This week I'm going to share with you how I started making my Signs and Symbols artspiration card deck.
I've always had a great interest in signs, symbols and sigils.
And the fact that when you are mark making at a very basic level you've got lines and circles and shapes.
This is what I thought I would base my Signs and Symbols artspiration cards on.
Now it did occur to me that I might not be able to find as many signs and symbols as I required for a full deck, but this is one of those projects that you start, and it grows with you.
Decks
A card deck is like a pack of cards.
For instance, in a regular playing card deck there are 52 cards plus a joker.
In a regular tarot card you have 22 major arcana cards and 56 minor arcana cards totalling 78 cards in all.
Now of course I can add more if I want to.
There is no hard and fast rule about how many cards you need in your deck.
Your deck could have 22 (like the major arcana), 52, 69 or 101 cards.
It's your choice.
52 Weeks
I decided I would start with 52 cards in my deck because I do like to do artworks one-a-week style.
Each year has 52 weeks and if I create one card each week, I will end up with a card deck with 52 cards at the end of the year.
I've previously done 52 Herbs and 52 Meditative art coloring books which are once-a-week art practice coloring books.
You can decide on the name for your card deck either now or later.
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What Are Artspiration Cards?
Art + Inspiration = Artspiration
Artspiration Cards are a beautiful blend of creativity and encouragement.
They are small, hand-crafted cards and with usually around 50 to 70 cards in a set which offer visual and emotional inspiration.
These cards can be used for daily art prompts, moments of gratitude, uplifting affirmations or quiet personal reflection.
They are not fortune-telling cards.
Instead, artspiration cards are open-ended, have a gentle message and for those of us in the slow lane.
They help you connect with your own creativity, mood and inner wisdom, whatever that means for you.
You might think of them as:
Inspiration cards for your art studio
Gratitude prompts for mindful living
Creative cues to spark your next innovative piece
Or simply a personal deck of beauty and meaning
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Images and Theme
Cohesive
In my deck, each artspiration card features an image that you create.
This could be a symbol, scene, shape, color blend or anything that speaks to your theme.
For a harmonious and professional look, it's a good idea to keep all your cards within the same:
Color palette (pastels, brights, blues or black and white etc.)
Art style (abstract, impressionist or cartoonish etc.)
Medium (such as watercolor, pen and ink, colored pencil or collage)
This gives your deck a cohesive and intentional feel, even if each card expresses something unique.
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Benefits of Making Your Artspiration Deck
Internal
There are a few benefits to making your very own artspiration card deck apart from that you get to have a lovey collection of cards at the end.
Creative Self-expression
This is a chance to play, explore and stretch your creative wings in a format that feels light and doable with just one small card at a time.
Personal Reflection
Your deck becomes a personal tool that you can turn to for journaling, intention-setting or quiet inspiration. Each card holds a message that is just for you.
A Year-Long Art Project
If you create one card per week, you will have a full deck after a year. It is a meaningful project which you can build gently over time, without overwhelm.
Your Art, Your Way
Love bold colors or gentle lines, abstract shapes or nature sketches? Let your style set the tone in your drawing, painting, collage or mixed media. β
Set Your Theme
Deck Focus
It is a good idea to choose a focus for your deck.
Perhaps you are interested in cats, gardening herbs, summer fruit pies, violins or ethereal topics.
Whatever you are most interested in in life and what you know most about, why not choose that as your first theme?
You can make other card decks with other themes later.
The possibilities are endless.
Deck Focus Examples
Here are some ideas for your card deck theme:
Emotions: Mood of the day, happy, sad or melancholic.
Nature: Trees, volcanoes, seeds, rivers or flowers
Affirmations: Feel good messages
Goddesses: Nomkhubulwane, Freya or PapatΕ«Δnuku and yes, I had to check the spelling too.
Imaginarium: Fairies, elves, goblins or ghosts.
Crafts: Baking cookies, sewing stitches, weaving, cordage patterns or spinning.
Animals: Woodland animals, farm animals, tropical fish or water birds.
Symbols: Signs and symbols (this is the one I'm doing)
Keep your theme either loose or specific and do whatever feels inspiring to you.
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Getting It Done
Gentle Weekly Rhythm
Creating one artspiration card per week is a simple, achievable pace that works especially well for hobby artists like us with with full lives.
Over the course of a year, this steady rhythm will give you a beautiful 52-card deck, without the stress of rushing or the demand for perfectionism.
Stay Consistent - No Pressure
Let's face it, life happens.
Some weeks flow creatively as the muse arrives, while others feel slower.
The idea is to keep showing up, gently.
It is really not about making a masterpiece every time, but rather it's about enjoying the process, staying connected to your creativity and making space for your art in your week.
You do not have to finish a whole card in one sitting.
You can spread the process out to fit your energy level and time available for art.
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Materials
Card Stock
You will need thick paper or card stock.
I started with watercolor paper, but soon discovered it was too wrinkly to shuffle the cards easily.
Then I went onto Bristol board which is a smooth medium weight cardboard.
Measuring the Cards
Each of my artspiration cards is 94mm (3ΒΎ inches) x 140mm (5Β½ inches).
I measured each page out with a pencil and ruler.
I can get four cards from one sheet of A4 paper.
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Cutting Corners
I began cutting the rounded corners with a pair of scissors but they all looked so squonk.
It annoyed me.
So I decided to invest in a handy dandy corner cutter.
You can have just the art, art and a title, art a title and a meaning or any combination of these.
The trick is to do the same thing on every card in a particular deck.
If you have a card title, then every card needs a title.
If you have a card meaning, then every card needs a meaning.
Decide if you want words on the cards, a title, a phrase, or just the art.
Card Companion Notebook
I have a small field notebook which I'm using to record each card.
Additionally, this turns out to be a handy guide about the next cards I'm going to make.
I have a two-page spread and sketch the image for card on the right-hand page.
The title of the card, the meaning and words are on the left-hand page.
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Document Your Creative Journey
Keep a journal or sketchbook alongside your deck.
Use it to:
Reflect on the meaning behind each card.
Track your ideas, color palettes, and materials.
Note how your technique or style evolves over time.
Celebrate little wins and breakthroughs.
Looking back at your notes will show just how much growth happens, both in your art and in yourself.
Guidebook
Potentially, you might want to write a small guidebook at the end of the year.
If you decide to commercially publish your card deck you ought to provide a guidebook explaining each card.
You do not have to do this.
Either way, to have a record of each card is a nice thing to have.
Legacy Stash
If your card deck gets into your legacy stash one day, then your family and those who come after you, will know that you were creating and perhaps more importantly why you created your cards in the first place.
If you create a deck aligned with your other interests in life, like pies, trees or angels, then this will reinforce your interest and not be seen as some random thing you did one year.
Something to think about.
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Staying Inspired
Keep Up
While art challenges are great fun to start, I sometimes find that I can't keep up in the end, and perhaps you are like me.
I'm pretty good at being gung ho and making the first seven to ten things for any project.
Like in my artspiration deck or my AHAtober prompts or my Artist Trading Cards, but by the time we get to day 27, 28 and 29, I am struggling to keep up with the project.
Here are a few ideas to make staying the course easier for you and me.
Build Community and Let Your Deck Evolve
Creating your artspiration deck can be a very personal journey, but it doesnβt have to be a solitary one.
If you share the process with other people ,it can bring new energy, accountability and inspiration to your practice.
Join (or Start) a Creative Card Circle
Look for other artists who are also working on weekly card projects, inspiration decks or creative challenges.
You could perhaps:
Join an online group or forum.
Start a small circle with friends (in person or virtually).
Share your weekly card on social media using a custom hashtag that you choose.
To create alongside others keeps your momentum going and makes the experience more fun and you feel more connected.
Seasonal Inspiration
I am a huge fan of working within the natural tempo of the yearly solar cycle.
It is a great idea to let the rhythm of the year guide your creativity because each season brings its own energy, colors and feelings.
For example:
Winter: Stillness, reflection and inner wisdom.
Spring: Growth, fresh ideas, color and playfulness.
Summer: Joy, bold expression, sunlight and movement.
Autumn: Cards with warm tones, themes of letting go or the harvest.
You can even align your deck to natural festivals like spring or harvest festivals or maybe even lunar phases like the New Moon or Full Moon.
Let Your Deck Evolve Naturally
Do not worry if your early cards feel different from your later ones.
That is the beauty of a year-long project.
Your skills, style and themes will grow and develop with you.
In fact, this is a good sign that you are evolving as an artist.
Trust the process and let your deck reflect who you are at each stage.
It doesn't need to be perfect, but rather it just needs to be yours.
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Bookshelf: Card Decks
Ready Made Card Decks
Here are a few inspirational ready-made card decks which you may enjoy.
I encourage you to make a card deck that truly reflect who you are, what interests you and how you do art.
There is no right or wrong way to make a personal deck.
You do you.
My role is to inspire you to just start and then you can see where it goes.
Artistic Journey
I also urge you to revel in the quest or crusade which you are on.
Although to have a final deck is the main goal, please do not ignore the things that you discover along the way.
It's a great idea to celebrate the journey as much as the final product.
What you discover about yourself, what interest you and your art style or favorite color palette will help you as you move forward in your own hobby art practice.
When To Start
They say that the best day to plant a tree was 20 years ago, but the second best day to plant a tree is today.
This stands for your aspiration card deck as well.
The best day to have started your card deck was last year, but the second best day is today.
If creating some beautiful cards interests you, then start with one card and see how you go.
Let me know what you think. Tap [reply] to this email and drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you.
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