POLLOCK: Artistry & Cardistry Decks / Euchre by Randy Butterfield & Mike Wilson

[RandyButterfield]

Hey Everyone,

My buddy, Mike Wilson, and I are launching the follow up to the OCULUS Deck tomorrow on Kickstarter - Tuesday, September 18th at 6:00pm EDT.

The POLLOCK: Artistry & Cardistry Decks are my take on a Jackson Pollock inspired design.
It was a fun project, and a design I definitely wouldn't have tackled on my own (Pollock's style is the exact opposite of my OCD to have control over every single element in the design)!

The Tucks will be printed on premium Matte material (same as Draconian Wight and Bundt 18), and will be printed as 4-Color Process + UV Spot Ink on strategic areas of the splatter artwork.

HERE'S THE KICKSTARTER PREVIEW LINK:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/th ... n=12cee1e1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

thanks, Randy

[RandyButterfield]

IMAGES OF THE ARTISTRY CARDS

[RandyButterfield]

IMAGES OF THE CARDISTRY CARDS

[vasta41]

I want to like these soooo badly but I can't stand Jackson Pollock. Thank you for the preview link!

[Azid]

This looks sooo good, especially the Cardistry Deck. Printet in Taiwan with a quite reasonable price, what can go wrong ?
I'll be there for a mixed half brick.

[Merlebird]

Intensely curious: is the back design on the artistry deck mirrored lengthwise or widthwise (or diagonally?), and did it take multiple attempts and/or postpro tweaks to keep the mirroring axis from being obvious? It's really quite subtly done.

I understand the decision from a readability perspective but I wish the deck itself was a little more Pollocky, particularly the courts. What I'm not sure I understand the rationale for is the decision to forego full-bleed backs. I know borders have their devotees, but they just don't seem to fit the theme.

[RichK]

Like the Artistry better than Cardistry. The yellow/blue on courts don't pop like the more standard red/blue on Artistry. Might get both though.

I agree with vasta in my dislike of Pollock too. Splattering paint isn't art to my eye.

[Bradius]

I am really suffering from playing card fatigue. I like the design and such, but then noticed this is a Randy Butterfield design. Yeah, I am in. I can't resist. I am weak.

[rousselle]

Yeah, the pricing is great, and it's Randy. What more need be said? (Except for the plea to make a borderless deck, that is. )

I'm there!

[theCapraAegagrus]

These are well-done. I'm not surprised.

[RandyButterfield]

Intensely curious: is the back design on the artistry deck mirrored lengthwise or widthwise (or diagonally?), and did it take multiple attempts and/or postpro tweaks to keep the mirroring axis from being obvious? It's really quite subtly done.

I understand the decision from a readability perspective but I wish the deck itself was a little more Pollocky, particularly the courts. What I'm not sure I understand the rationale for is the decision to forego full-bleed backs. I know borders have their devotees, but they just don't seem to fit the theme.

Hey Merlebird,

Both Back Cards are mirrored diagonally. Attached is a Screenshot of the Artistry Back, with almost all Layers deleted (to make it easier to see the method). What I would do is bring in the splatter paintings Mike and I did separately (with the backgrounds removed), maneuver each one around into a good position, played around with the color, duplicated it and flipped it 180 degrees, and then did it over and over again until it resulted in a composite I was happy with.

Also attached are a couple schematics showing the 10 Paintings used to create the composites, and a breakdown of the Cardistry Back Card's merged Layeres.

The biggest complaint, and my regret, on the OCULUS Deck was that the Courts were too abstract and unreadable. My goal with the POLLOCK Courts was to keep them classy and very playable. I wanted to make this a Deck that anyone could use for any type of game.

@rousselle - I always lean towards designing Borderless Back Cards. I originally designed these as Borderless, but I always have to try all variations to see what looks best. Between Borderless, Bordered and organic Bordered (having some splatter elements crossing over the border in an organic way), Bordered was the definitive winner. It just finished the design. It framed it, and helped close off the craziness of the splatter artwork.

thanks, Randy

[alric]

I'm impressed at the effort it took to keep the backs two-way. With a design as abstract as the Artistry deck, it would've been easy to just leave it random and one-sided and the majority of people wouldn't have even noticed. I'm not excited that it's printed by EPCC, but as long as its Taiwan and not China the handling will be acceptable. I always appreciate how Randy prices his decks so reasonably.

[Merlebird]

Both Back Cards are mirrored diagonally. Attached is a Screenshot of the Artistry Back, with almost all Layers deleted (to make it easier to see the method). What I would do is bring in the splatter paintings Mike and I did separately (with the backgrounds removed), maneuver each one around into a good position, played around with the color, duplicated it and flipped it 180 degrees, and then did it over and over again until it resulted in a composite I was happy with.

Also attached are a couple schematics showing the 10 Paintings used to create the composites, and a breakdown of the Cardistry Back Card's merged Layeres.

Confession time: I did not click through to the campaign preview you linked before I posted, so when I saw the very polished-looking schematic I was worried it had been on that page the whole time and I'd just been too lazy to find it I do see there's this explanation of the methodology:

First, Mike and I each created many separate mini splatter paintings. Each one was on standard letter size paper, and each used just a simple black house paint. Next, we narrowed them down to the most interesting ones. I then took those selections and scanned them into the computer. Finally, I played around with creating a composite using the selected paintings in various colors.

I have to admit a layered digital composite of multiple independent splatter patterns didn't even occur to me, though in hindsight it seems super obvious. But it's one thing to read the description and another thing altogether to see that schematic! I hope you include these attachments in the campaign page on launch as I think it will add a lot of extra interest (and demonstrate to the modern art skeptics that conscious design principles were involved).

[ICantShuffle]

(Except for the plea to make a borderless deck, that is. )

Beat me to it. When I clicked on this thread I was like "ooh, a Jackson Pollock inspired deck, I bet it's borderless."

While, I am not a huge fan of Jackson Pollock's work, I think it's a natural fit for a card back design.

Count me in, borderless or not. Maybe an SG for a borderless deck? PLEEEAAASSEE?

[hsbc]

Yeah, that layered diagram neeeeds to be on the KS page, it's seriously impressive

[PipChick]

Yeah, that layered diagram neeeeds to be on the KS page, it's seriously impressive

+1000 lol

[RandyButterfield]

Cool, I'll add the Schemetic Diagram back on the KS page.

We had it on there, but I thought it might be too confusing to some potential Backers.
We'll throw it back on.

Thanks everyone!!

Randy


EDIT - and I forgot to add - we're definitely using Expert's Taiwan printer.
I've never used their China printer, and don't plan on ever doing so.

Thanks, Randy

[joeblow]

Anything from Randy is an automatic half brick from me as well. Good luck with the project.

[sinjin7]

I really like the color scheme of the Cardistry deck. The back design is very appropriate as a cardistry deck (bold, colorful pattern, semi-circular motif in the middle of the back that should give card spins a nice circle effect in the center, twin tipping that will provide different forward and reverse fans, and enough variety down the sides to present well in spreads) and I appreciate that its more organic than the typical severe geometrical color-blocking that seems to pass as the norm for cardistry deck design these days. I'm not as high on the Artistry deck, but I do like that the back pattern is well incorporated into the clothing of the court cards, something I would like to see more artists do if they're going to utilize slightly modified standard courts. These are another solid set to add to Randy's impressive playing card portfolio.

[Eric Lee]

I really like the color scheme of the Cardistry deck. The back design is very appropriate as a cardistry deck (bold, colorful pattern, semi-circular motif in the middle of the back that should give card spins a nice circle effect in the center, twin tipping that will provide different forward and reverse fans, and enough variety down the sides to present well in spreads) and I appreciate that its more organic than the typical severe geometrical color-blocking that seems to pass as the norm for cardistry deck design these days. I'm not as high on the Artistry deck, but I do like that the back pattern is well incorporated into the clothing of the court cards, something I would like to see more artists do if they're going to utilize slightly modified standard courts. These are another solid set to add to Randy's impressive playing card portfolio.

He's basically said everything I have to say about this deck except that I prefer the Art over the Card deck as an art lover. Also want to add this.

The tucks were borderless, you are selling art prints which are borderless but the cards have borders? Come on, Pollock's art demands as large a canvas as possible. I've never seen his artwork in real life, but friends who have do say how striking are the art pieces when they see a Pollock in its full size glory. At least consider a SG for borderless?

[rousselle]

I realize you probably already have this campaign planned out to the nth degree, which is why you're able to offer such awesome pricing for these decks. Nonetheless, I'll join in the chorus regarding a borderless version:

Stretch goal! Stretch goal! Stretch goal!

[ICantShuffle]

I'm eyeing that 4 deck EB for $32. Less than $10 per deck? I'm down.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

Here is my review for the decks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUXZYcJmOJw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Saturday I will be doing a contest for 6 decks from Midnight Cards, these 2 prototypes and a deck of OCULUS from Mike.

[JuFiN]

Its live

[PipChick]

[rousselle]

This project has been live for, like, MINUTES now. How is it not already funded?!

Come on, people!

[vasta41]

Randy, may I recommend throwing the words "playing cards" into your KS description? You may get more hits that way. As it is the title doesn't really explain what you're trying to fund.

[JuFiN]

Randy, may I recommend throwing the words "playing cards" into your KS description? You may get more hits that way. As it is the title doesn't really explain what you're trying to fund.

Didnt even show up when I searched "Card" and sorted by newest which is my usual Kickstarter search. Its there now though!

[Bikefanatic]

You can check out the painting Number 17a in Chicago's Art Institute/Institvte.

I wasn't feeling the tucks at first but what makes them unique is that they look like small artwork displays/pictures. Well that's actually what playing cards are... These will be nice to display on a desk, nearby a fireplace or something. I like the Artistry deck backs better but the colors of the Cardistry deck so I'm in for both.

[RandyButterfield]

You can check out the painting Number 17a in Chicago's Art Institute/Institvte.

I wasn't feeling the tucks at first but what makes them unique is that they look like small artwork displays/pictures. Well that's actually what playing cards are... These will be nice to display on a desk, nearby a fireplace or something. I like the Artistry deck backs better but the colors of the Cardistry deck so I'm in for both.

Hey Bikefanatic,

I've been to Chicago's Art Institute a couple times, but I don't remember seeing the Pollock painting. I'll have to look for it next time we're up there. Actually, before now, I wasn't really a fan of Pollock's work at all. A big reason I like working with Mike is he comes up with these concepts / themes that I would never think to build a design around. These Decks were a lot more fun to create than I would've ever guessed.

So fun fact, Bikefanatic and I met last weekend at Cincinnati Comic Expo! I had a Midnight Cards booth at the con, and we chatted for a little while about UC.

Small world!!

Thanks, Randy