I'm not feeling too well, but surprisingly enough I am smiling. Until June (and even July) I am going to be subjected to a lot of stressful situations, but I want to remain positive and strong. For today, I have chosen a deck that goes very well with this positive outlook I'm trying to maintain: the Midcenturian Tarot is a colourful and engaging deck that reminds me of spring - and it is created by Rick at Motel Gift Shop, the author of the Madam Clara tarot (reviews for the first and second edition here).
As it is usual with Rick's decks, this one was also wonderfully packaged. It comes in a grey jute pouch with a question mark design in white. Then, we find the custom tuckbox which imitates dark wood, and which features white details so it's very eye-catching. Now, the cards! Rick describes his art as "based upon the imagery and archetypal symbolism in the Rider-Waite deck, but abstracted and stylized with the optimism and whimsy of mid-century design". The colours are very lively, and the characters are SO cute. They cards are very 2D but not flat: rather, it feels like layers upon layers! This effect also translates to the way in which cards are read, like you are always thinking... "and what is below?"
On the backgrounds of the cards, their numbers are to be found in a blocky type font, using roman numerals for the majors, arabic (ordinary) ones for the minors, and letters for the courts and aces. By the way, even though the aces do not feature characters (which are one of the details I love the most about this deck) they are absolutely beautiful! Most of the colours you can find in the cards are bright, lively and cheery, so even the "darkest" or moodiest cards have that happy soft spot.
The illustrations are bordered by white, which frames them really well as all of the cards contain some white details. What can I say, I think they are gorgeous! The cardstock is amazing: heavy and with a linen finish that feels great to the touch. The backs feature a geometric triangle pattern with many colours, and they are reversible. And don't miss the two extra cards (The Hand of Mysteries and The Unknown) which add a super special touch to the deck.
The Midcenturian Tarot deck is splendid. It's a new take on a classic, and it is a joy to the eyes. You can see the entire deck at Rick's site, including a video side-by-side comparison of The Midcenturian to the original Rider-Waite. Because it's so deeply rooted in a well-known deck, it is easy for beginners to approach. Both of Rick's decks are a hit, so be sure to check them out!