Cats have long been associated with the occult – Their poise and grace lends itself well to dusty shelves bristling with secret knowledge. Cats work very, very well for tarot. Dogs, for all of their innate goofiness and warmth, seemed too humble for future gazing. I grappled with this idea for some time – would a dog tarot deck even work?
I’ve had dogs my entire life, and while their personalities varied, they always felt like lights in the dark. I couldn’t, and still can’t, imagine life without a dog. Each one has been an unwavering and selfless companion. While this seems like enough to start with, I still was nervous that the end product would err on silly or corny. Humor is great, of course, but staying away from cheese was very important. I wanted to give this some gravity – as I felt dogs deserve a hallowed place next to cats in the tarot lore. Fortunately, I believe I’ve accomplished that.
It took about 6 months to plan, research, and complete the 78 card deck. Most of my compositions borrow from the Morgan-Greer deck, also liberally relying on symbolism in the classic Rider-Waite deck. I’ve attempted to match a breed with every card – matching different temperaments and traits with each cards underlying meaning.
The finished product will measure 2.75″ x 4.75″ with silver edges.
The original illustrations for each card were created with ink wash, and pen on hot-press watercolor paper.
By backing this project, you are helping me live out a childhood dream! No, but really – since middle school I have been obsessed with tarot decks. As a budding illustrator I would often copy tarot layouts and imagine one day having my own. The only remaining step in this project is the printing!
I am offering a few tiers – Everything from 5 x 7 inch prints to full decks, originals, and custom pet portraits. I am beyond grateful for anyone willing to help make this a finished product.
While the lion’s share of the work is done, a large amount still remains in printing and packaging. My monetary goal and timeline are based off of pre-existing quotes with some extra padding in case of changes. I feel prepared, but this is is also my first time approaching a large project like this – so any bump along the way will be communicated well.