Wow, it has been a whirlwind of art and planning this month.
CARD DRAWINGS We are happy to say the cards are progressing nicely, though unfortunately, not as fast as we would like. Art takes time, and sometimes art takes more time than one would think, especially the artist doing it.
You can check the current progress here. Lots of cards will need the final detail/texture treatment to get them to match and flow well together but they are all conveying the meaning of the card well.
Every card shown has a drawing done except for 9 of cups currently. All the other missing drawings are about 75% done, just needing the final line drawing/detail and color.
As you can see there are a few drawings missing the final render and color, but I'm happy to say that those don't take very long. I can do between 3 to 4 a day, sometimes more if I do a 12 -13 hour day. It just depends on what my other obligations are here at the gallery such as teaching, which I have now stopped until the first week in October bringing me to my next point.
SHOWS The main reason that these haven't progressed as much as we would have liked is that we unexpectedly got a 10x10 booth at Gencon a few weeks ago. Then about a week ago I got the info that we could upgrade to a 10x20 booth.
Those of you who know Gencon, knows that it isn't an opportunity to pass up. Some of my illustrator friends make 25% to 50% of their yearly income at this show if not more. We also got into Dragon Con, FanX, and Dragonsteel. Gencon and Dragon Con being our first time attending.
These events pay the bills so to speak and they are an important part of why I can specifically illustrate as my career. Naturally we needed to split our focus on these events a bit to make them a successful event hopefully.
Unfortunately, that means that the Tarot Deck being delayed in getting to the printer. Yes, it sucks, and I am very sad that I couldn't get this done before the shows as I had originally planned.
We hadn't gotten into Gen con and Dragon Con yet when this schedule was created. Originally I was rejected from Gencon but unexpectedly the chance fell into my lap due to two other artists who ended up giving up their booths.
So my Husband and I are scrambling to get everything put together for those two shows while I'm working on trying to finish all the illustrations.
TAROT TIMELINE My next timeline for completing all the artwork is the end of August. Thankfully, this actually gives Jennie Stevens, yes, that Jennie Stevens, who also works on edits for Brandon Sanderson, the opportunity to write up the card booklet!
She reached out after my previous monthly update in June mentioning that she would love to help me with the meanings of the cards and create specific card draws that are tuned to the deck. We are so excited to have her join the project.
While this isn't the update you hoped for with the delays we hope that the upgraded booklet will brighten your day and have you even more excited for the deck. We couldn't have asked for a better colaborator for the booklet.
August - Artwork done and sent to printer September - Receive tarot decks and begin shipping
SURVEYS Your surveys will be sent out by Saturday. Please be on the look out for them! We would love to get the product ordering started.
A FEW PRODUCT UPDATES While I have you here, there was an update on the card deck holders as well. The leather that they will be made out of is currently in limbo. Originally Petulant Pudgies was going to assist with cutting them out and we would purchase the leather but they have lost access to their laser.
So we am going to have the company that does the Tarot stands assist. They are currently pricing out leather that fits our needs and getting another sample cut out.
You can also see a sample video of the sketchbook that arrived today here as well. The front will be embossed with laser engraved side and back.
Thank you again, your support means the world to us and we continue to try to do everything we can to make sure that this will be the best product ever.
Cheers! - Kaitlund and Charles AKA Drawn to Dragons.
I'm on track to have all the drawings completed by the end of June and the colors finished by mid July! Once all of that is done, I will send them off to the printer after some final tweaks and printing will begin.
I will complete the booklet and other design work while that is in progress.
Let me know if you have questions. The Backerkit store is now up and you can grab the deck if you missed out during the main campaign.
Comments are sometimes spotty post campaign. If you don't get a response, reach out to [email protected]
I'll keep this brief, but just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you from Charles and I.
The Backerkit store will be open in the next couple of days. If you missed out on pledging, you will be able to do so then.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
As of right now The deck will be turned into the Printer at the end of June. Here is a breakdown of important dates.
BACKERKIT Store May - 24th to May - 26th
ART TURNED IN - June 31st
SURVEY August 14th
SHIPPING AND BACKERKIT STORE CHARGED - September 1st
ESTIMATED PLEDGE SHIPPING DATE - September 18th
These are estimated and can go one way or the other depending on different factors. The main one being getting the art into the printer by June 31st.
As I get the samples for the notebooks in hand I will send another update or two but for the most part I will dive head first into finishing the remaining cards.
Keep an eye out for them here. As I complete cards in batches, they will go up here.
We can still strive to unlock the fully embossed leather sketchbooks, so keep on sharing!
Thank you again, we hope you have a wonderful Memorial day weekend.
over 1,000% funded - Signed and Numbered Decks - New Prints
Good afternoon, everyone!
As we speed towards the finish line, I'm here again to express our gratitude for your support, reaching over 1,000% funded.
It has been a wild ride, and I couldn't do this without you all.
Now, to get to the important stuff.
I'm happy to let you all know this edition of my Draco Nouveau Tarot Deck will now be SIGNED and NUMBERED! I wanted to make this deck even more special for everyone who has pledged during the BackerKit campaign.
Having each deck be signed and numbered just made sense. You all were here from the beginning, and no matter how this Tarot Deck changes in the future, you will know that you have one from the original campaign.
I have also added "You Are Enough" prints to the Add-Ons.
For those of you waiting on the other design for "The Dragon and the Unicorn" I have a lil mockup done. It is meant to symbolize the Unicorn tapestries but the Dragon has freed the Unicorn from Captivity. Design is still in flux as creative endeavors go but hopefully I can get it finalized shortly.
We are still trying to reach the $35,000 goal to unlock the fully embossed bags and sketchbooks for each design. Don't forget to add those if you would like one.
Let me know what you think down bellow and don't forget to see my previous update to win one of the drawings from the tarot card deck!
We are closing in on unlocking the printed sketchbook rewards. Charles and I are so very grateful for your support.
With 51 hours remaining, the end is near!
This means sharing now is more important than ever. Anyone who shares the project will be entered to win a Tarot Card Drawing from me. Which tarot card drawing you ask? Well, the one of your choice!
That's right, you can choose one of the cards from the deck and win the drawing.
As long as you have already pledged more than $15 to the campaign, you will be eligible to win after sharing your link in this post's comments.
HOW TO WIN 1. Share the campaign link on social media, each share gets you an entry into the drawing. 2. Share my campaign posts, any of them will do as long as a link to my linktree or campaign is on it.
3. Comment your shared post link in the comments of this post. 4. Pledge to the campaign for $15 or more
The winner will be drawn on Thursday!
SKETCHBOOK SAMPLE I'm still awaiting the physical sample, but I was able to get a video from the manufacturer for the leather sketchbook cover. You can see the sketchbook here. These are all handmade and wonderful.
I'm very excited to get this sample. For now, I'm also awaiting a leather bookbag sample and a few other items with the same plate/design. Those may make their way onto the BackerKit store as well after I get them in hand.
As far as "The Dragon and The Unicorn" illustration. I'm still not quite as enamored by it as I hoped I would be. That means I have begun another design to see if that one sparks my fancy more. I should have that design by tonight or tomorrow, so you can finalize your choice on the sketchbooks.
As always let me know if you have any questions or comments. Charles and I thank you for your amazing support for my work.
