The Sketch
I always start my process by researching the specific card I am working on so that I am in tune with it’s meaning, both upright and reversed. If I already do not have an animal in mind, I then research various woodland animals and their symbolism across various cultures to pinpoint which animal I would like to use to represent the card or it’s archetype, and which ones would be great companion animals for that avatar. My research also includes exploring symbolic meanings of numbers and other symbols to tie into my design. After that, I create a few rough sketches and then choose the one I am most drawn to (no pun intended).
My inspiration also comes from the original Rider-Waite Tarot Deck. Particularly for this card, I wanted to make sure I had my version of the lamp light, the staff, a downward-facing pose, and some consideration to the slate blue color of the background.
Refine and Paint
Once I have an overall structure, I then begin to refine and sketch the main figures onto my watercolor block, drawing in the background and details afterwards. For The Hermit, I knew I wanted to have some sort of border at the bottom to enclose the subject, so I added the blackberry thorn bush later in the process. Again, with every part of the drawing having symbolic meaning, the blackberry thorn bush was chosen for it’s specific expression.
The starlight represents enlightenment and lighting the path forward. The moths represent intuition and transformation. The bluebird represents guidance and harmony. The blackberry bush and its thorns represent pain, remorse, grief and concealment. And the sapphire jewels represent wisdom and depth of thought.
The number nine corresponds to the card's position in the Major Arcana, and the number itself also represents balance and life's ebb and flow.
The alchemical symbols on the bottom left and bottom right are used for its artifactual and esoteric qualities, as well as to give my cards a more arcane feel. The symbols represents elements. The left representing the element of earth, and the right representing the element of mercury which is known for it's fusibility and volatility.
After the drawing is complete, I paint the illustration with the colors and shadows from my chosen color palette, which in this case consists of the complimentary colors of blues and oranges, and greens and purples. Once the painting is complete, the symbols and Roman numerals are gold-foiled. The font used for the printed version is Carta Marina, for its antique and historical style.
The Hermit's in it's upright state represents reflection, introspection and self-discovery. In its reversed state, The Hermit represents isolation, self-absorption and loneliness.
