So...long before the deck creation

[Oneira]

I want to create my own deck, with acrylic paint. Before even creating a published deck, I would like to make hardcopies for myself and potentia future galleries. I'm asking my fellow artists, what do you think has better presentation and quality?

Should I go for canvas board, canvas paper, wood panel or a better option? I want to be economical, but I don't want to sacrifice quality.

As of now, I'm used to making large drawings and paintings (at least 18x24). I was looking at my art supply store with bewilderment on what would be best with a smaller painting.

Link me, please.

[HudsonGray]

I saw some of the originals of the Ancestral Path Tarot on display at a psychic fair and they were about 24" tall, I believe acrylic paints on canvas (not framed). This was before they were optioned by the publisher. The originals had to be sent to the publisher (you'd be looking at shipping costs for safe packing for your originals) and the publisher then photographed them and that's what they worked with. I don't know if she got her originals back now that the deck is out of print. She published her second deck herself.

It's up to you I think, for what works best with your medium and techniques. Use what'll be giving you the very best results and worry about the rest later.

[Oneira]

Ha. Considering how much it cost me just to get 50 prestretched 18x24 canvases shipped to my home, and how much space they take up, I'd be willing to go smaller.

How many originals did she have displayed at the psychic fair?

[HudsonGray]

I saw the Fool, Magician, and three others that I can't remember which now but they were from the Cups suit (which was the Native American one), but there was also a large photo album on the table with photos she'd taken of the others that had been finished, and I remember that she had almost all of the deck done. She'd sent query letters and photos out already and was waiting to hear something solid back on that.

Can you stretch your own canvas? Some artists do. But if you're looking at compactness, maybe the canvas board would be the way to go.

[Oneira]

Haven't learned canvas stretching yet. Couldn't be too difficult. I've never used a canvas board. From reading, I'm getting the impression that canvas boards are tacky, but somehow, I think that for painting a card, it would be ideal.

I also like the idea of wood panels, maybe even gilding the sides, but that'd cost more money.

But spending more money for the nice details means more value.

*sigh*

I would feel better if I had my paycheck.

[Sidhe-Ra]

Hi there!

The Tarot of the Sidhe is watercolour and Ink on A3 top quality watercolour paper, which I scanned myself at home. For my next deck, I'm planning on using acrylics, but mine will be on pre-stretched circular canvases, (I'm hoping to be able to photograph them myself, and forward the digital files to the publisher). If I was doing regular shaped cards, however, I would probably use canvas board.

(And a pedantic note, because I'm like that- the cups in the Ancestral path was the arthurian suit. Sorry. Completely irrelevant. I can be a bit of a Hermione Granger sometimes!)

Good luck with your project, I hope you will share it with us!

Blessings,

Em

[euripides]

My art history is a bit dodgy, but I have this idea that canvases were used for larger work because of the expense of large pannels of suitable timber. They've become 'standard' for any 'serious' work of art, but really, there are a great many great works on timber. The main thing is to get quality timber pannels and size and prime them properly. Stretching -is- a bit of an art, yeah not exactly rocket science, but you do need to get it right and make sure they're square.

My preference would probably be canvas mounted on board - solid and transportable. Transporting large stretched canvases can be a nightmare.

How are you going to capture your digital data? Professional photography costs a bomb but it isn't that hard if you have a decent camera and tripod, and know what you are doing. Otherwise you might want to consider keeping your work down to desktop-scanner size.

[Oneira]

I take history of Italian Rennaisance art, and I absolutely love wood panels. If i use those, I'll have to wait a while until I get enough money. I'm in real estate and the market is so slow right now. I think I might pass by this timber yard a small ways down from me and see how much they charge for wood planks. Maybe I can make my own panels.

I transfer about four 18x24 canvases with me a week and it feels like a lot. I'm thinking possibly 4x8 canvases or panels, so they could be large enough to be appreciated but small enough to scan.

I painted a collage the other week(basically created a collage and then painted it onto a larger canvas) and photographed it. The camera took out so much quality and color.

http://clothodesigns.com/granddespair.jpg

Although, fun part about my painting is that people keep seeing shadows in the window that aren't there. I'm hoping it happens some more.

[HudsonGray]

Ahh, you're right, the cups were the Arthurian suit, I was remembering all the woven bowls on the pictures--those were pentacles suit. My bad.

[Oneira]

I just managed to get 80 wood panels for $31.50. LOL. That's what hours on Ebay can get me.