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I'm happy to announce the new deck I have been working on, a luxury hand-drawn deck of art playing cards that will certainly have something to say, and will also likely spark discussion amongst you all as it walks the tightrope between being a deck of playing cards and an innovative canvas for artwork and storytelling.

Sensu

Themed on the Japanese folding fan and taking inspirations from various Japanese art forms from ukiyoe woodblock printing to traditional Japanese hanafuda playing cards, one card is only a slither of the scene, which is only revealed when you open the fan.

This project again will be dedicated to environmental sustainability from the materials used to replanting trees, and animal welfare from monitoring endangered animals to supporting the rescue of abandoned and displaced cats and dogs around Japan.

Currently on Kickstarter pre-launch: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ja ... enny/sensu

Launch date set for 1 May.

Some products will be very limited in number so do stop by at launch, and I promise this campaign will be a journey and experience above the typical campaign. I look forward to going on this journey with you.

Looking forward to this one, Jack. The color palette is stunning, my friend! Can't wait to see all the pieces together

BaconWise wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 12:31 am Looking forward to this one, Jack. The color palette is stunning, my friend! Can't wait to see all the pieces together

Very much looking forward to revealing it all. I will try to here in parts as we lead down to the launch. Though there are huge design features I'm both very excited and nervous to show people, and I hope to save some little things to discover for the first time as you explore the campaign page.

So, I saw this card back in your company thread, and I thought, huh, not many people can make an effective two-way back that looks so... *natural*. I mean, it doesn't scream, "I am symmetrical!" even though it appears to be so. I thought that was pretty cool.

Didn't think much of it beyond that, until I saw the photos above, including a fan, and that just POPPED. I love full-bleed backs!

And, frankly, I like your Aces above, as well. Granted, the Ace of Spades kinda violates the rules by having the border be a different color than the other faces of the Aces, which can be a tip-off when you're playing some card games, but still... me likey.

The fact that these cards appear to not have ranks in the indexes also may make this problematic for game play, although I realize you might be doing something with the indexes that isn't obvious until we see some number cards.

All by way of saying... color me very intrigued. I am getting increasingly stingy with what I shell out my money for, and designers who I haven't bought yet will have to try harder to pry my wallet open than those who have already won my confidence. But, still. You have my attention.

Best of success with this one. I'm definitely keen on seeing more.

Wow! Just beautiful!

Colour scheme and art work are right up my alley. I always enjoy seeing your work. One shocking thing though:

rousselle wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 2:06 am... and designers who I haven't bought yet will have to try harder to pry my wallet open ...

You don't have a Culturæ Animalis? - Affront I say, affront!

Jokes aside. I'm looking forward to see everything unravel.

Really looking forward to this deck

rousselle wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 2:06 am So, I saw this card back in your company thread, and I thought, huh, not many people can make an effective two-way back that looks so... *natural*. I mean, it doesn't scream, "I am symmetrical!" even though it appears to be so. I thought that was pretty cool...

Thank you rouselle. As with Culturae Animalis, or rather even more so, this deck is designed to be playable but not in the standard way and not for the standard player. But I am delighted to hear it is peaking your interest and hope that whatever your reaction is and whether or not it can 'pry open' your wallet - it is a pleasure to see this creation.

Strag wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 2:26 am Wow! Just beautiful!

Thank you Strag, plenty more images and news to come!

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:10 am I'm looking forward to see everything unravel.

Thank you as always for your kind comments and reactions!

istheis wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 12:00 pm Really looking forward to this deck

Thank you istheis, I’m really looking forward to revealing it in its entirety!

Suuuper cool, can't wait!!

chicken_ql wrote: ↑Tue Apr 13, 2021 1:49 am Suuuper cool, can't wait!!

Thank you very much, can't wait to reveal more to everyone.

Time to reveal the main pip concept. Brace yourselves.

So with Culturae Animalis I used the courts to make a triptych scene, depicting the literal courts of the cultural suits. With Sensu, I wanted an even more integrated and innovative way to reveal the hidden worlds within the deck of art cards. Here it is.

By tilting the indices and pips, I created a new border. By aligning those borders, I created a new canvas. And by drawing a single image across that canvas, I created an effect where a single card is a slither, a closed fan, but when held in a suit fan, you open the sensu, and reveal the hidden story within with a explosion of colour and activity. Each suit is modelled after a different season and depicts various iconic aspects of that season.

Welcome to Spring.

Wow! Great idea, beautiful!

Fantastic

Not my style but that's a really cool idea

I simply love when artists come to playing cards with a fresh take on things. Wonderful idea.

Leo Scherfig wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:15 am Wow! Great idea, beautiful!

Thank you very much Leo, I’m glad you think so!

istheis wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:35 amFantastic

Thank you very much istheis!

Entaro wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:01 am Not my style but that's a really cool idea

Absolutely, I am fully aware I approach my work first as an intricately nonsense artist and second as a designer and as such there will be those that it appeals to and those that it doesn’t. I’m also aware that with my approach I do somewhat challenge what a tradition product is expected to be. But I’m glad that despite it not being someone’s general style, they can still appreciate it - that is the goal (to have those that it connects with hopefully love it, and to have those that it doesn’t hopefully still appreciate it).

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 2:14 pm I simply love when artists come to playing cards with a fresh take on things. Wonderful idea.

Thank you so much for being such a supportive person, I appreciate the kind words and the encouragement to take fresh approaches and attempt to address design to find solutions not often tried.

Even as someone who prefers most traditions/rules to be upheld unless there are good artistic reasons for breaking them, I like this approach and think it's an interesting and original one.

BUT: I'll invite you to consider mirroring them, ie tilting them the other way so the index is next to the edge. I'm not saying it will be better, it might not, but theoretically it could improve their playability (able to identify the cards when held tightly together) and also their cardistry application (indices seen when fanning the cards) while still maintaining the ability to create a "back design fan" on the faces (but with a reverse fan instead). Worth a render to see the difference, at least.

I hope that makes sense

MagikFingerz wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:15 pm Even as someone who prefers most traditions/rules to be upheld unless there are good artistic reasons for breaking them, I like this approach and think it's an interesting and original one.

BUT: I'll invite you to consider mirroring them, ie tilting them the other way so the index is next to the edge. I'm not saying it will be better, it might not, but theoretically it could improve their playability (able to identify the cards when held tightly together) and also their cardistry application (indices seen when fanning the cards) while still maintaining the ability to create a "back design fan" on the faces (but with a reverse fan instead). Worth a render to see the difference, at least.

I hope that makes sense

Hey MagikFingerz. Thanks for the feedback. I am fully aware there will be people who want their decks more traditional and to follow the more standard approach and that my designs will not be for them. But, I will say that if there is a caveat for 'good artistic reasons' then I will always be well beyond that line. Everything has been considered and created with a deep layer of reasons and narrative, with all choices made to, hopefully, enhance and bring to life the artistic vision. Whether that is achieved or not is in the eye of the beholder

I believe I completely understand what you mean and tried to quickly (and roughly) demonstrate in my art file below. Either way it was a decision to be made. As it is now, the indices are almost at standard height but are shifted to the right. By flipping it they would almost be to the standard left edge but shifted downward. So in designing the templates I made a decision there, aesthetically. But also I did a small survey a year and a half ago to see how people held their cards and researched the most natural way to accommodate people's habits. The majority seem, according to my experience, to order them from lower number to higher number, left to right. Were I to flip the card design as here, the bottom white indices area would be revealed and break the seamless story-driven scene. Anyway, I do appreciate the idea and feedback and always welcome discussion, but please don't think any decision has been made without forethought

Really appreciate the mockup, Jack. It seems there is less to gain than I thought, and also more to lose considering you'll no doubt want the "scene" created in normal fans rather than reverse fans.

I had pretty much decided to get these based on the back design alone. Looking forward to the courts now

MagikFingerz wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 4:29 am Really appreciate the mockup, Jack. It seems there is less to gain than I thought, and also more to lose considering you'll no doubt want the "scene" created in normal fans rather than reverse fans.

I had pretty much decided to get these based on the back design alone. Looking forward to the courts now

You're absolutely welcome, I am entirely open to always discussing elements of my work whether compliment or constructive criticism And whether I make changes or not, I will always listen.

I look forward to revealing courts soon, but easing you guys into the non-traditional format. The courts push it...a little further.

At least one new fan around here, wishful thinking?

Time to share some images of the tucks I think!

So, the tucks are full-bleed full-coloured seamless pieces of artwork all the way around, uninterrupted by any text at all. The way the name of the deck, my signature stamp and the deck card markings are shown on the outside is with a white, embossed quality paper sleeve with cut-throughs, so the main text is revealed in the negative space by the bright colours below.

Amazing! Very much looking forward to these!

Great hearing you talk about your project Jack. I enjoyed it a lot plus hearing all the bread crumbs you left for what to expect... that's what I call whetting the appetite.

And we live...

These are something special. Had to go in for the Cherry and mahogany box.

These look good but at over $27 per deck including shipping, I may end up passing on them. Plus, very long fulfillment, not until Feb 2022.

It is crazy wild stuff! These decks are for everybody who likes to see new things happen. I'm in for one of each, definitely wouldn't miss out.

I woke up late and missed the wooden box set, but did pick up a nice pack of decks. I watched is interview on Decking Around and this set is going to be limited. If you are on the fence, back it now. I have a feeling it is going to get to his limit on the number of decks he wants to produce, and he will shut down further backing of the project. He has me hooked after getting Culturae Animalis.

brownsl wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 9:23 am These look good but at over $27 per deck including shipping, I may end up passing on them. Plus, very long fulfillment, not until Feb 2022.

Before you make that decision, watch this video if you haven't:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH-jjpuZ14I