If you could commition ANY artist ............

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Little Baron	05 Jul 2004
In a thread I just replied to by WolfyJames, I mentioned the artist Tamara De Lempicka, whose artwork is the back design for a set of playing cards I have. I also mentioned that her painting 'Adam and Eve' was the inspiration behind the 'Lovers' card in the 'Light and Shadow' tarot. I was just thinking about how wonderful it would have be, should she still be alive, for her to have designed a tarot deck - it would have been extremely sensual. With that in mind, I was wondering, if you had the chance to commition ANY artist, alive or dead, to paint/draw/photograph a deck for you, who would it be? I will probably think of more, but the first one that came to mind is the Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf. However, the photographer, Richard de Chazal, would be a must. Here is a link - http://www.richarddechazal.com/myth_03.html I havn't been through the whole portolio but am aware that there is a little nudity (artistic though, and no more daring than that of the Cosmic Tribe). So, who would you chuck a camera or paintbrush at and yell the words 'Get on with that deck!!!!!'. Yaboot

Rusty Neon	05 Jul 2004
It's fun to imagine what sort of deck would have arisen if Waite or Crowley had commissioned one of the 'big-ticket' artists of the 20th century to do the artwork for their respective deck. Imagine Picasso, Van Gogh, Matisse ...

Little Baron	05 Jul 2004
A Picasso deck really would have been something!

alizarin	05 Jul 2004
Oh, I would love a Michael Parkes Tarot. That would be amazing.

laura_borealis	05 Jul 2004
I would commission Remedios Varo. After inventing my time machine, of course -- she died in 1963.

Ravenswing	05 Jul 2004
Definately I'd like a deck by M.C. Escher. The Fey deck's Hermit could be straight out of his sketchbook.... fly well Raven

darwinia	05 Jul 2004
My favourite cover illustrator for books. http://www.sarafelix.com/2001award.html#johnjude http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/palencar_john_jude.html

Cerulean	05 Jul 2004
For a mix of fantasy and legend.... http//www.gnosis.art.pl/iluminatornia/sztuka_o_inspiracji/edward_burne-jones/burne-jones.htm

felicityk	05 Jul 2004
I would love a deck by Yvonne Gilbert, who has done cover art for dozens of fantasy novels. I first discovered her artwork in Time-Life's Enchanted World series of books dealing with mythology and folklore. Felicity

lunakasha	05 Jul 2004
This is going to sound bizarre but.... I have often imagined a tarot deck designed by...Rob Zombie!!! :eek: Yes....THAT Rob Zombie...rumor has it that he is quite the talented artist...how dark and twisted would the Zombie Tarot be??? And I wonder if he would include himself as the Magician or the Devil??? Hmmm.....both??? }) :P Luna

Le_Corsair	05 Jul 2004
I'll take a deck by Ralph Steadman or Robert Crumb, please. :D Bob :THERM

laura_borealis	05 Jul 2004
An Edward Gorey deck would be nifty. It would have a dark edge to it, without actually being evil. ;)

Le_Corsair	05 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by laura_borealis An Edward Gorey deck would be nifty. It would have a dark edge to it, without actually being evil. ;) There is an Edward Gorey tarot, it is called the Fantod deck, I tried to find a link but they weren't working for me tonight; typical Gorey, black-and-white monochrome; it's OOP and pretty expensive when it comes up on eBay. Bob :THERM

Brandaluna	05 Jul 2004
I'd really like to see a deck from Tomie dePaola, my favorite children's book illustrator. I enjoy his folk art style and the humor that he often incorporates through small details that you wouldn't really expect in a drawing that looks so "simple".

tao51	05 Jul 2004
Yet, I think if Picasso were alive he would produce wonderful tarot cards.__Tao

WooMonkey	06 Jul 2004
I would love to see a deck drawn by Peter Kuper! http://www.peterkuper.com :)

Kirali	06 Jul 2004
oy I have so many hehe. Okay.. Graeme Base - I always loved and still love looking at his book Animalia.. Here's a couple of sites:Books by Graeme Base And his Dragon Artwork Margaret Walty -- Her art is very colorful. I'm thinking of getting a print of hers. Her site: Margaret Walty Maybe a deck by Kinuko Craft. I love his use of light. Kinuko Craft And James Christensen One of my favorite's of his is on this site, the Royal Procession: Jigsaw Puzzles Here's another link: Bunch of paintings I have 2 of his books. His art book is lovely! Although I've more, I'm sure I've taken up enough space with this hehe...

punchinella	06 Jul 2004
Arthur Rackham, Arthur Rackham, Arthur Rackham, Arthur Rackham, Arthur Rackham. Albrecht Durer is a close second though.

Sillanza	06 Jul 2004
I would have loved to have seen a deck drawn by the famed caricaturist Al Hirschfield. His spare attention to detail is almost zen ... :)

laura_borealis	06 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Le_Corsair There is an Edward Gorey tarot, it is called the Fantod deck, I tried to find a link but they weren't working for me tonight; typical Gorey, black-and-white monochrome; it's OOP and pretty expensive when it comes up on eBay. Bob :THERM *head spins* MUST SEE! MUST SEE! Thank you for the tip! :D

Little Baron	06 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by laura_borealis An Edward Gorey deck would be nifty. It would have a dark edge to it, without actually being evil. ;) Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

laura_borealis	06 Jul 2004
Oh well -- the one site that apparently had images (chokingpear.com) seems to have taken them down, but I did find this:

Little Baron	06 Jul 2004
Cheers Laura I searched about but found nothing; was so excited when I heard there was a deck and then disappointed when I couldn't find anything. Even though I havnt seen any more of than one of the cards, I was a little disappointed by 'The Feather' - was expecting those dark and haunting scenes, skeletal trees blowing etc. Will keep you posted it I find anything. Best wishes Yaboot

TemperanceAngel	06 Jul 2004
Am I allowed to say two???? My fave 20th Century artists: Francis Bacon and Jean-Michel Basquiat :D

Little Baron	06 Jul 2004
Bacon would be a dark one, wouldn't it??? Was thinking also, while making my coffee (what a hard life I lead) that I would adore a deck created by Edvard Munch; how fitting would the 'Scream' be for the 9 of Swords. Oh, that would be such a deep deck to get inside. Yaboot Edited to add: and another - Frida Kahlo - would love all of the animals, monkeys etc. I think she would interpret the cups and swords very well.

mercenary30	06 Jul 2004
This guy was commissioned to do a tarot deck, and it was never completed or printed because the company went out of business. I can't find any online pictures of the cards from the Demo pack, but I did purchace one of the demo packs off from ebay......oh what I wouldn't do to get him to finish it. Richand Kane Furgeson

Jeannette	06 Jul 2004
Two words: Maxfield Parrish. -- Jeannette The Tarot Garden

13thFaeChylde	06 Jul 2004
Methinks a John Waterhouse tarot would be divine. http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/paintings/

TygrEyes	06 Jul 2004
I'd LOVE a tarot by Susan Seddon Boulet. I know we have her Animal and Goddess Knowledge cards, but I still want a tarot deck. I like to think she would have gotten around to doing one had she lived a longer life.

laura_borealis	06 Jul 2004
More Fantod... I was hoping for something a little darker than The Feather, too, but on the other hand it made me grin. Late last night I also found a livejournal entry pointing to an ebay auction (long over) and the seller posted 3 images. One was The Feather again, one appeared to be the back (no border) and then there was this:

laura_borealis	06 Jul 2004
...and what I think is the Fantod back. Apologies for hijacking the thread. :)

seneris	06 Jul 2004
I admire the artwork of John Howe and Alan Lee, so I would love to see a tarot-deck by their making. And Tim Burton could design a tarotdeck. And I LOVE the artwork of Rebecca Guay. She did Magic The Gathering Cards from Wizards of the Coast. So that would be my third choice...

sunflowr	06 Jul 2004
I would LOVE a Peter Max tarot. :) http://www.petermax.com/

punchinella	06 Jul 2004
Okay Laura. Official thanks for the hijacking. I think it's time to campaign for a Fantod reprint, yaaaaahhhh

Melvis	07 Jul 2004
...just about every illustrator from the late 19th / early 20th centuries! Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, Kay Nielsen, Arthur Rackham, Erte, Edmund Dulac, and so many others. And has anyone seen Jacek Yerka's work? What a deck he would create! An entire world for each card! (And he has a phenomenal website, too!) Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Melvis	07 Jul 2004
I almost forgot...I saw this artist's work at a local art fair and fell in love with it: Bruce Holwerda. And if that isn't a perfect Fool card on his main page! Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

dolphingirl	08 Jul 2004
I would love to see an Van Go tarot or a deck done by Mattese. I also would love to see a Christian Reese Lasen deck :)

Savoyali	08 Jul 2004
I'd love to see a deck by any Pre-Raphaelite, especially the above mentioned Waterhouse and Burne-Jones, as well as Dante Rosetti and John Everett Millais. As for contemporary artists, a Hans-Werner Sahm deck would be really interesting. He usually does very epic fantasy landscapes. I imagine it would be fascinating to see that translated to tarot. Also, I love Stephanie Pui Mun Law's work. ETA well, whaddaya know *smirk* She's working on it! Woohoo :) Oh, and aaaaaargh!... ::runs off to scribble Fantod Tarot onto her wishlist while mumbling "A is for Amy..."::

Riversea	08 Jul 2004
I'd also like to see Peter Lawman do a deck. http://www.portalsgallery.com/lawman/lawman.htm These scans are bit dark; his work is quite colorful and detailed. And I read he enjoys symbolism and tarot, so where is HIS deck???

September Pixie	08 Jul 2004
Hmm Rob Zombie! :D Perhaps someone should drop a line, something tells me if he thought there would be interest he would do it. I too LOVE his work! BUT If I could ask ANY artist it would have to be her: Enayla - http://www.furiae.com but even an http://www.sbritt.com tarot would be cool :)

Cerulean	25 Jul 2004
I was looking for a Stone Tarot, came across an old picture that said Princess Wands and then searched the net until I came across the artist...not a tarot artist, but a professional illustrator... http://www.astone.com/stonework/stonework.html Zowie! I read a little of her stuff, mostly jaw-dropped at the pictures. If you go to the page about her, she posts an encouraging 'beginning' one and explains she's done 30 years and 10,000 drawings later....and she does say it's not magic, it's work... Oh, but what art comes from it! My preference only, though, for handmade---as some of the digital artists here do attain the same perfection much faster. Hope you enjoy it. Cerulean Mari

laura_borealis	25 Jul 2004
A Mark Ryden tarot would be beautifully creepy.

The 78th Fool	26 Jul 2004
Anyone remember Fergus Hall - the artist who painted US Games's 'Tarot of the Witches' ? He originally designed this deck to be used in the James Bond film 'Live and Let Die'. This was the first Tarot deck I ever saw, about 24 years ago and I'm still in love with it. The published edition has un illustrated pips in the Minor Arcana (not a problem for me in general) Obviously, in the film you didn't see all 78 cards and the deck was made to look like a fully illustrated one by the inclusion of a six of Swords and a Seven of Batons, illustrated in the Rider Waite style. If I had the money, the first thing I'd do is commission a full set of Rider style minor arcana to supplement the existing deck. Otherwise, I'd commission the fantasy artist Rodney Matthews, or I'd possibly get Martin Cannon, who painted Llewellyn's 'Witches Tarot' to do a deck to my specs A Tracy Emin deck would be rather good fun (possibly the Saatchi - Saatchi Tarot !) - but apparently her preferred medium is tent canvas which has proved to be rather too combustable for my kind of reading! Chris. xx

EminemsAngelBaby	26 Jul 2004
I was watching the movie Frida with a friend the other day and we were talking about what a wonderful tarot she would do.

Khatruman	26 Jul 2004
Alan Lee to do a real Lord of the Rings tarot. Alan Lee is the artist whose work was the basis for most all of the movie trilogy's special effects and scene constructions.

WolfSpirit	26 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman Alan Lee to do a real Lord of the Rings tarot. Alan Lee is the artist whose work was the basis for most all of the movie trilogy's special effects and scene constructions. Yes, I was thinking of those drawings too - I did not know who the artist was though, but I saw some of the drawings in the extended versions. That would make an awesome deck ! And I was also thinking of: Vincent van Gogh (for a colourful but not just cheerful deck) Mucha (for the ultimate art nouveau deck)

OakDragon	26 Jul 2004
Selina Fenech: http://www.selinafenech.com/ Bill Griffith: http://www.zippythepinhead.com/ Hugh Syme: http://www.hughsyme.com/

diane drizzy	26 Jul 2004
Brian Froud-I love his Faeries Oracle!

Auroramyst	26 Jul 2004
What a great thread! There are so many awesome artists listed. I'd have to add: Michael Whelan www.michaelwhelan.com and... Larry Elmore www.larryelmore.com

Eco74	27 Jul 2004
Sam Brown.... See some of his work here: http://www.explodingdog.com/ Very simplistic yet striking and I think that a tarotdeck in this style (possibly even with little comments like the ones with his pictures) would be absolutely facinating.

blue_fusion	27 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by WolfSpirit Yes, I was thinking of those drawings too - I did not know who the artist was though, but I saw some of the drawings in the extended versions. That would make an awesome deck ! And I was also thinking of: Vincent van Gogh (for a colourful but not just cheerful deck) Mucha (for the ultimate art nouveau deck) van gogh would be awesome. in fact i imagine that such a deck would have a wistful and sad quality to it, kinda like crying inside. as for mucha, yup thatd be the ultimate nouveau deck alright, but wasnt lo scarabeo's tarot art nouveau based on Mucha? My pick would be Gustav Klimt, Nick Bantock, Jason Mos(s) (local artist), Arnold Arre (another local artist), roy lichtenstein, andy warhol, rousseau, and many others. lol How about a jackson pollock tarot?! thatd be really, erm, nice. :D

Aun	27 Jul 2004
Yo kidding? Escher and Dali

WolfSpirit	27 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by blue_fusion as for mucha, yup thatd be the ultimate nouveau deck alright, but wasnt lo scarabeo's tarot art nouveau based on Mucha? It was painted by Antonella Castelli and done "in the style of" Mucha, but it is just not quite as good. And as we can dream in this thread ;) I choose Mucha himself

rosyelf	20 Aug 2004
I'm with laura borealis on this one-I would love a Remedios Varo deck. When I first came across her paintings nearly 4 years ago I couldn't believe my eyes-they were the kind of paintings I'd have painted if I'd had the talent! They seemed to encapsulate my own life-well, some of it !-on canvas, and that's an experience I've had with no other artist. (No, I don't mean I've received electric shocks off my own cat-see Varo's painting SYMPATHY-I'm talking metaphorically. Thought I'd better clear that up. I'm weird, but not THAT weird.) Also, Varo herself was very interested in Tarot, and it shows in her art.She has several paintings of the Hermit, for example. See her Catalogue Raisonne-available from a Mexican website called honmex- I forget the whole address but that should find them.

Rusty Neon	20 Aug 2004
I'd commission JC Flornoy to do the minor arcana for the colour restorations that he's done so far of the major arcana of the Noblet, Conver and Dodal Tarot de Marseille decks. http://www.letarot.com/pages/04flornoy.html

closrapexa	18 Oct 2004
My pick would definitely be a Marc Chagall deck. Dark, but in a dreamy way and somewhat sad, but powerful.

Jude Buffum	19 Oct 2004
Quote: A Mark Ryden tarot would be beautifully creepy. I would absolutely love a Mark Ryden Tarot deck!

ihcoyc	19 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Rusty Neon I'd commission JC Flornoy to do the minor arcana for the colour restorations that he's done so far of the major arcana of the Noblet, Conver and Dodal Tarot de Marseille decks. http://www.letarot.com/pages/04flornoy.html I'd want a Tarot de Marseille redone by Georges Rouault.

Jude Buffum	19 Oct 2004
I can't remember the artist who did the Marilyn Manson Tarot cards used to promote the Holy Wood album, but I would've liked to see a full deck (or at least all the Majors) done for that. They were very mysterious and unique. A little creepy for some maybe, but right up my alley.

The If you could commition ANY artist ............ thread was originally posted on 05 Jul 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.