous! I would love to see a website (or page) with all of them on together!

[ferrous]

Hehehe. So Rabble has found this thread. I've been working my way through from the beginning for the last couple of days & finally reached the end to see that she got there just before I did.

Chronata, I've been to your website before & not fully appreciated your work there, as it's not really my style, but now that I've seen your deck in progress, I'm really impressed!

It's absolutely lovely!

[rabble]

I had actually been here before, ferrous.... when I was too shy to talk ;)

But I think it was only last week I went through the whole lot to find all of the photos :)

Today I showed my daughter some of them, and added to the thread, since I got over my initial horror of how many people there are here!

[ferrous]

Originally posted by rabble
I had actually been here before, ferrous....
Eh .. I'm always the last to know. :D

[Chronata]

Thanks all! You are all so sweet and supportive!

To yaraluna~ I would show you the other two remaining cards...but honestly I don't really like them as much as I like this one! Hmmm...maybe someday.

To Rabble~ Yes! I am actually hoping to have a website up very soon! It was a present from a friend of mine...but I just have not had the time to really work on that! When I finish a couple more cards, it will probably be up and running!

To Ferrous~ Thanks for the kind words!
yeah...the website I have for my homepage is actually the site of a gallery that has some of my stuff...actually it's got a lot of things that I made many ages ago for craft fairs and such, that I just want to be rid of.
I'm not terribly impressed with most of it either! But it pays the bills,(sometimes!) and is the only place I can give people some idea of what I do.

so...I am taking a week off to visit some family, but I will have the Fool up here in about a week!

[Majecot]

Majecot clears throat* aahhem!

I am still being patient ;)

Chronata, of your works on the website.. I think "Della Roba" is my favorite piece. It just so reminds me of you :D

And of course another favorite is your lantern I have on my mantle.. say, can I come shopping at your house?

[Chronata]

Awww...Majecot...
*sniff* I love ya!

Sure, you know you can come up anytime...next week maybe? ;)

so...Patience (and Persistance) Pay off...

I was having some scanner issues, which have hopefully been resolved!

Here's the Fool!
(with Toby close at his heels...or is it HER heels? )

update is as follows...
I have the Judgement card drawn out, and the card back is still in production (wow...it is SO hard to get a good reversable design!!)

I think I finally have a handle on what I want the Chariot to look like, as well as new sketches for the Hanged Man...

and the World is last...before I begin the Minors!

[M-Press]

Hi there Chronata!!!
oh, your fool is so sweet!!!
I have the feeling he /she looks like you, at least like what I have in my mind that looks like you... (isn't it funny, that we immediately with a name form a picture?)

Anyway, i also like that there is finally some space around... and he/she is not in a clistophobic setting! I think I have mentioned that in the past, that some zoom-out or extra bleed always helps! ;)

and my "eye" cought another deck you are up to? oh you little energizer bunny!!!! :)

[Summerdream]

Hi Chronata,

I just love your fool. It is very origional.....and I love the setting, it looks like the ocean. Great job!!!

Summerdream:)

[baba-prague]

Sweet card - the dog makes me smile - bags of energy!

[maria42airam]

This is an amazing process! This thread is the first I've read in the 'deck creation' section. I've read through the entire thread and it is wonderful to see the support provided by the forum members. To be honest, this is the first forum I've been on that has such a positive feel. Even when people disagree vehemently it seems to be with respect. Wonderful to see it!

Chronota, I love the idea behind your deck, and it's obvious that you have put a great deal of energy (as well as time) into the cards. The artwork is beautiful and the subject has it's own tradition of mystery. Fantastic!

The post about the Lovers is missing the link :( I would love to see that card.

About the Wheel of Fortune... The second one, the gaming wheel. Wouldn't that be a perfect symbol for the back of the card?

I can't say enough good things! Keep on it!

Maria

[Cariad]

Chronata I am mesmerised with the development of your deck! I initially thought WOW! when I saw the Empress and could not visiualize a card that would appeal to me more; until I saw The TOWER! That for me sums up the essence of the Tower card in an appealing and original format! GO GIRL!!!!! Just let us know when the decks will be available to be purchased

[Majecot]

Oh I just love the Fool.. that little dog looks like he is pulling on the wire.
I cannot wait to see the originals in person !!!

[Chronata]

Happy happy happy! :D

Finishing the Fool does seem like a turning point for me...a sort of "well now we have you...and there's NO TURNING BACK!" from the archetypes of this deck!

Thanks Majecot, Belly-B ,baba-prague, Summerdream, M-Press, and Maria for the sweet compliments!

M-Press brought out the point about the camera angle to me, and I wanted to say that there will be a different perspective to the party comming! hee hee! Just wait til you see the Minors! :)

(although there is also a very different view in the forthcomming Judgement...because there almost HAD to be!)

Summerdream...Yes! There is definately an ocean there! The villa that Fortuna is using to host the party is on an island...and certainly has a Venetian quality to it.

Maria42airam...ah! thanks for the heads up! When the the hacker came to this place recently, and crashed the site, I had to go back and re-edit all the attatchments back into the posts, as many were lost!

I had missed the Lovers!

Although I should tell you that if you want to see it...you should buy Major Tom's Tarot Lover's calendar for 2005!!! ;)

(well...maybe that's too mean...but you should all buy one anyway!!!! and I have re-attatched the Lovers back in the thread where it belongs! Now what page was that again?....)

[Majecot]

Hahaha.. I have my calendar :D

Perhaps you should have left a little mystery to it :cool:

I think they had you with the Empress... well they certainly had me.

[gareth.]

Just lovely and remindes me why I became tied to to the Tarot in the first place.The currents of Life and the Art work.Thanks!

[gareth.]

Just lovely and remindes me why I became tied to to the Tarot in the first place.The currents of Life and the Art work.Thanks!

[CreativeFire]

Chronata, your 'Fool' is lovely! :) I really like the idea of her walking the tightrope with the little dog bouncing along the edge watching. Also love the ruffle around the dogs neck - great touch! :)

I am looking forward to seeing your next cards!

CreativeFire

[rabble]

I like your fool too... and she makes me think of you too.. maybe because she looks like your avatar!

still waiting for your website :)

[lunakasha]

Oh wow.....

I came a little late to the party....just got my first look at the Fool!!! Chronata....she is so sweet!!! I love the colors of the sunset and the water....the little dog is PERFECT....he looks so animated and full of mischief!!! :D

Now...please tell us...WHEN are we gonna be able to get our hands on these cards???? I want to mark my calendar.....but I will settle for a ballpark timeframe if that's possible??? :P

Thanks again for sharing your beautiful work with us....

:D Luna

[lark]

I'm your fan Chronata!
I'm coming over with Majecot to pick up my deck when it's done.
So I can get your autograph. :D

[Pook]

Well now, Chronata, you've peeked my curiousity for Judgement...a different view huh? Hmmmmm.....

Also, could you put up a link to your website? Everyone seems to like it, But I haven't even seen it and dont know where to look.:(

[rabble]

MoonDreamer, she doesn't *have* a website! Some of us are complaining about that ;)

At the moment there isn't a way to see all of these wonderful cards together!

Chronata... would you like someone to make your website? :)

[Chronata]

hmmm...Rabble...
I may take you up on the offer!

I admit the cards look really cool when you see them all side by side!

A close friend has promised me a website, and they already registered a domain and such...but I have no idea when it will happen!

MoonDreameR...what some have refered to is the site that is listed as my homepage in my profile.
That site is not mine, but belongs to a gallery that has some of my masks and other art in it.

So...here's the Judgement card...which still needs a bit of tweaking, but I thought I would share it anyway!

[lunakasha]

Chronata....

The Judgement card is amazing.....

I LOVE the hooded figure in the swan boat....and the monarch butterfly costume is so beautiful....a very unique perspective on Judgement, and I just love the theme of this deck....it will be GREAT to see them all together on your website when it is ready!!! :D

:D Luna

[rabble]

I love your Judgement card!

If your friend has already purchased your domain, they may already have gotten space for you too... if they (and you) would like me to do you a site, (even something simple like I did for Kittaine's Tarot) just yell! they can use rabble at tarotforum dot net, if you like, or visit wiccked dot com, and use the contact form :)

[CreativeFire]

Chronata - your Judgement card is really well done - a unique and interesting 'take' on this card :) It is like the people are being mysteriously called and transported (the swan boat) to the masquerade ball - I like it! :)

I also agree it would be fabulous to see all the cards side by side :)

CreativeFire

[mercenary30]

My coin bank is nearly full.......

Can I preorder my set of majors yet? ;)

I still say I will come over and pick them up in person...a nice road trip! Majecot is on the way...and if we want to keep going Lark is just up the road!!!!

[Imagemaker]

Add me to the list of fans! Chronata, these images are so interesting and beautifully done. Each new interpretation makes me think in a new way.

Your eager audience is growing . . .

[blue_fusion]

wow. good to see yer deck's coming along very well. and that's one fine judgment card ya got there. really good idea, the masquerade thing! :D

[SongDeva]

Chronata, this deck is beautiful and unique.
Fae in ball gowns and wigs? I love it!
It's so sweet and energetically vibrant and has such a sense of humor and self-identity.

Wow!
Send me one. Immediately. heheheheheh

[Majecot]

I can tell you that looking at the cards in person is a very different experience than looking at the scans.
The orginals are quite beautiful!! I love the size they are done in.. but then I am partial to a large and oversized deck.

These would be terrific done in oversized.. I can see the doggey so much better that way ;)

When I looked at Judgement up close.. I saw no tweaking that needs to be done.
The Empress is still my favorite.. but that is because she also hangs in glossy on my wall I think :D
The Star looks even more vibrant up close!

I did not lay them out side by side, but I carefuly held them in my lap as I looked closely at each one.

If it where me.. I would frame each one of the orginals. It will be interesting to see how they come out published.

I am honored Chronata, thank you for sharing them with me.

[Summerdream]

Amazing Chronata!!

Your deck really speaks to me. I can't wait till it's available to purchase. The judgement card is so origional. It makes me wish I was there in the card.

Summerdream:)

[TemperanceAngel]

Chronata you are just so talented, I love your deck and would love to purchase also :)

[Anna]

What a treat to find this thread!!! :D :D

Its so hard to choose a favorite card, but I think it has to be Strength :)

ps. Where do I apply for membership to Chronata's fanclub? :D

[Majecot]

merc and I are co-presidents :D we would be happy to take your application ;)

slides a pen and paper across the table

[RedMaple]

I've been reading this thread over the past few days, and wow! Your deck is just beautful. Unique and beautiful artwork, full of mystery. Once I saw the Empress, I had to keep going -- I was afraid the other cards wouldn't be as good....but surprise! They are wonderful.

I haven't seen such a Fool who is so innocent and at the same time mischievious -- I love her. And your take on Judgment is fresh and intriguing.

Sign me up to your fan club. Can't wait to see the whole deck. This is the first time I've been present at the birth of a new Tarot. Thank you

RedMaple

PS I loved your two of lights card, as well. Very different, and quiet, but lovely.

[scorpio]

Chronata, I wanted to vote for the original temperance and BOTH Wheel of Fortune's!

[smokey]

Better ...LATE... than...NEVER!!!

Dearest Chronata,
WHERE have I BEEN?!?...("stumbled over your 1st: 3 or 4 cards
WAY-Back-When!!!")...then... Lost it!...(Now book-marked, mwahha!)... i LUV 'em ALL!!! (& Have from the Verry 1st!...Soo
Happy I found ya' once more...duh!!!...)

[WolfyJames]

Wait... did you say "minors"? Are you planning to make minors as well? That would be so neat!

[Chronata]

Hey there, and blessings to everyone!

As some of you may know, I have had a month of trials and tribulations...not the least of which is that I have no home computer at the moment.

So what does a girl do when there is no heat, electricity, working car...or computer access?

She paints her deck!!!

I am happy to say that Majors are so close to completion that I can practically taste it!

The card backs, Title Card, Hanged Man, and Chariot are finished.
There's also an extra Surprise Card as well. (hee hee!)

The Chariot turned out to be the hardest of all cards to do...and while I'm still not 100% happy with it, I am thinking it will have to do, until I have the proper inspiration to redo the image.

The last card that needs to be painted is the World (which seems really appropriate, somehow.) But I have prepared my board and will probably sketch it out this week.

I have to still do some clean up(very minor) on the previous cards, but then I can start thinking about (gasp!) publishing the Majors!

I have already done some serious sketches and outlines for some of the Minors...(and as long as I don't start with the Aces, I think I will be OK.)

I would really love to have a website, and/or a working computer/scanner so I can show off the rest of the finished cards to all of you, but be patient a little bit longer, and I may be able to have them up next month.

Thanks to everyone for your love and continual support of this project. You will never know just how much it means to me!

Blessings!
~Robyn

[mercenary30]

I am all kinds of excited about that!!!!!!

When should I reserve tickets on the ferry?

[lunakasha]

YIPPEEEEEEE!!!!! :D:D:D

Only one card left.....almost ready to publish the Majors???!!!!

That is wonderful news, Chronata....and you must be very pleased to be making such progress (especially with so many ups and downs).....CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I can hardly wait for these cards....you just made my day!!!

:D Luna

[Summerdream]

Congratulations!!

As soon as the minors are available for purchase let us know!!

Summerdream:)

[mercenary30]

Originally posted by Majecot
merc and I are co-presidents :D we would be happy to take your application ;)

slides a pen and paper across the table

HAHAHA. This is the first time I have seen this!!!

Yes, fill out the application and leave it in that basket on the end of the desk......

[SongDeva]

Please be advised that when the deck is done, Chronata will most likely insist on giving everyone two free decks.

For her own sake, the Fan Club Board of Directors must ask that you refuse and insist in turn on paying for the deck.

That is all.

[HudsonGray]

Give back the free decks? But....but....Christmas is coming! (pout)

Congrats, Chronata!

[M-Press]

Great to hear of such progress Chronata!!!
and although I'm sure everyone is dying to see them, I'mn kind of glad I don't... it's like expanding the tease... making anticipation do... it's thing!!!!!

[Bob Hollister]

My spouse has her own fan club! And it's not just me! HOOOORRRAAAAYYY!!!! I've been telling her for years that she's wonderful and talented and amazing and awesome. Sometimes, though, it takes other folks to make her realize these things. And you're right Lara, NO ONE should get my spouse's wonderful talent for free. Been telling her that for DECADES. Since before we were even dating. I, obviously, am a fan as well, and can't wait for her to finish. So, sweetie, here's the official nag: Finish the cards!

[M-Press]

ooooooh.....
this gets interesting... VERY interesting!!!!!;)

[Chronata]

sigh.
Not content to nag me in person...my spouse has elected to nag me ON MY OWN THREAD!
Actually what he said was kinda sweet...:D

I have no real updates at the moment...as my spouse , maybe more than anyone, knows that I have to make other things to make a living at the moment...that Holiday season doncha know...

I still have not started on the World yet...but I wil very shortly...
and as soon as we have our computer and scanner working I will let you all see the Final Cards of the Arcana!

Wow..it feels good to say that!

[CreativeFire]

sigh.
Not content to nag me in person...my spouse has elected to nag me ON MY OWN THREAD!
Actually what he said was kinda sweet...:D
Chronata, I think it is lovely that you have such support from your family with your wonderful project. :) I shall be definitely looking forward to seeing your final arcana when they are scanned! (My best friend, who is not into tarot, is dying to see them as well as she just loves the way that you paint with the strong colours and line ;) )

CF

[Majecot]

Oh my!!! The tension builds.... Majecot fans herself

*waves and grins* Hi Bob! Long time no see... Keep cracking that whip!

I will meet you there Merc.. I remember the way;) Just wait till you see them in person!! They are even better than the scans!

[Bob Hollister]

Hiya, red! It was nice to see you too. And Chronata, my sweet. Damn right, get to work and finish those cards!

[TemperanceAngel]

I'd really like to have my name on your list for the deck, do you take cheque, cash or credit?

Chronata how gorgeous your husband is here, and nagging you on-line...he obviously wants you to get that deck finished (as we all do!)

[M-Press]

For all that's worth, i just wanted to say that i don't really want Chronata to finish the deck fast. Not becasue i don't want to see it finished (I sure do!), but becasue I don't think this is a project to rush. when I see decks that are done at the speed of light, i feel I don't like them.. There is a quality of maturity that develops card after card, and time in between is a factor.
I say, that Chronata will finish her deck whenever she will, and that may take her for as long as it takes, and I'm willing to sit here and wait patiently....;)

[yupkigirl]

Oh my... I can't believe I've not checked out this thread before! Your work is lovely! Amazing! Fantastic! Terrific! I really do love the cards! It'll be very wonderful to have the deck! Congratulations!

[rabble]

how are you going with these, chronata?

They're really gorgeous, and I *still* can't wait to see them all together!

(I'm still offering to get them onto a site if you want, too :) )

[Sophie]

Chronata, these are so alluring! I absolutely love masques and masquerades, and all the mystery and freedom that go with them.

Have you thought of bringing them out first as a Majors-only? The way Elisabetta Trevisian did with Tarrochi di Vetro before bringing out the whole deck as the Crystal Tarot, some years later?

Definitely it would be worth having those majors, even before the pips are ready.

Bravo!

[Chronata]

Update time!
This will be my third attempt to show you another image...as I had THOUGHT that everything with my computer was back up and running again...but I apparently was mistaken! (sigh)

I did have the fortune of getting the scanner to at least get one new card in the computer before everything started going wiggy again!

Plans for the Limited Edition Majors only deck is underway!

I found a lovely present under my Christmas tree...the Xyron 900 cold lamination machine! And when I order the double sided lamination cartridge, I will try and put together a deck...just to see how viable the self publishing concept is!

Meantime...I can tease you with this title card...the titles themselves are only temporary, and I don't like them at all...but I wanted to just give you an idea how it might look in the end!

[Chronata]

Hey...since that finally seemed to work...
I will give you another card as well...

Here's the Hanged Man.

[Sophie]

Hey...since that finally seemed to work...
I will give you another card as well...

Here's the Hanged Man.

Gorgeous! I like the theatre strings and all the comedy-tragedy masks around the "gallows".

What's the apple? he's found knowledge?

I'm glad you are coming out with the Majors.

[CreativeFire]

Chronata, great to see you back and posting some cards for us all to enjoy. :) A lamination machine for christmas - what a thoughtful and practical gift for you! :laugh: I love how the lady in your title card is holding the tarot cards - nice touch. Also the idea of using a puppet (knew I would spell marionette?? wrong!) is very clever and inspired for your Hanged Man - well done.

CreativeFire

[Ivy Rhiannon]

::Bows to Chronata::

Milady! What a georgous deck! And to think you almost didn't share it with us!!! :eek:

I can't wait until this comes out. You are doing an excellent job! I love the title card as well. The title itself needs a bit tweeking but a wonderful picture! I love the new temperence! I hope you use her instead.

The mascarade is beautiful...wish I were invited! Good luck with the rest of your deck, hope to be seeing it soon. :D

[Keslynn]

Wow! I can't believe I was so late in the game to check this deck out. You're doing an awesome job, Chronata!!! The cards are gorgeous and insightful. I especially like the humor in the Tower. Takes some of the sting out of it.

Any updates on when this will be out? And have you considered starting up a website for the deck?

We wants it....

;) Kes

[Chronata]

Hi Kes! And the rest of you Masquerade Guests!

Yep...the website is in the works...and should be up and running very soon!

I also have been experimenting with the self publishing concept.

My idea is to use a thick double sided photo paper, and the double sided lamination cartridge for the Xyron laminator.
I tested the laminator by making a couple of magnets...and while the lamination isn't exactly what I wanted (a bit too shiny!) I think it might work out for the first limited edition.(which I am currently considering between 50 and 100)

It reminds me very much of the kind of lamination one might find on a Doreen Virtue deck.

More experimenting still needs to be done!


The reason why there have been no new attatchments...is because I am in the process of completely re-doing the Chariot card.
The first, while adequete, doesn't fit my original vision.

But keep checking back here...as I hope to begin pre-orders for the Limited Edition deck sometime in February!

Really...I mean it! :)

[Bob Hollister]

To throw you all an update: chronata has indeed been working hard on her chariot card, but is currently out of town for Mardi Gras, doing readings for a restaurant near her parents' home. She should be back Wednesday (Thursday for those of you on the other side of the International Dateline--- Hello, Aussies and Kiwis!) and I'll make sure she starts right back in, being her spouse and all!

[catti]

All right already!


At first I was worried because I am an outsider artist. Not a fine artist, but more like a folk artist. I have had absolutely no training and everything I do is self-taught. Even though my art works have been selling for many years, I still feel a little weird about sometimes...especially since there are sooo many really talented artists here on Aeclectic making decks.

I just wanted to say that alot of these new decks that we all love have a very impersonal quality to them. The collages and computer generated art are of course valid BUT there is something about paint, the way i know your hand was on the canvas...and i think untrained art, folk art, outsider art whatever often has a very accessable quaint and eccentric quality. all the better for tarot

[Majecot]

Hey that title card looks like me ;) (ok... just kidding, only a little bit)

Bob I am glad you popped in and gave us an update...I was wondering where you guys have been and what you have been up to.


...maybe I will get a chance to go out dinner this week

[seapearls]

Wow I'm new to the board and so glad I saw this thread. Your cards are great. I like the Star, heck all of them actually. I'm a big fan of Mardi Gras also and its so fun to be in the parades too. I'd love to buy a deck when your done. Keep up the excellent work.

[Chronata]

Ladies and Gents, Rogues and Rabbits, Friends, Fans...and those just joining the costume party....

I am here to announce that the Major Arcana of the Midnight Masquerade is now complete.

It feels so amazing to say that!
Especially with the doubts and fears that have overtaken me as I get to the end of this first hurdle.
And now the long road of Minors begins this week!

But first I have a few decks to create.

They will be a Limited Edition of 100 decks.
They will each contain 25 cards...the Majors plus the extra Wheel of Fortune, the title card, and one more extra.
They will also reside in a unique, one of a kind, hand painted box, featuring another guest at the masquerade.

If you want details of the Limited Edition, or prices, or want to preorder, or nag me about getting my website done...or whatever!~just send me a PM!

Meanwhile, here's a preview of what the back of the card will likely be!

It is very difficult to create a completely reversable design that works.
I owe tremendous thanks to my spouse, Bob...for his creative digital manipulations!

[Chronata]

As promised...here is the Chariot.

The first version, which I didn't like at all, looked very traditional, and very Roman...but this image of a Captain and his rolling ship just would not let me go!

So I needed to do a lot of rethinking, and finally I came to a place where I decided i was done with the tweaking.

Hope you like it!

[Chronata]

Saving the last for last....


And here's the end of the arcana, the end of the party, the end of the year, and the day, and quite possibly the Millennium...and the Beginning...

Midnight at the Masquerade!

[TemperanceAngel]

Well done Chronata!!!!!! I love your deck, I love the backs and I love The World :D:D

[Grigori]

Wow Chronata, your backs are outstanding! A big congratulations to you.

[seapearls]

Absolutely beautiful work.

[yaraluna]

silly question to ask but but but....

where are you!!?? how much is the deck? where is the website ?? etc? etc?

i sent you a pm but no answer yet.

pm me if you want to

yaraluna

[shandar]

Doggone, Chronata!

Wow, when can I buy this deck!!!

I love it!.

Are you wonderful or what! Submit it to llewleyn (sp?) and see what they say.

Wow, oh wow, wow, wow!

Shandar

[CreativeFire]

Chronata - congratulations on completing the majors!! :) I really like your World card and the backs fit in so well! Looking forward to seeing the website and all your beautiful cards together :)

[Ulfdis]

It's absolutely wonderful! Some Tarot cards are strangers to each other, some interact with each other... these characters dance with each other.

My favorites are the Star and the Magician (I like the fact that he's gutsy enough to do the "Find the Ball" trick with clear glasses).

[Nethilia]

This a beautiful deck! I would love a copy once it comes out, either in full or when the majors are done.

[jeseryn]

Love your deck :) I'd definitely be interested in purchasing once it's complete. You do have plans for it to be a full working deck?

Thanks for sharing :) It's so neat to see someone's creation from the early stages to fruition!

[SilverWing]

Haven't been reading the site the last few months. First thing I looked for is this thread. Love the work. I can't wait to get my hands on a deck!! ; )

[Chronata]

Thanks everyone...especially the newcommers to the party! Welcome and thanks again for the kindness you all have expressed here!

Sometime soon...there will be some Minors to show you all (but I may start a new thread for those!)

Ulfdis...I have to say thanks in particular, as you are one of the few who noticed that particular detail on the Magician! He is one of my favorites and the symbolism is rather multi-layered...but yes! There is an homage hidden there...to my favorite magicians Penn and teller...who manage to do the cup and balls trick with clear glasses (while explaining how they do it to the audience! Absolutely brilliant)

so the update is...I have been hard at work perfecting the process of hand making a deck. This has proven to be much harder than I originally thought, because I had a much clearer picture in mind regarding quality...and I have yet to make my vision...and the actual reality...exist in the same cards.

There is a growing list of preorders for the Limited Edition (and you can PM me if you want to be included on the list!
But I still have not produced a single card that I am completely happy with....yet!
But as I continue to experiment with cardstock and lamination...I am getting closer to making these look as good as I had hoped.

Some of you may be happy however, to find that I am actually making them larger than I had originally intended, because I think the bigger size really shows off the details better.

And the website...ah yes...the website!

It turns out my computer is not happy with my webpage creation program, and tends to slooooow waaaaaaay dooooooown when it is not happy.

Which does not make me happy, becuase it is just taking me forever to do, and I have lots of other things to do!

But thanks everyone for your patience, and continued love!

Without you all here, and your continual support... I would have given up a long time ago!

[Tsukiyono]

Just finished looking at all the cards. They are so wonderful Chronata, I especially love The World. Even the backs of the cards are wonderful. :) I know this is old news, but don't worry about formal training. There are some artists who have had formal training but are still considered "outsider artists" simply because of genre or choice of medium. I look forward to seeing more of your cards. :)

[Emeraldgirl]

I want! I want! I want!

Your cards are absolutely stunning. Please add me to your list of people who would like to order them when they become acvailable. Fantastic cards.

[peridot]

Are you kidding me? these are awesome cards! What a great theme. I can't wait to see the rest of the deck. Good for you. Best wishes.

[poivre]

Beautiful Chronata!
Be proud!

[Majecot]

I am still waiting to see your deck listed on the AT Main page with the rest of the decks....hint hint

[SilverWing]

Please add me to the Limited Edition list. I can't wait to get this deck!

[baba-prague]

Oh! I just saw the back (sorry, not here so much recently) and just to say it's beautiful! I love the flowers and masks and the colours. I think it's one of the nicest card backs I've seen.

[northsea]

Your Queen of Wands card in the Aeclectic tarot drew me to view this thread. Your drawing and description of the Queen of Wands is my all-time favorite.

All the cards in your Midnight Masquerade are AWSOME; a few of my favorites are the Fool, Magician and Judgment. Please add me to your limited edition list!

[Junia]

Hi Chronata,

Absolutely loved the Justice Card--of course, she should be statuesque. She is obviously waiting to wield her sword just on the 11th hour of the ball!

As for folk art, that is the medium Frida Kahlo worked in and I am so glad that you have such a supportive husband (not a bit like Diego Rivera). I think that her work stands the test of time better than his! And then, tell us who should teach art to the master, if the master you already are? (Sounds like something Yoda would say--Laughing at myself).

Thank you for sharing.
Love and Your Star Card!

[persephone1]

This is gorgeous! and one I will purchase when complete. Amazing talent and a beautiful deck in the making. Kudos to you!

[Elven]

Chronata, OMG!! :)...

You are AWESOME!!!

That is the most BEAUTIFUL DECK I have seen. What can I say!! You are so talented and gracious!! They are stunning!!:)

Please put me on your list for your Limited edition deck. I would be thrilled to have such a treasure.:)

Well done!!
Extraordinary!!

Many Blessings
Elven xx

[temperlyne]

Hi Chronata,

any luck with creating the cards? You know you are my guide in this process, all your hard work migh eventually save me a lot of frustration!

How is the website comming along? As you know I'm creating my own right now and it I find it a very frustrating process. I sure hope you are more comfortable with a computer than I am, or have some great help! I imagine that a site done in your imaginative style would look gorgeous. Your cards deserve there own special home on the net.
I'm really looking forward to your interpretations of the minors too! Don't keep us waiting too long, but take all the time you need though. ;)

[Chronata]

I have been sort of avoiding this thread for a while....only because there is so little news to report!

But I did want to say thank you to everyone for your continual interest!
Especially all the newcommers....Northsea, (thanks! The Q of Wands was my first AT card! I am thrilled that someone appreciated her!!) Junia, Persephone, Elven...and others who sent me PMs!

And Thanks for nudging me back on track, Temperlyne! :)

Here's what I have to report....

The website project is gathering dust at the moment...because I really needed help, and some people who were helping me, have been busy and distracted.

I wish I could say that it was going to be this really cool fantastic site....but really it has sort of become this place to just dump the images of the cards.
And even THAT....with the rather rushed idea that it is...isn't finished yet!

I have sketches for minors....but nothing painted or blocked in yet!

And I had been thinking that my production quality was not up to snuff.

I just have this idea in my head about what tarot cards should feel like and look like....and I really thought my laminated cards were too shiny....too homemade looking, simply because I am making them by hand.

I brought some samples with me to the Chicago tarot meetup, and April and Astra were very kind! They actually said that the card was better than it needed to be.
I also showed the samples to a lot of non tarot folk to gauge thier reactions...and everyone loves them (except maybe me) so I am going ahead with this type of production!

But my least favorite part of this has been my old printer...and it's inconsistant prints. It is about 8 years old now...so I have been shopping around for a nicer quality printer.

So...this means...if all goes well, some production WILL take place this summer...and I can start getting card sets ready.

The price decided upon is $85 US for the LE. Some people tell me this is too much, and many people say it's not enough...and some people tell me I am crazy to include hand painted boxes...and preorder extras!
But there it is.

When I get my new printer, enough boxes complete, and the booklet thing done...and as soon as I get my paypal account thing worked out, I can start doing this...and getting them out there!
Hopefully before August!


Anyway...thanks again to everyone for your support!
Drop my a PM if you are interested....(I have been saving my list of all of you who want to be on my preorder list! and as soon as they are ready....I will let you know!)

[Ankou]

Hey honey,

Sounds like you're going all out for your production!!! Hand painted boxes, wow... Printer difficulties I think are always the worst bit. see if you can find a used HP 1120. They are work horses and the color quality is great, plus they'll print on just about anything you can get in the slot (card stock, thin peices of wood :) ) They are out of production but if you get a lightly used one, they're fabulous.

Anyway, can't wait to see the pips!!!! And I LOVED your death card for the AT tarot...

anyway hope this isn't too off topic

Love and Light,

Ankou

[yaraluna]

anyone knows where chronata is? i was wondering how she is doing with her prod issues etc

yaraluna

[smokey]

Chronata, I have always followed your work! ...since Day 1 Even!!...
BeCause_(*I LOVE IT!)!
You are so modest, Though! < giggles> You shouldn't be!
$85... Is Not Too MUch!!!

[HearthCricket]

Thank you for the link to this deck, Chronata! It is absolutely amazing and exactly what I am looking for! Your major arcana is fantastic! The images are so fun and yet keep that almost eerie feel of a masque, when anyone can be behind the mask and anything can happen! I can't even decided which one I like best, because they all really speak to me! I can really see your experience as a costume designer shining through with all those lovely period costumes on the cards, which is basically making me drool! Now, I have been craving a deck to use with this sort of theme, and for Halloween, as well, and this is just perfect, perfect! I want a deck, soooo bad!

Love the way strength reminds me of Beauty and the Beast. I watched the TV show of B&tB, which lasted about 2 1/2 years. One of their shows, a Halloween episode, was a Masque, where Vincent (the Beast) was able to go out into the public for one perfect night, and attend a masque, as no one would know he was real, and not in a costume. Between that, Phantom of the Opera, and every other thing I have seen about masques, you have captured the essence of it all and I am so grateful to you for sharing your talent with the rest of us!

[cormac]

i just came across your 'uninspired' thread and followed it over here -- i have to repeat what many have said already that your deck so far is fabulous -- you have a great talent in art and in tarot obviously from your arrangements -- the devil and death are perfect truly

i hope you continue it :)

[Feisty Kat]

Love the cards! Wish it was already a completed deck as I'm so impatient! Loved both the Wheel of Fortune cards, good luck choosing just one. Looking forward to seeing the rest.

B*B--Feisty Kat

[feticeira]

Chronata your work is just amazing, lovely!
Just a comment on both versions of Temperance: I really like them both, I don´t think the expression is one of seriousness, to me she looks amused while at the same time really concentrated. Which really fits with the meaning: I´ve heard people compare this card to a chef or chemist, well in both professions you risk the creation of something terrible or dangerous if you´re not paying attention. Alchemy and art are not always "good accidents" waiting to happen, sometimes it works out that way, and you get a wonderful surprise, but Temperance is very much about trial and error too.
The lady on your card looks focused, but I can see the ghost of a smile behind her straight mouth, waiting to see what results of her experimenting.
Beautiful card, and in fact I always thought that utterly peaceful and dreamy expression on the RW deck was not necessarily fitting. Temperance requires great work, however pleasant the card may be depending on the situation.

[Xander]

Your Death, devil, tower and judgement cards were very very clever! really nice dude :P

[Demonesse]

Nice! I like the mysterious atmosphere - fun, dreamlike and bordering on the eerie. HearthCricket said it best: you've captured the essence of a masquerade.

Also like the handpainted look, the name-scroll at top and the lack of borders. Don't think I'll be able to afford the LE, but it's very thoughtful of you to include boxes and preorder extras for that price.

Congratulations!

[prudence]

Chronata, this is really really beautiful work. Congratulations on an amazing job well done!

It is very hard to pick a favorite though! For now, I am going to go with the Empress.

[the unknown]

Beautiful work you have Chronata. I love your subtle melancholy style involved with the theatre. Gives a desired rennaissance feel to it that we all wish we could have. I especially love your work on The Tower. Again, Beautiful, if you should get this deck published, please tell me, I would love to buy it!

[Myrrha]

I was lucky to receive some fridge magnets with images from the Midnight Masqerade as part of a trade with Chronata. They are so gorgeous and make me smile and feel playful everytime I see them. They combine cheerfulness and darkness in a way that works really well. I think the LE will be a favorite deck.
--Myrrha

[Fairawen]

Oh wow. How did I miss this thread??? HOW?!?!? Chronata, your work is inspiring! Wow! I'm a lover of masks too, so you've got my heart on a string here... hoe goes the work?

Oh *hugs* wow your work is fantastic! I'm a lover of that period in time too, and I could go on and on about the stuff I love about it...

Updates? Info? What's going on with your deck?

~Fairawen~

[Chronata]

hiya all!

Thank you so much to everyone here who sends me continual encouragement!

And a big huge thank you again...to all of you on my pre-preorder list!
You all have such amazing patience!

Updates to the project...well...

I lost half the scans, and am now trying hard to get the rest of the images (15-21) scanned back into the computer...but of course my scanner is acting up and refuses to work with 600 dpi at the moment.

Boxes and other things that should be on order have been delayed, and now with a major financial setback...I have no idea how long it will be before I get them.

There seems to be a new obstacle in the way every time I turn, which makes me lose hope on getting the decks out at any reasonable rate!

And no...still no website.

But aside from the frustrations...I have decided to look into cafe press to offer a few of the deck images available as t-shirts, tote bags, tile boxes and journals.

So...if you had to pick a favorite card from the Midnight Masquerade Majors...which one would you like to see on any of the above products?

Cards up for consideration include...

The Empress(my only definite so far!)
The Lovers
Death
The World
The Star
the Moon
The Devil

now...given the hassels I am having...I may right now only be able to offer those images that are already scanned at the maximum quality level.
(so...I may only be able to use the first 15 cards...fool-temperance)

But I would love some feedback on what you might think is a good card image to put on stuff!

Thanks so much to the all the attendees of the Ball!
Party on! :D

[Feisty Kat]

hiya all!
But aside from the frustrations...I have decided to look into cafe press to offer a few of the deck images available as t-shirts, tote bags, tile boxes and journals.

But I would love some feedback on what you might think is a good card image to put on stuff!

Thanks so much to the all the attendees of the Ball!
Party on! :D

Ok I love all the cards but below is my list of favorites that I would like to see on items.

Star (which makes me think of Temperance...)
Strength (which makes me think of Lovers)
High Priestess
Chariot
Wheel of Fortune (both of them)
World
Title card
Card back

HTH

B*B--Feisty Kat

[feticeira]

I´d love to see the Hermit on a journal!

[December Fairy]

My vote is for Empress, Moon & World.

Love the deck :)





hiya all!

Thank you so much to everyone here who sends me continual encouragement!

And a big huge thank you again...to all of you on my pre-preorder list!
You all have such amazing patience!

Updates to the project...well...

I lost half the scans, and am now trying hard to get the rest of the images (15-21) scanned back into the computer...but of course my scanner is acting up and refuses to work with 600 dpi at the moment.

Boxes and other things that should be on order have been delayed, and now with a major financial setback...I have no idea how long it will be before I get them.

There seems to be a new obstacle in the way every time I turn, which makes me lose hope on getting the decks out at any reasonable rate!

And no...still no website.

But aside from the frustrations...I have decided to look into cafe press to offer a few of the deck images available as t-shirts, tote bags, tile boxes and journals.

So...if you had to pick a favorite card from the Midnight Masquerade Majors...which one would you like to see on any of the above products?

Cards up for consideration include...

The Empress(my only definite so far!)
The Lovers
Death
The World
The Star
the Moon
The Devil

now...given the hassels I am having...I may right now only be able to offer those images that are already scanned at the maximum quality level.
(so...I may only be able to use the first 15 cards...fool-temperance)

But I would love some feedback on what you might think is a good card image to put on stuff!

Thanks so much to the all the attendees of the Ball!
Party on! :D

[Chronata]

UPDATE Y'ALL...

:D


I can say...FINALLY!...Chronata's Pre-orders in progress!

How many taroists does it take to convince me that my hand made card production is good enough?

Apparently...all of them.

As I am really the ONLY one who doesn't like the way the cards turned out...I am bowing to the pressure of my wonderful friends who have convinced me that it's time.

Time to make the decks.

So....

In order to make decks, I need a few things...boxes, and ink and lamination being among the few items.

I am looking for 5-6 people who are willing to give me money now, so as to get things rolling.

Price still sits currently at $85 for Limited Edition 25 cards (which may change as I finish Aces)
Includes box and shipping and lots of little masquerade goodies.
These will be sent out straight away...

though because I am hand making each card, (and hand painting each box...which are not even ordered yet) the wait will be 4 to 6 weeks for shipment.

And I am hoping for no more than 6 orders at this time, so I can actually make them in that time alloted.

Those interested...PLEASE send me a PM and I will PM or e-mail you back with details on payment.
Currently, I can take paypal, or US check or money order.

First 6 people...who REALLY REALLY want one soon will get my first decks.

Thanks to everyone!

And for those of you already on my preorder list...I have not forgotten you! As soon as the first decks are done, I will send out more info for how you can purchase the LE at the same price...it just might take one more month before I can confidently say that deck production is in full swing!

[lunakasha]

Once again....I really want to give a BIG hug and say:

CONGRATULATIONS Chronata!!!

I am so excited, this is such wonderful news!!! :D:D:D

(I will keep this brief since I already posted on your other thread, LOL!)

You must be so happy to finally be "in production" with the deck....

Wishing you all the best and HUGE success, and I will be PM-ing you to reserve my own copy!

Hugs,

:) Luna