Designing my Own Tarot Deck From Start To Finish
My Tarot Deck is complete, and I’ve made a YouTube video that shows my step-by-step process!
You can buy it here: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/marketplace/hurricane-violet-tarot-deck.html
If you can’t afford to buy a deck just yet, you can also help me out by liking the video, sharing it and subscribing to my YouTube channel.
Thanks to everyone who’s gone along on this journey with me! I appreciate your support more than words can say.
Special thanks to my friends Stephanie and Aliya who were the first to buy a deck to support me. You guys rock!
5 things I learned about art
From designing my own Tarot Deck
As I’m sure most of you who follow me on instagram know by now, I’m currently designing a tarot deck. I did this partly to keep busy while building clientele for my tattoo business, and partly to start building a portfolio of non-tattoo art for my commissions and gallery work. One unexpected consequence I should have but did not forsee was the improvement in my art.
For those of you who aren’t familiar, tarot cards were playing card decks invented in the late 14th or early 15th century in Italy. Eventually, they began to be used for divination purposes as well. There are typically 78 cards in a deck, and I planned to design a back cover as well, so when I decided to do this, I knew it was going to be a huge undertaking.
Now, I have all of the designs done and am currently rendering the last 14 cards. Being so close to finishing has made me reflect on everything that I’ve learned about art throughout the process. Here are my top 5 things I learned.
Contrast is Key
Contrast in art helps to guide the viewers eye to what you want them to focus on, and away from the things you dont. I had an old mentor during my tattoo apprenticeship who used to say that a tattoo should be at least 30% pure black. I didn’t fully understand what that meant until under taking this project. Having a contrast between your darkest and lightest tones is one way of providing contrast, and will really make your work pop. I started to think of other ways I could provide contrast in a drawing -like in the detail work. Where should I draw detail in a subjects clothing, or the background, and when should I hold back and keep it simple? I realized it all depended on where I wanted to draw the viewers eye. Cultivating this skill has improved my art tenfold in a short amount of time, and has given me the ability to make quick judgements about what the focal point of a piece should be.
Keep it Simple
One of the major beginner mistakes I made as an artist starting out was thinking everything would look better if it was super detailed. This ties in with contrast, in a way: if everything is super detailed, then things will get lost in a sea of cluttered ornamentalism. A good artist can figure out which details are important to convey contextual information in a piece, and what will just confuse viewers. I also learned how to add detail by using the simplest, fewest lines or strokes possible. You’d be amazed by how much information you can convey with just a few strokes of a brush (or a needle.)
My first few cards were difficult while I tried to figure out these big things like composition, details, etc. Eventually, I figured out that starting with a small thumbnail sketch to capture the general shapes and forms of the piece would allow me to convey a lot of information with less detail. I’ve begun to incorporate this more into my tattoos as well, to great results.
Have a Plan
Sometimes you just need to put pen to paper and get something out - it can push you past an art block or surprise you with a great idea you wouldn’t have necessarily thought of yourself. But when you’re undertaking a big or important project, you need to have a general idea of where it’s going. What are your themes? What do you want to convey? With 78 distinct designs that all convey particular meanings, I had to be very mindful of what I drew for each card and why. The meanings may have been personal and not what another person would have drawn, but they were deliberate, and that’s what counts. Next time you’re working on a piece, ask yourself: What am I trying to tell the viewer? What do I want them to feel?
Be Patient!
I’m a perfectionist- as someone who puts permanent art on people’s bodies, I kind of have to be. But that can be a double-edged sword. I get frustrated with myself when a design doesn’t come out the way I had originally imagined. I wanted to get these done quickly and efficiently, but some days I just had no motivation, or everything I drew seemed to come out wrong. I realized that pushing myself to design when I wasn’t in the right headspace, or not understanding what the cards wanted from me wasn’t the way to do things, and may make it harder later down the line if I had to go back to fix certain things I wasn’t happy with. When this happened, I would go take a walk, or go out to eat, or watch a movie. Sometimes stepping away from a piece and taking a breather can help you improve your art and finish quicker.
Trust the process!
Finally, art is a process. There were certain pieces that I just didn’t like at all when I first started. I believed I had chosen the wrong composition, shades, values, line weights, when in reality I just hadn’t rendered things enough to see it all come together. Sometimes, you have to trust yourself, and the process! You may be surprised how everything comes together.
My cards should be done by March, and after that I need to figure out how I want to print and sell them. I’ll be making updates on my instagram and here on my blog, so stay tuned for more information!
New Year reflections on 6 months in Seattle
I spent my 30th birthday celebrating that I had finally unpacked from my move to the Capitol Hill neighborhood of rainy Seattle, WA. It feels surreal to be starting my third decade in a new, big city but I couldn’t be more grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received.
I fully expected that I would spend several months trying to build up clientele, that I would struggle before I would succeed. The tattoo enthusiasts of the greater Seattle area proved me wrong.
On one hand, it IS lucky that there were two Friday the 13ths in a row right after I moved. On the other, nothing can account for the kindness, enthusiasm and just general awesomeness of the clients I’ve had so far. I’ve been able to do some awesome pieces that have pushed me to grow as an artist - pieces that I plan to include in my next portfolio book. I’ve also been able to meet some great people - the sense of community in Capitol Hill is unlike any other.
I still have a long way to go before I’m completely settled here, but you all have made it so much easier than I ever thought it could be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I’m taking this special time between Christmas and the New Year to reflect on the big changes I’ve made in 2024, and the types of changes I’d like to make in the New Year.
When I moved, I lowered my hourly rate to $120, and offered a 20% discount for new customers.
In 2025 I will still be offering 20% off your first tattoo, but I will be raising my rates back up to the regular $150/hour.
I’m also going to try to get into some gallery and printed work. I’m halfway through designing a tarot deck which I hope to sell at local galleries, bookshops and on my website. Stay tuned for more information sometime in March on that front!
Finally, I would like to continue networking with other local artists, gallery owners and art/tattoo enthusiasts. If you wanna chat art, please connect with me on instagram @hurricane.violet!
Happy new years, everyone.
What happens to your tattoos when you die?
As getting tattooed has become more popular over the years, people have started to wonder what happens to their tattoos after they die. Is there any way to preserve them as actual artwork?
One company has pioneered the process and is offering it to tattoo lovers’ families. Save Your Ink Forever, currently the only company of its kind, is based out of a funeral home in Ohio. They will send the funeral home you work with a “recovery kit” that includes all the necessary legal paperwork, a “how-to” video for the mortician, and supplies to recover the tattoos. The funeral home would then then send the recovered tissue to the company to be processed and preserved in a frame.
Some people think this process is frightening or taboo. Others consider it a way to honor their loved ones and their passions. Would you want to preserve YOUR tattoos after death? Message me on instagram if you’d like to chat about it!
Frequently Asked Questions
More people are getting tattooed today than ever before, and the demand for tattoos and tattoo artists has led to greater transparency in and outside of the industry.
Still, it can be intimidating to walk into a shop for your first tattoo. Or maybe you’ve gone to several artists, and all of them expect different things from you. Since artists are usually independent contractors and we all run our businesses differently, it can be a confusing process.
In today’s post I’ll be talking about some questions I get asked a lot by clients. I hope this will help anyone who’s confused or intimidated by the process!
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Q: What information will an artist ask for prior to a tattoo appointment?
A: You should be able to tell your artist what kind of design you want, a style (if applicable) such as neo-traditional, fine line, geometric, etc. You will also need to tell them the placement area on the body, the size of the tattoo, whether you want it in black & gray or color, and what your budget is.
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Q: What do I need to do to prepare for my first tattoo?
A: Tattooing is a medical procedure as much as a cosmetic one. While it usually isn’t as painful as your college roommate or older cousin hyped it up to be, it’s important to come in ready for a procedure that will put a physical strain on your body.
You should come in well-rested and hydrated. You should eat a full meal before getting tattooed, as the adrenaline rush can cause fainting on an empty stomach.
You should wear loose-fitting clothing that can be moved to expose the area to be tattooed, and won’t rub against it afterwards.
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Q: Can I get tattooed if I have [insert medical condition here] ?
A: You should tell your artist if you have any medical concerns, especially allergies. Some types of tattoo products may contain glucose or glycerin - if you’re diabetic, it’s important for your artist to know so they can avoid using these types of products. You should also not get tattooed if you’re breastfeeding or pregnant, or on certain medications that affect your skin, such as Accutane. If you have any concerns, it can be helpful to ask a doctor. In some cases a doctor may need to write a note giving you permission to be tattooed.
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Q: How bad does tattooing hurt?
A: A lot of people describe the active tattooing process to feel like a cat scratch, or being scratched by a safety pin. Many describe the pain post-tattooing to feel like a bad sunburn. Certain places on the body will hurt more than others. I usually tell people if you’re ticklish in a specific area of the body, it will probably hurt more to be tattooed there due to the extra nerve endings. It’s also typically more painful on the hands and feet, around joints or over bone. You can discuss more with your artist on ways to minimize the pain.
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Q: Can I use numbing cream?
You should verify with your artist prior to using numbing creams. These creams can affect the quality of your skin and cause issues with your healing tattoo. It may affect the quality of the tattoo itself. Make sure to check with your artist to ensure you’re using them safely and efficiently.
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Q: Is there anything I should NOT do during a tattoo?
Please don’t try to change things about the design or placement after an artist has already started tattooing you. Changes should be made during the consultation phase, or prior to the actual procedure.
Please don’t hit on your tattoo artist. They are there to perform a service, not to be flirted with. Your artist should also not be flirting with you during the service, and if they do you are well within your right to stop the procedure or discuss it with shop management.
Please don’t put your personal items on the floor. Blood is a biohazard, and tattoo shop floors are covered in it. We sanitize the shop to the best of our abilities but it’s best to place personal items in the area designated by your artist or the shop.
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If you ever have a question before, during or after your tattoo, please reach out to your artist! Your artist should be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the process. You can also reach out to me via email or instagram if you have general questions or would like to schedule an appointment!