Arcana Playing Cards

The Arcana Playing Cards deck, created by artist Chris Ovdiyenko, is a unique 56-card playing card set that draws deep inspiration from the history and symbolism of tarot. While primarily a standard playing card deck, it integrates elements from the Rider-Waite-Smith, Tarot of Marseilles, and Sola Busca Tarot traditions. The deck was offered in two distinct versions, a 'light' and a 'dark' edition, each with its own aesthetic.

Ovdiyenko meticulously correlated the four playing card suits with their tarot counterparts: Spades with Swords, Clubs with Wands, Hearts with Cups, and Diamonds with Pentacles. To further bridge the gap between playing cards and tarot, the deck includes four Major Arcana cards—The Tower, The Lovers, The Fool, and Death—which replace the traditional jokers and extra cards found in a standard USPCC playing card deck. This thoughtful integration allows the deck to be used for traditional card games while also hinting at cartomancy applications.

The artwork is entirely hand-drawn, combining scratchboard techniques with digital tablet drawing to achieve a detailed and unique style. The campaign emphasized the artist's dedication to ensuring the intricate imagery remained clear and impactful at the relatively small scale of playing cards. This deck represents a fusion of two card systems, offering a fresh perspective on both playing cards and their historical connection to tarot.

This deck is ideal for playing card collectors who appreciate custom, art-focused designs and those interested in the historical connection between playing cards and tarot. It appeals to individuals who enjoy cartomancy using standard playing cards, as the integrated Major Arcana and suit correlations provide a subtle nod to divination. The detailed, hand-drawn aesthetic will also attract art enthusiasts who value intricate illustration and unique production methods.

Chris Ovdiyenko, the artist behind Arcana Playing Cards, embarked on this project to honor the intertwined history of standard playing cards and tarot. His inspiration stemmed from the fact that both systems share common roots and are still used for similar purposes in different cultures. Ovdiyenko's artistic process involves combining scratchboard techniques with digital drawing on a tablet, drawing from diverse sources like art history, found images, and his own sketches. He dedicated approximately a year to the project, meticulously drawing each card to ensure the intricate details were clear at playing card scale.