TAROT GALLERY
This section of my web site features photos and patterns of beadwork based on Tarot cards. To be honest I bought my first deck of Rider-Waite Tarot cards because of the beautiful images on them. Soon I became curious about Tarot, the history of them and the meaning of the cards. I don't want to offend any serious Tarot Affectionatos because I an only a neophyte at this. I made all of these patterns myself in Beadscape. Mostly they are based on the Rider-Waite deck, but to convert them to amulet bags or bib necklaces, some had to to modified more than a little. In 2001 I hope to offer for sale a cd with patterns of for all of the finished bags that you see here, So keep checking.
The Tarot is very old. Some say that it derives from ancient Egypt. The earliest documented Tarot cards were the ones created in the fifteenth century for the Viscounti family in Italy. My favorite deck is the Rider-Waite deck. it was drawn by Pamela Colman-Smith under the supervision of Arthur Edward Waite in 1910. There are several versions of this beautiful deck that have been produced over the years. These links tell you about that and show pictures of the various versions.
http://www.learntarot.com/deckcomp.htm
http://www.artoftarot.com/waite.htm
I am making a series of amulet bags and beadwoven necklaces based on this deck. Because these images were made for cards and drawn in ink, some of the images had to be greatly changed when adapted to beadwork. In the nature of beadwork, one bead is a pixel, and there are no thin black lines to create more definition. I like to wear the beadwork that I create, so often only a small part of the card is used in the beadwork pattern. Some of the patterns did not translate well and can be said to only be inspired by the Rider-Waite deck.
The Rider Waite Tarot deck in its's various forms as I mentioned is my very favorite deck. I had thought that it was off Copyright since it was created in 1910 and I thought that these old pre-1978 works could only have a 75 year copyright term. Well, due to some convoluted situation, US Games Systems acquired the Copyright on the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck in 1971. Instead of waiting, I contacted them and negotiated (for a fee) permission to copy the Rider-Waite deck to make jewelry and to make and sell beadwork patterns based on that jewelry for my up-coming CD and maybe book. I am now proud to say that:
Many of the Tarot Bead Patterns shown here at my site are based on the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck®, known also as the Rider Tarot and the Waite Tarot, reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc.,Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright ©1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited. The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck® is a registeredtrademark of U.S.Games Systems, Inc. You can buy their beautiful Tarot Cards at local Borders Bookstores or at their site:
http://www.usgamesinc.com/categoryFrame_T.cfm?Category_ID=251
For the Queens and the Empress I hope to offer a series with different complexions and hair colors so that one could select the one most appropiate for one's own or a friend's significator. Many of the patterns that I chose to work up into real jewelry were presents for friends. My own complexion is middle-toned sallow Caucasion and my hair before it turned grey was a mousy brown. I did make a "Jean Harlow" Empress for the prematurely (or maybe not so prematurely grey). I am still working up a few more into real jewelry before I get started putting this together for sale. so keep on checking back
I hope to offer some free Tarot patterns just to keep you looking.
