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lemurkat
19-10-2006, 19:38
Hi all, I'm new here, and a tad shy, because whilst I am not a tarot reader (I'm pretty poor at reading the cards), I am an artist and the symbolism and story behind the tarot has always fascinated me. Indeed, I have had this site bookmarked for reference purposes for a very long time now, but this is the first time I have ventured into the forums.

And why have I ventured here? Because I have finally completed my first Major Arcana - a project I have started at many points in the past, based on different ideas and stories, but never fulfilled.

What is the Furrae Tarot you may ask? Well, I am a wildlife artist, but cannot do realism for love nor money. However, my cute and slightly toony style seemed popular in the ATC forums I frequent and I decided to take this as far as I could and design a tarot based around what I love the best - animals.

But whimsical, quirky and a little offbeat ^^

So in my deck you will see lionfish replacing lions, and some rather quirky takes on common themes.

This first deck, probably the only completely handcoloured one I create, will be traded with Chronata, who put me onto this forum and whose art I greatly admire. I am however currently hoping to go on and create the minor arcana, and will trade either suits or part of suits, with the recepient receiving the first handcoloured set under the understanding that I may create prints from it later for sale (although it would probably be more for trade) or make further hand-coloured cards from the same original lineart.

Anyhow, enough babble, have some cards!
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/lemurkat/tarot/?action=view&current=furrae-tarot-fool.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch3
(As I'm too cheap to subscribe, at least until I've been here a little longer, you will have to be content with a link)

The first card I shall show to you is the Fool. In his innocence and foolhardiness, and with the common Waite representation of him being about to step off a cliff, what better animal to represent him then a lemming?

You will notice in the card the dog has been replaced by a dragonfly. My only regret is that I neglect to wrap a brightly coloured scarf about his neck. Perhaps I will do so and recreate the card.


Kat

Eraserqueen
20-10-2006, 01:48
These are just Beautiful Kat. I love your attention to detail, and the warmth with which you portray each character in your cards.

You obviously have a good understanding of tarot meanings. When I did my fool card way back, I had no idea they were supposed to wear a scarf or have a dog! haha!

And I can't think of anybody who deserves the cards more than Chronata :D

Colly34
20-10-2006, 04:10
Your version of the Fool is both charming and insightful.......and I can't wait to see more of this deck.

Thanks for sharing it!

Colly

Kahlie
20-10-2006, 04:33
Hahha, he's wonderful!
Such a delightful little fellow and so vibrant!

Really well done!

Kahlie

lemurkat
20-10-2006, 06:00
And here's the Magician -

Using the typical symbolism of the infinity symbol and the red and white colours, with the wand and cup (I did not include the sword, as my magician had run out of hands). I selected a white rabbit to represent this character, as it seemed only fitting.
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/lemurkat/tarot/?action=view&current=furrae-tarot-magician.jpg

(btw, you can sneak peeks at the rest by following the links on the pages, if you can't wait for me to update).

Kahlie
20-10-2006, 06:09
Aaaah!

I just love the wheel of fortune! It's wonderful! Very inventive and the clock in the beak just reminds me so much of how time flows flows flows...

Kahlie

HudsonGray
20-10-2006, 08:54
Those are great! Keep posting more as you go. I;d love to see them all.

winnie
20-10-2006, 18:32
These are lovely lemurkat. I looked through the other cards too - the emperor is fantastic. It really conveys the sense of authority of the card.

Lillie
21-10-2006, 00:38
I looked at them all.

They really are wonderful.
Really clever ideas choosing the right animal for the card, and a beautiful drawing style.

They made me smile, They are lovely.

Chronata
24-10-2006, 05:03
OMG Kat!

First of all...I wanted to say welcome to aeclectic!
I was so hoping you would register because I wanted to share your fabulous tarot, and your talent with my friends...
and I am very happy that you have!

and wow...I adore this deck! I feel absolutely honored that you would give me a copy!

I went through all the cards...just marvelling at your choices, and how perfect they are for the symbolism of the cards!
And of course...you know how much I love your whimsical furry critters, as well as your unique style of illustration!

It's so hard to pick a favorite! Although I do really like the Magician, and the Judgement cards. The Chariot is genius too (always been a hard one for me) and it has to be the sweetest looking Death (despite the fact that he's a vulture) that I have seen in a while!

Also love all the little details...like the penguins in the Hierophant, the lionfish of Strength!

I am so excited that I am getting a copy...because I really want to try and read with them! I have a feeling that these will be excellent for a certain agegroup (about 7 to 14) that I read for a lot of the time.

Thanks so much for posting them here, and for sharing them with everyone too!
Lucky lucky me! :D

lemurkat
26-10-2006, 17:22
Hey Chronata - you're welcome!

As for reading with them - well, they're not official tarot cards, in that they haven't got a generic back, so if you want to read with them you'd have to put them into those harder plastic trading card sleeves with the coloured backs. Still, the kids would probably find it quite fun! I will be posting them out to you in a specially designed booklet.

I am working on the minor arcana now. In the future once I have figured out how to make decent copies, I will send them to you. So far I have conned Eraserqueen and Purplepower into working on their own tarot sets and trading a suit-for-14-cards of the originals. But this is a long term project and I intend to take things slowly. I need to do some further research on the symbolism in the minor arcana, which is far less documented then the major!

And thanks to the rest of you for your kind comments. I suppose I should share a couple more links, since I've gotten a tad slack at visiting here of late!

High Priestess;
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/lemurkat/tarot/?action=view&current=furrae-tarot-highpriestess.jpg

I chose here a horned owl, because owls represent wisdom, and also are the favoured form of Athena, one of the deities this card somewhat represents. Incidentally, it was only after some research that I realised the horns of this owl help form the isis crown - which is also a representation in the Rider-Waite tarot. Nifty, eh?

Empress:
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/lemurkat/tarot/?action=view&current=furrae-tarot-empress.jpg

This card was initially done as a trade with someone who uses the online nick of "frogprincess". Thus it seemed entertaining to depict her on a tarot card! I have thus created two hand-coloured versions of this card.

Emperor:
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/lemurkat/tarot/?action=view&current=furrae-tarot-emperor.jpg

Because eagles are noble and powerful and the endangered philippines eagle comes equipped with an impresssive and natural "Crown". His face actually proved something of a challenge.

Chronata
07-11-2006, 03:57
Oh my! I just got my furrae tarot...and wow!

It is so awesome...makes me want to cry!

The presentation is so beautiful that I am thinking I have to leave them in their folder...but I SO want to read with them too!

The scans are great...but they don't do justice to this beautiful work!
There are metallic and glittery touches that add so much to the cards!

I am in awe...
and I have a new favorite...LOVE the wheel of fortune!

I really think you should make copies available to the public, because this is a wonderfully insightful set.

Thanks Kat!

lemurkat
28-12-2006, 17:06
The suit of pentacles has been completed and can be found at the same link:
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/lemurkat/tarot/

Now I'm working through the swords for my friend Eraserqueen.

Cheers,

Kat