The Wooden Tarot: Full Deck

The Wooden Tarot, created by artist Andy Swartz, is a complete 78-card tarot deck. It originated as a Major Arcana-only deck, with this Kickstarter campaign successfully funding the addition of the Minor Arcana, allowing for a full reprint. The deck is characterized by its unique aesthetic, which draws inspiration from woodcut art, giving it a rustic and earthy feel.

The campaign, launched in 2014, raised over $24,000 from 648 backers, indicating strong community interest in Swartz's artistic vision. The expansion to a full 78-card deck means it includes all 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards, making it suitable for comprehensive tarot readings. While specific details about the card stock or finish are not provided in the campaign story, the focus on 'wooden' in the title and the art style suggests a natural, perhaps textured, presentation.

The deck's development involved original matted sketches and numbered card paintings for the Minor Arcana, some of which were offered as backer rewards. This highlights the hands-on artistic process behind the deck's creation. The Wooden Tarot aims to provide a full and functional tarot experience while maintaining a distinct visual identity that sets it apart from more traditional or digitally polished decks.

The artwork for The Wooden Tarot is described as having a woodcut-inspired aesthetic, which typically implies strong lines, high contrast, and a somewhat raw, textured appearance. This style often uses a limited color palette, or even black and white, to emphasize form and symbolism. Given the name, it's likely the imagery evokes natural elements, possibly with a focus on flora, fauna, or rustic themes, rendered in a manner reminiscent of traditional printmaking. The campaign mentions original matted sketches and numbered card paintings, suggesting a hand-drawn origin for the illustrations, which would then be adapted for the final card production.

This deck is well-suited for tarot readers who appreciate unique, art-driven decks with a distinct aesthetic, particularly those drawn to rustic, natural, or folk art styles. It appeals to collectors interested in indie decks and original artwork, especially those who value a more grounded and earthy approach to tarot. Experienced readers looking for a deck that offers a fresh visual interpretation while maintaining the traditional 78-card structure will find it engaging.

Andy Swartz is the artist behind The Wooden Tarot. The project began with a Major Arcana-only deck, and the success of this Kickstarter campaign enabled him to complete the full 78-card set by adding the Minor Arcana. His creative process involved producing original matted sketches and individual card paintings, some of which were offered as unique rewards to backers, underscoring the artisanal nature of the deck's development.