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The Queen of Washington

Update #20 · Jul 7, 2012 · comment

I'm writing this from my mother-in-law Cindy's house on Marrowstone Island, WA where I've been for the past few days. Amy and I flew cross-country ostensibly to do a photo shoot with her grandmother Marcy, although we scheduled it such that we could also have a blast today attending her family's 4th of July holiday gathering. For the record - I am as lousy at Volleyball today as I ever was, but I had fun all the same.

The Queen of Cups

I learned today that Marcia Wootan's Native American name is "Caring Heart", a title she earned through a "medicine wheel" group at her local church that she's been a part of for the past few years. I mention that as a way to point out how appropriate the Queen of Cups, the emotional center of the court cards, is for her. I decided to subtitle my Queen of Cups as "The Therapist" - an occupation whose whole life is wrapped up in listening to other people's emotional issues, and helping them resolve them. Marcy has an amazingly expressive face (I've also learned that one of her previous jobs was as a birthday clown for children...) and we had a lot of fun with the shoot. For those counting, this will be second card so far where my feet make a cameo appearance. I'd like to also thank Dr. Stephen Ohayon for this card, the therapist I saw for many years when I was in a pretty rough patch of my adolescence - his office was a clear inspiration for this composition and he was certainly an inspiration for me when I needed it.

https://plus.google.com/photos/113639566912606521037/albums/5762116532572588689?authkey=CKrosqmgsLDxtAE

The Princess of Cups

I've still yet to meet the woman who will be posing for this card - Susan Goodell will be flying into NY from Cleveland in a few weeks for her photo shoot. However, while I was out here in WA, I realized that Amy's mom has all of the props that I would need for reference. My Princess of Cups is going to be a Costume Designer, and I knew that I would need a dressmaker's dummy and a sewing machine in the composition. As a master seamstress and dressmaker, Cindy had everything I needed on hand and was happy to stand-in for the model while I photographed the reference I'd need. I used a single spotlight (which I had happily brought along just in case) and set up some really dreamy lighting on this little dance scene.

https://plus.google.com/photos/113639566912606521037/albums/5762632951226912481

We're flying back tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to finally getting back to actually finishing some of these cards - all these photo shoots lately have been great, but I want to be able to start checking cards off the list again.

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    My personal thanks, made physical in the form of a single signed card from the completed set, along with online access to a full set of downloadable wallpapers featuring the Major Arcana. Additionally, I'll include your name in the catalog, as one of the contributors who made the set possible.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
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    The Book. A complete guidebook to the Urban Tarot deck, with full color images of each card and a description of both the meanings behind it and the process that went into it, signed by the artist. Plus, access to the online wallpapers and a mention in the catalog as above.

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    The Deck Itself. One finished, packaged, fully usable tarot deck consisting of all 78 cards. Individually signed and numbered from the first-run set for contributors to this Kickstarter project only. Additionally, you will receive the full-color guidebook to all the cards in the set and a thank you note from me.

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    The Querent Card: In addition to everything included at lower levels (The guidebook, a first-edition signed deck, etc.) you get one card of your choice from the set to receive as a signed 12"x18" high-quality digital print.

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    The Hermit and the Leviathans: In addition to a first-edition deck and guidebook, one contributor will receive a print of The Hermit signed by the artist and the model - Christopher Hall. Mr Hall, a paleontologist and docent at the American Museum of Natural History, will hand you your reward package at the museum, where you and up to 5 friends will be treated to a personal 2-hour guided tour of the Fossil Halls.

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    The Devil's Night: In addition to a first-edition deck and guidebook, one contributor will receive a print of The Devil signed by the artist and the model - Anthony Bamonte. Mr. Bamonte will take you on a guided tour of New York's exotic nightlife, and treat you to drinks and entertainment at a selection of interesting bars and unusual locales, tailored to your own preferences and interests.

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    The Chariot and the Feast: One contributor will receive one large print of The Chariot, signed by both the artist and by the model - Tse Wei Lim. The print, plus two full first-edition tarot decks and guidebooks, will be waiting for the contributor at his/her table at Journeyman, an elegant restaurant founded by Mr. Lim and his wife Diana Kudajarova in Somerville, MA. The lucky contributor will meet the model and enjoy a full 5-course dinner for two, prepared by the man himself and his legendary team.

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    Strength, Justice, and the Game: One contributor will receive large prints of both Strength and Justice, signed by both the artist and by the model - noted game designer and speaker Jessica Hammer. Ms. Hammer will conduct a 2-hour seminar for you and up to 7 of your friends on a game-design topic to be decided in consultation with you. For those who cannot travel easily to the NY area, arrangements over Skype can be made. This reward will also include a full first-edition tarot deck and guidebook for you and each of your guests (up to 8 total).

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    Join the Cast: You can loan your image to one of the remaining cards in the set. I'll consult with you and determine the card that makes the most sense for you, then we'll plan a 1-hour model shoot in NYC, where I'll get photographic reference of you posing in the design I've sketched out. When the deck is complete, you'll get the full deck, guidebook and of course a full-size signed print of the card that you helped create.

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    Weekend with the Artist: One contributor will stay with us for a weekend at our apartment on the Upper West Side of NYC. You will not only get to model for one of the cards, but you'll also see how it all comes together. I'll give you 1-on-1 lessons in my design process and in how I work digitally. You'll be treated to games, food and strange conversations with many of the card models, and I'll take you to some of my favorite spots around the city. And we'll send you off with a reward package including a deck, guidebook and two prints of your choice, plus you'll naturally get a third print of the card you modeled for, once it's complete.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012