The Bestial Deck
*WORK-IN-PROGRESS*
The Bestial Deck is a custom-designed deck of playing cards with original illustrations. The designs are mainly character-based, inspired by the traditional French-deck style personages, mythology, literature and movies, freely reinterpreted (in a bestial way) by me.
I'll be adding more illustrations to this project as I work on it, so stay tuned.
* Art prints and other products are available at my Society6 shop.
RED JOKER
BLACK JOKER OF HAMELIN
‟When, lo! as they reached the mountain-side,
A wondrous portal opened wide,
As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed;
And the Piper advanced and the children followed,
And when all were in to the very last,
The door in the mountain-side shut fast.”
Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin
THE KNOWLEDGE SEEKER
In cartomancy (fortune-telling or divination using a deck of cards) Ace of Clubs symbolizes the Quest for Knowledge.
THE CONCLUSIVE ACE
IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO
LANCELOT DU LAC
The Jack of Clubs in a French-styled deck has traditionally been associated with Lancelot, a knight of The Rounded Table. Lancelot was raised by Lady of the Lake (La Dame du Lac), hence his surname du lac.
JACK OF DIAMONDS
JACK OF SPADES
JACK OF HEARTS
THE KING OF PRAIRIE
THE SUICIDE KING
The king of hearts is sometimes called the "suicide king" because he appears to be sticking his sword into his head. In bestial case, the king apparently deliberately got stuck on the heart reef.
Love is a beach.
THE KING OF DIAMONDS
THE KING OF CLUBS
"Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills." - Daniel 11:3
The King of Clubs is said to represent Alexander the Great.
THE QUEEN OF DIAMONDS
PIQUE DAME
"The tray, seven, ace! The tray, seven, queen!"
- Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, The Queen Of Spades
THE INTUITIVE QUEEN
Within mysticism, the Queen of Clubs is known as "The Mother of Intuition Card".
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
