UnitedCardists.com - The forum for Cardistry, Magic, Custom Decks and All Things Playing Cards.

Hello everybody!

sorry if I am quite silent lately, but I read and follow the threads when I can... at the moment i am quite taken with the job and the gemini project, which is proceeding slowly.
With that being said, I wanted to let you know that I started a new project and I have no deadlines, as always XD

I named it The House of the Rising Spade, a long name that makes you wonder.
Of course it resembles the title of song by The Animal - The house of the rising sun (1964), even though the theme is different.
There won't be a depicted house. You decide how the house look, where it is located and in what period through time.. I will help depicting it in your mind with the style of the deck, and of course the court cards.
You make your own story, you will use the imagination and depict this house in your mind.
I hope it makes sense.

Here is the first semi-approved sketch of the tuckbox front.
I am sketching the courts as well and I made my mind about the pips and the back. Soon more pictures.



I hope you like the start and the concept
thanx!

looking extremely good so far! Eager to see more, great intriguing idea, Lorenzo!

"...I wanted let you know that I started a new project..."

That's all I need to hear. I'm in.

Love the title!

A year back I bought an electric piano, and one of the first things I taught myself was the organ solo from House of the Rising Sun

Ciao Lorenzo House of the rising sun You are dating yourself old man hehehehe. Looks interesting so far let's see more

Soooo....it's a brothel where the Sybil and the other ladies perform acts of cardist knowledge?

So when do you sleep/eat Lorenzo when not working on Gemini or doodling around on new decks?

Now the song is stuck in my head.

badpete69 wrote:Ciao Lorenzo House of the rising sun You are dating yourself old man hehehehe. Looks interesting so far let's see more

Yeah, for sure. I am familiar with the song, but mostly only because 5FDP covered it.

Interesting concept, but definitely need to see more actual images soon!!!

Intriguing title. Can't wait to see where you take this concept.

thank you for the comments! I hope i do not disappoing the expectations lol
this time I do something a bit out of the lines

soon more pictures, working on the court cards layout
stay tuned!

HI ALL!

I just posted this on facebook and instagram
let me know what you think ... yes, index-less and one-way court card; i wanted to give the super-old-school feeling...

The QoD looks fantastic!
Also like that you're trying to go index-less. Though the number cards will look kinda meh... I don't know, maybe you can find a way to make them look good without the index!

As for the AoS not feeling it! I'm sure you'll get it better!

Very pretty ... and indexless and one-way cards are two of my favourite things

I actually quite like the index-less number cards!

Stockholm17 wrote:HI ALL!

I just posted this on facebook and instagram
let me know what you think ... yes, index-less and one-way court card; i wanted to give the super-old-school feeling...

I'm a huge fan of yours but honestly (can't wait for my brick of Gemini) but there's so much NOT to like about it. One way, little...little...little Q below the diamond and the cards are not poker friendly.

This might scratch your artistic itch, but this is a playing card design in the wrong direction.

But Queens should not show too much neck ?! \ /
(form/perspective)

"Oh man I am so pumped for Gemini. But it really is a shame that it is going to be Lorenzo's best work, it is just so good that there is just no way in hell he will be able top tha... Oh."

I'm don't really know what to say. It's amazing.

This scratches my artistic itch. I'm in.

Gorgeous.

Stockholm17 wrote:HI ALL!

I just posted this on facebook and instagram
let me know what you think ... yes, index-less and one-way court card; i wanted to give the super-old-school feeling...

That is one of the sickest queens I have seen to date. I am so in on this deck from just that one image.

I do agree that the Q might be a bit small and out of place ... you know what I think though. Get rid of it. Go 100% indexless.

Wow. That's very bold.

I really don't like commenting on a deck when I've seen so little of it from a tease. The art is exceptional as always from a Lorenzo deck, but I have to agree that this is more of an art deck than a practical, useable, playable deck of cards. Call me strange, but I actually buy cards so that I can, you know, play with them. We all know the court cards will be beautiful, but the one-way design won't be conducive to card play, and since the indices are so small, I fear it may be difficult to tell the Kings and Jacks apart. The numberless pips, while a nod to certain vintage decks, will be hard to quickly and easily read for card games, especially if Lorenzo also uses a non-stardard pip layout as well. There is a reason why vintage decks evolved from numberless spot cards to numbered ones.

Like I said, its early, and if I see the rest of the deck, maybe it'll make more sense and grow on me. I own every deck Lorenzo has put out, and I'll get these as well because I know the art and the tuck box will be exceptional, but it may be a less enthusiastic buy than usual, and this deck probably won't get much use.

To add to what Sinjin is saying... Personally I think all of Lorenzo and Giovanni decks are typical art deck way more than playing decks. I have a monthly poker game and do tournaments in Vegas twice a year, and would never play with these gorgeous decks nor would any of my regular players. I have shown them some of these decks and they all think they are beautiful but all agree pass on playing with them. Now obviously playing means more than poker and who knows maybe these are ok to play crazy eights or spades.

Now I cannot speak for cardists or magicians but I assume these type of decks are not preferred by them for tricks and such. I think this deck is meant to be 100% an art deck and this is the type of deck i usually buy an extra for displaying in my good ol 9 pocket sleeves that use to carry baseball cards

I love index less cards as I have a few singles in my collection from the 18th and 19th century. I am very much looking forward to this deck. Maybe an uncut will be in order

Hi guys
thank you for the comments and the feedback!

just a few important notes about this teaser that I forgot to write in the beginning.

-this is the "beta-version", far from the final. Tweaks/adds/changes will be done. But at least you get an image that shows the style.
-that card on the back is not the ace of spades, it is just a graphic i put there to fill a blank card.
-the yellow background is - for now - metallic gold ink.
-the back design is not ready, it will be 2ways.


About the index-less:
I know it gets difficult to play today, and I know i did a "dangerous" choice... but how did the people manage to play without index 200 years ago? ok, not user friendly as today. i agree, but I'd like to achieve a mixed feeling: old layout and modern illustrations. let´s see how it evolves.
Also, this deck will have a foot in the tarot world (illustration-wise) even if it will be a poker size playing cards deck with 54 cards (or more).


I keep on working on it, much work to do
thanx again!

That queen is freaking fabulous. I'm sold already.
It's just more proof, it anybody needed it, that Lorenzo sets the bar for everyone else.

I'm in.

Not only do I want the uncut already, but I also want a poster of that queen!

I like it. Is that a worn, aged effect on the cat and diamonds - right side and down, the white-ish look? Nice touch if so.

I'm loving the Queen.
I think the gold background really works against the red. Really makes it pop.
As for the number cards I really think they needs something to make them a playable deck - How about using Roman numerals?