For context, I'm synthesizing the information I have in my own personal library based primarily on the cartomancy sections found in José Leitão's research and publications on Cyprian literature. Not surprisingly, what I've found is that some of the card meanings/images intersect with the traditional Lenormand deck, yet the difference between these two lines/approaches/traditions lies in where one designates the more "negative" suits. In Cyprianic cartomancy these "negative" cards are more or less spread across the suits. In total, the deck I'm creating will consist of 40 cards, this again is anchored on Cyprian cartomancy as the the layouts and processes described through Leitão's research typically describe the use of a pack of 40 cards, the suits ranging from 1-7, and often 3 court cards for each suit. (the amount found in Iberian baraja decks).
As for the art of the deck itself, I've narrowed down the tools and general aesthetic for the deck as follows: it will be created primarily in dip pen and ink, with the occasional use of brush strokes, in a monochromatic color scheme.
There will be an undercurrent of seafaring notes throughout the deck, this is a personal choice that I feel aligns with my experience of the Saint's literature in Iberia. Below are the sketches so far:
I added color because I wanted to see/experiment with a light touch of color for the deck but realized midway that I want the drawings to remain in pen and ink monochrome color, with light ink washes for variety.
As for the court cards, the original source of my inspiration for this deck does not overtly include ladies.
Yet, if you look closely at the standing "pages" you can see in a way how these cards can stand for ladies. For my deck I will be making the court cards as follows: Person on horse (I am partial to keeping the horse), woman and man. I doubt they will be wearing crowns to be honest.
As for the aces, they will be special, I have the pencil sketch done but have yet to sketch the pen and ink version. The aces will each have an animal.
I hope to have the deck compete by this year. At the moment this is a project I've kept mostly quiet, sharing the progress mostly in my newsletter. Now that I feel I am halfway through completion of the deck, I wanted to share here.
I hope you like it or at least are intrigued by what I'm attempting to bring forth through this creation.
