Sneak peek: The Face of Glass!
12 months ago
– Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 01:47:52 PM
Another peek at some finished art! I shared the initial sketches for this card with you some months ago, the set of six from which Alyc and I were invited to play mix-and-match with the various features, but not the finished sketch. This is one where the watercolors and Avery's "blind contour" method work stunningly well, in my opinion: the reflective, refractive feeling of glass comes through very well here, with a real sense of depth.
I'm in awe of anybody who can do watercolors that well. Last time I tried, I produced a blobby mess . . .
--Marie
Sneak peek: Wings in Silk!
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Mar 04, 2025 at 08:58:24 PM
For the first two pieces of finished art I shared -- one from A.C., one from Avery -- it made sense to go back to the very first cards I previewed for each artist, back when they were just rough thumbnails and concept sketches. But I don't want to merely repeat cards you've already seen in process, so this week, you get a new one!
Several of A.C.'s designs go very minimalist, and when the subject is something drawn from nature, they evoke (at least to my eye) a feeling adjacent to East Asian ink paintings. Here is Wings in Silk -- the card of transformation -- showing a beautifully delicate use of color:
If memory serves, we had to fiddle with this one a little bit during the development process to make sure it didn't wind up looking too much like a creepy bug, heh. But I think it wound up lovely! And it makes a beautiful pairing with Four Petals Fall -- but to see that one, you'll have to wait!
--Marie
Update on fulfillment estimates
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 12:41:15 PM
If you're like me when I back a Kickstarter project, you have probably forgotten what we originally listed as the estimated fulfillment date for the pattern deck. Since we said March 2025, though, and that's just around the corner, I want to update you all on where things stand.
Alas, we will not be able to ship out decks next month, as we are not yet ready to send them off for printing. We're getting very close -- part of the reason for these updates every other week is so you can rest assured that the project is moving forward at a good clip -- but we're not quite there yet. For which we apologize, and we hope you can be patient a little while longer.
So when is the deck likely to ship? I'm reluctant to give a specific estimate, because while I'm very familiar with book publishing and the like, decks are a new field for me. We definitely want to take the time to order a proof deck before we finalize the printing, to make sure everything looks its best -- especially since we also need to check the box, the included instruction booklet, and so forth. I'm not sure how long that will take. So all I'll say is that we are very determined to have this in hand no later than July, when we'll be Guests of Honor at BayCon, and I think there's a good chance we'll have it sooner than that. (I certainly hope so!)
Again, we apologize for the delay. There's no single cause for it; instead it's the pile-up of many smaller delays, some of them not even related to the project, but rather personal in nature. We'd rather give you something as good as we can make it than rush the process just to meet the deadline. And I am confident it will be worth the wait!
--Marie
Sneak peek: The Face of Stars!
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Feb 04, 2025 at 01:30:28 PM
Since in our last update I decided to post the finished art for Warp and Weft, on account of that being the first of A.C.'s cards I'd shared, it seems only right that I should do the same thing for the first of Avery's cards! This one hasn't yet been composited with the border, but here is the art for The Face of Stars . . .
I absolutely love the colors on this one, how it manages to be both dark and bright at the same time -- entirely fitting for the card in question!
Until next time . . .
--Marie
Sneak peek: Warp and Weft -- again!
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 11:08:19 AM
So far, I've shared with you concept thumbnails, pencil sketches, and inked drawings of the cards as the art progresses through the stages of work. Now that we're in the new year and the completion of the deck is starting to come into view on the horizon, the time has come to begin sharing the full art!
This doesn't have the calligraphy yet, but it is very close to what the finished card will look like. And although I've been keeping a list of cards shared in updates to make sure I don't repeat myself -- I want you to get glimpses of many different parts of the deck -- in this case, I think it's appropriate to loop back and show you a card you've seen before, so you can compare the original thumbnail to the glorious result!
This was Warp and Weft, many moons ago:
It didn't require really any revision, as we loved the design and the graceful intertwining of the fingers. And look at it now!
I love the warmth of it, the glow, the cloud-like detailing on the cuffs, and the iridescence of the ribbon linking their hands, evoking dreamweavers and aža (which, of course, plays a role in the wedding ceremony alluded to by this card).
And as you can see, this is a huge milestone in getting the deck ready! In the next update, I'll share something from Avery's side -- just gotta decide which Face or Mask I want to pick first . . .
--Marie
