The Portland Tarot

The Portland Tarot is a 78-card deck conceived by Theresa Pridemore, a self-employed graphic designer and web developer based in Portland, Oregon. The deck aims to offer a fresh perspective on traditional tarot, incorporating modern themes and a playful yet evocative style. Each card is a unique work of art, created through a meticulous process of blending original photography with digital collage, resulting in crisp, surreal images that capture the unique energy and character of Portland.

Pridemore's vision for the deck was to create a tool for everyday use, addressing contemporary concerns such as business, career, love, and friendship in the digital age. While deeply rooted in the imagery and spirit of Portland, the deck is designed to resonate with a broader audience, offering insights that are both practical and uplifting. The campaign emphasized high-quality production, with plans for larger-than-average cards, durable card stock with a matte coating, and a comprehensive 100-page booklet, all housed in a beautifully constructed, velvety-soft box printed locally in Portland.

The deck's creation process involved extensive photography, including studio shoots for subjects and a large repository of landmark and accent photos, all meticulously combined through digital collage. Pridemore collaborated with award-winning illustrator Lee Moyer as a mentor, ensuring artistic quality. Despite its modern approach, the deck maintains the core magic and symbolism of traditional tarot, making it accessible for both seasoned readers and beginners who might find more obscure decks intimidating.

This deck is ideal for tarot readers who appreciate a modern, character-driven aesthetic and are interested in a deck that reflects contemporary life and urban culture. It particularly appeals to those who enjoy digital collage art and photography-based decks. Both seasoned readers looking for a fresh, intuitive approach and beginners who might be intimidated by more traditional or obscure decks will find its playful yet insightful style engaging. Fans of Portland, Oregon, will especially connect with its localized imagery.

Theresa Pridemore, a self-employed graphic designer and web developer who moved to Portland in 2002, began reading Tarot in 2008. Her desire for a deck that resonated with modern life and her adopted city inspired her to create The Portland Tarot. She aimed to blend her design expertise with her passion for tarot, embarking on a project that involved creating one card per week. Pridemore emphasized local, sustainable production and collaborated with award-winning illustrator Lee Moyer as a mentor, ensuring high artistic standards for her vision.