Tarot and Fantasy art ideas

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

DarkChild	28 Jan 2003
im not sure if this is the right place to start this, but i really didn't know where else to start it so ill just start it here.... ive recently started to draw tarot related things, and im starting to run out of ideas as to what to do next. i was woundering if anyone had any website, or book suggestion as to where i might find new "inspiration" for my next peice. and i know one of my friends is really interested in what i come up with... im also interested in the artists who illistrate tarot decks, and if they have any other work besides just tarot decks.... im also currently working on a gargoyle drawing that will become a tatto for my english teacher, and im having a hard time coming up with an idea of what it'll look like, and i was woundering if anybody had any website links that could help me? i would also appreciate any other links with cool fantasy type things too. i would greatly appreciate any and all feedback.. Thanx :) ohh...it would be cool to get suggestions on new artwork too!

patter	28 Jan 2003
I suggest you post link to what you have already done -- then maybe you will get more suggestions about how to develop it. Though in purely artistic terms you might do better on a site like epilogue.net or deviantart to get suggestion that do not relate to tarot.

Jewel	28 Jan 2003
If you are interested in tarot realted art then why not look at tarot card images for ideas. There are literally hundreds of decks to look at and be inspired by.

HudsonGray	28 Jan 2003
One of the things I started with was doing 2 page sets of animals with fantasy costumes or historical costumes. OPDAG (Original Paper Doll Artists Guild) has a site online with some good suggestions. The sky's the limit for you. Do any greeting cards yet? Small home-made books with front illustrations? You CAN sell drawings to rubber stamp companies also (only about $4-$8 a drawing, but they get reproduced on rubber stamps). Etc. Do some online searches for 'fantasy art' or 'science fiction art'. There's a LOT online. Ditto for gargoyles.

DarkChild	28 Jan 2003
HudsonGrey: humm, ive never done the 2 page sets of animals..i might have to try that sometime...ive never done greeting cards, but i have done holiday cards (mostly christmas type ones) that are usually pretty cool, a lot of people have mistaken them for ones you buy in the store..lol...ive don'e a lot of hand made books (with all original artwork), mostly journal type ones or blank ones that you can put pictures, or music (writen) in...ive made them from a lot of diffrent materials, my favs are plexyglass, and metal, unusual material for books are my my personal prefrencies. ive never thought about doing them for stamps...sounds cool... Jewel: thats what i did when i first began, but because i only have one deck, a lot of the websites ive been too only have a limited number of picture from diffrent decks, and the fact that i find a lot of the ones i have seen are "dull" (i guess you could say) and really don't 'inspire' me, it makes it a little harder...i was just asking if anyone had a deck/card in mind that really struck them (illistration wise.) the celtic shaman's deck is cool to go off from. Patter: im not sure i really understand what your saying about "post link to what you have already done" ... thank you for the tip about the epilogue.net, and divianart suggestions. Thank you everybody for your input... until we meet again...

HudsonGray	28 Jan 2003
That 'post a link' means they think you have something up online that shows your art--posting a link will let them go see it. There are all sorts of places where you can post art. Deviantart is one site, but the pages load VERY slowly, it took me 5 minutes to see 4 pages worth. Another is VCL -- http://vcl.ctrl-c.liu.se/vcl/Artists/New/ -- but this is mostly for artists who do anthropomorphic art (animal/human blends, anything from Bugs Bunny style to realistic dogs walking on two legs). There are tons of places like this online. The VCL has everything from 13 year old untrained artists to professionals, but 80% of it is just 'we're still learning' kind of art. There's some gems in there, but you have to really look hard for them. The paper dolls sell, for me, fairly easily. I take them to some events, have them in a spinner rack which holds 16 different types, and price them at either $3 or $4 a set. Got some clear plastic sleeves from the comic shop to package the sets in & the sets have more than paid for themselves. The reactions I got off the humorous ones were what set me to thinking about making the Ferret Tarot. Feedback has been tremendous on it in the last week. Keep your mind open on the options with art. It's more than just illustrations or magazine fillers--you can use it for a wide variety of things, from bookmarks to stickers to greeting cards, rubber stamp designs, paper dolls, framed or matted art, etc. Even phototransferred to fabric for making into scarves or pillows or whatever.

DarkChild	28 Jan 2003
thats what i thought it ment, but i wasn't completely sure so i tohugh i would ask...the only thing with doing that, which i would love to do, is you need to either scan, or get your peices onto the computer, and i have no way of doing that.... ill have to go check out this VCL place you speak of, it sound cool. i have had some of my work in a few exhibitions this past year or two, earlier this year one of peices sold at the Arizona State Fair, that was cool...i have found though that because a lot of my workthat isn't fantasy type stuff is contraversial, so it is hard to find places that will exhibit them which kinda stinks, but its all about learning right now, and sooner or later ill find a place that will show them. and i do have a wide veriety of work from book to photograpy to drawing and painting, i have dabled in ceramics too, but not nearly as much as id like. my main art work though is drawing and painting. hmmm, ferret tarot....sounds interesting....please keep me updated about this idea of yours....

HudsonGray	28 Jan 2003
Oh, I've got a thread over on Tarot Deck Creator's board under the name One MORE Deck Hits The Table. I've got a link to some of the art up on picturetrail (www.picturetrail.com is a free site for posting your art if you can get anyone to scan yours in & put it to floppy for you). The link is there, or you can go to www.picturetrail.com and type in FalconsMew in the album selection. I've got 5 pages of the cards up. Steve also has images of his New Visions Tarot up there also. I've got 36 cards done, and have good sketches for about 18 to 20 others. The work progresses!

Violet Gargoyle	28 Jan 2003
**Clears Throat and points to the left where the Avatar that Kayne created for someone....***

DarkChild	29 Jan 2003
thank you hudson grey for all your help, you have been most helpful!!! ill have to go check out picture trail later...my goal right now is to find a way to get some of my art on a floppy..**pounders in head.. i think ill talk to Mr. Andres (my drawing/painting teacher) tomarrow before i leave....maybe the school has a scanner i can use..** ill figure it out sooner or later... ..lol...hehehe...thank you violet gargloyle, very subtle that was, and helpful...thats a really cool avatar...i think that might be kind-of what she wants....gret insperation until we meet again..:D

Cerulean	30 Jan 2003
First, fantasy and celtic style art: http://iandaniels.freewebspace.com/photo3.html Ian Daniels illustrated "Tales from the Celtic Underworld" and another title by John Matthews You mentioned Chesca Potter from Celtic Shaman...there's some of her Greenwood Tarot writeups and paintings below--may take some time to load: http://www.herebedragons.co.uk/chesca/cp/green.htm Er, gargoyles in general, I don't know. There's Tarotdeparis.com, where you might find a gargoyle statue. Hope these help. Best wishes, Mari H.

DarkChild	30 Jan 2003
Mari_Hoshizaki- thank you for the web-sites, especially the fantasy/celtic style art one! ill be sure, when i check out the other site, to leave time for the pics to load. thanks again...all of you...youve all been a tramendous help! :D

Ravenswing	02 Feb 2003
Dark Child-- Here's a couple for you: Acting slightly egotistical, check out Tarot > Tarot Decks > in progress: tarot of the four worlds. Get a copy of Garden of Pomegranates by Israel Regardie. Half the book is pathworking, highly descriptive imagery. There's enough there for hundreds (quite literally) of paintings. I've attached one of my favorites. It's the moon from the deck I'm working on. Keep watch, art is everywhere Ravenswing

DarkChild	02 Feb 2003
Ravenswing- that book sounds really cool, it might take me a while to get it because of the $$. ill be sure to look at the attachment!! it all sound very fasinating!! :)

DarkChild	02 Feb 2003
WOW!!! i just looked at your attachment!! thats awsome, i really like it...can't wait to see the rest of your deck!

DarkChild	06 Feb 2003
i just found out yestaerday that my teacher (the one om doing the tattoo for) is in to tarot and other thing of this nature!! she has a few deck, but i cant remember which ones they are for the life of me... :( anyway, now im thinking of maybe incorperation a tarot type feel or somthing to the tattoo!! what do you think? and any suggestions??

Demonesse	07 Feb 2003
Ravenswing, that Moon is beyond description. It's wonderful. Darkchild, you have an unbelievably cool teacher. As for the tattoo, there was a previous thread on this you can look up.

DarkChild	07 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse Darkchild, you have an unbelievably cool teacher. As for the tattoo, there was a previous thread on this you can look up. yea, i know, shes soo cool. Although im failing her class right now, shes still cool. i gave her some sketches today that ive been working on for the tattoo, and she was extremley excited! :) hrm..i was unaware that there had been another thread about this before...i guess im going to have to go searcheing for it! off i go to the archives.....

HudsonGray	23 Feb 2003
Darkchild, ever think about having one of your pictures put onto a t-shirt? There are places in the yellow pages that do this even for singles or limited runs. Prices vary, but our rubber stamp group a few years back had 18 done up for something like $8 each. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A horse! A horse! Of course... of course..."

DarkChild	23 Feb 2003
hrm... ive never really thought about puting any of my stuff on t-shirts...... im not sure how well that would really work because a lot of my stuff isn't the kind of stuff you usually see on t-shirts...and im sure that out here, people will charge you an arm and a leg to do that. i know my work pays a lot of money to get the shirts and other parafanalia we have. on another note..i am done the tattoo, i gave it to her friday afternoon. She seemed really exited about it. I have been working on getting my stuff onto the computer latley so i can put it on diviantart (which ive grown to love..lol..) i actually have the tattoo on the computer so once im not as busy ill work on putting that up. im also working on getting the peice thats in Art6 (exhibition) right now, and is being published in 'spectrum' later this year, on the computer too. its a bigger peice though, so it might take a little longer.

HudsonGray	23 Feb 2003
Here, check out this lady's work! http://www.johannas-art.com/catgallery.htm Have you tried magazine illos & such? The book Artists Market 2003 is excellent, it'll be at the bookstore in the reference section or at the library (same section). Lots of ideas there. I've had one piece turned into a tattoo by someone (my Hermit card), and another lady just contacted me about using the image of my belly dancing ferrets on her ebay site because she runs a ferret rescue & makes belly dancing clothing. I worked it as a trade for her passing interested parties on to me & as a plug for the deck I'm working on. I'd still say check out t-shirt places, they work with a lot of church groups & clubs for small numbers of shirts (even 1 or 2, you can get a good deal depending on the place). It's always nifty to wear your own art. AND you never know what style of art will be appreciated, so don't go counting it out. Mary-el (http://www.mary-el.com/tarot.html) put her tarot cards up on greeting cards over at a 'cafeshop', which also does t-shirts, you might want to check that out. You supply the art, the site does the printing & takes a minimum cut--you price the item at whatever you want & pocket the profit. No back stock needed, it's printed as the orders come in & they do all the work. If you go to mary's site, she's got a post about it over there about halfway down the page. Getting set up & opening a 'store' is all free.

DarkChild	24 Feb 2003
her work is cool, i don't like all of it, but i must say she has a lot of talent..i like the CD illistration.... this is the first year that ive really started to explore with my art and getting it out into the public. This is the first time ive ever had anything publish..well i did in kidergarten, but that doesn't really counts... ive been in a few exhibitions before, but nothing real big. im still not sure about the t-shirt thing, but next time i have some time, ill check it out. i checked out the cafe place..cool place...mary-el is a good artist too...maybe over spring break ill have the time to really check some of this stuff out. another one of my delemas right now is i don't know how much to charge people for my work.....i have a few people interested in some of my stuff right now and im not sure how much to charge them. My teacher wants to pay me for the design, but again i don't know how much to charge...that type of thing is new to me...its all so confusing..:(

DarkChild	27 Feb 2003
im in the proccess of putting the tattoo up on deviantart!!! the picture isn't that great due to the lightsand the quality of the picure taken..and a lot of the shading and stuff i did you cant really see, but its up... its under Indy Art: Tattoo -- flaming gargoyle

Ravenswing	02 Mar 2003
dark child-- go check out some tattoo parlors and see what the market bears. for other artwork, go haunt a gallery or two-- don't forget the gallery pays more than just the artist... this might give you at least an idea of pricing. a little story: i worked with an artist who used to do craft and art shows all around the country. there was one show in DC that was really bad for him-- nothing was selling. when he asked the artist in the next booth-- who had sales galore-- if he felt his art might be 'inappropriate' for the show, the artist told him: 'there's nothing wrong with your work. you're just not asking enough for it.' 'what do you mean?' my friend asked. 'to these people, art is judged by what it cost. not at all what it is.' taking the artist's advise, my friend tacked another zero on the end of the pricetags. he nearly sold out the next day. same art at ten times the price... slightly confused at that one raven

DarkChild	02 Mar 2003
im gonna go check some out later this week, or next chance i get. that is really weird about your freind and the show....its a bit confusing. but ya know whatever floats there boat. thanx

HudsonGray	02 Mar 2003
I agree with Ravenswing, the same thing happened with an artist at the Ren. Faire here about 4 years back. She did hand painted scenes on eggs, priced them at $30 each & nothing sold so she kept putting prices down, some were down to $5 & still none were sold. Someone told her to stick $200 on each. She was desperate enough to do it, THEN they started moving! She was undervaluing them & people were ignoring them alltogether. The public is so used to bargain stuff & imports from out of the country, if art isn't priced higher, nobody takes notice of it. I've had people tell me all the time I'm undervaluing my stuff (AFTER they pay for it of course). I tell them I'm making a profit & want everyone to be able to afford something from me. Most of mine is under $50, but I'm happy with what I'm getting for it. However, when I do make a large piece, I put the price up accordingly. Art has it's own 'pricing categories'. Fine arts is about the worst to try to put price tags on, you never know where to price it at.

DarkChild	02 Mar 2003
about a year ago my aunt(who is a painter) sold a oil on canvas 20" by 24" abstract for $560, and all of us though it was the uglyiest thing in the world. The prices people pay for art is insane. the one thing i hate about doing art, is pricing the items. i never know what to put it at. Someone is looking at buying one of my paintings right now, its an oil on canvas 20" by 24", and i think im gonna sell it for about $50. i find it so odd that people would pay so much $$ for some artwork.

The Tarot and Fantasy art ideas thread was originally posted on 28 Jan 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.