Sketchbook Shuffle an Artist Playing Card Deck

This is a playable deck of cards designed by folks who drop into my Articulate Studio space as well as other artist friends in Ft. Collins and other places. Another artist group designed the deck in this photo, which is a great example of what we can be doing.

Visitors to the studio can pick out a card in the deck that they would like to design and sign up to be contacted by me. The final deck will be available via the Game Crafter website that prints cards and other board games on demand.  I’ll also have card decks available for sale in the merch section at Half Crown Creative. The cards will come in a cardboard tuck deck with links to all the artists printed inside.

Once you have selected which card you would like to design, I’ll flip your card over and attach a QR code to the back leading to whatever social media site you’d like to share. You are welcome to design more than one card though I would ask you to submit art for the first one before requesting another.  Art deadline is December 31st, 2023.

While I’ll need a digital file for the final piece, you can work in whatever medium you prefer, illustration, paint, fiber, photography, computer design… You do need to include on your card the suit (clubs, diamonds, hearts or spades) the card number,  the suit color (red or black) and pips.  Pips are the small symbols on the card that along with the number, show the card’s value. A three of diamonds, for example, will be a card with the number 3 in a red font and have three red diamonds somewhere in the art or illustration.

Pictured below is a sample template that I’ll be using to design all the cards in the deck and will be helpful when planning out your image. You can send me images that are full bleed (meaning the art can go all the way to the edges) BUT make sure all the important stuff isn’t near the edges. To play it safe, imagine that anything ¼ inch from the edge of the card might possibly be trimmed away.

Please DO NOT put any type of border in your art as I can’t guarantee that everything will line up. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about layout and can work with you on revisions if needed.

Files will need to be in either high res JPG or PNG formats. Please let me know your artist name and a web address to include in the deck and any other social media. I’ll be posting updates as this project evolves and want to make sure everyone gets some special recognition for participating.

Any proceeds made from the sales of these decks will go back into the printing process or donated back to Half Crown Creative to support other artist programs. Please get in touch with questions and comments, I’m definitely looking for feedback on what art should go on the back of the deck as well. Thanks for playing along!

If you’ve got questions, please shoot me an email… shawn@twobeeindustries.com