This project is the culmination of over two years of writing, design, creative exploration, and deep research into Van Gogh’s paintings, letters, and life. It sits at the intersection of art history, Tarot, and the philosophy of creativity—designed not just for artists, but for anyone navigating their own creative process.
Vincent van Gogh’s work has long been a source of inspiration for me. His creative brilliance sparked the idea for this deck, which is entirely focused on the creative process from the reader’s perspective. To bring it to life, I took a year-long sabbatical, stepping away from client work to immerse myself in research and writing.
Credits: Sunflowers, Vincent van Gogh
Arles, January 1889,
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
(Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
I knew I had to see Vincent’s paintings in person so I made a pilgrimage to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo. It was incredible to see his work in person after working with his paintings on the screen and the coolest thing about it was that I knew most of the paintings in every room I walked in. That's never happened before.
I’ve spent many years studying the Tarot with renowned teachers and I gift readings for friends and family when they ask. I use it daily as a tool for insight and inspiration. I own over 20 decks, and have my favorites, that's for sure. I love how there are lots of artists out there like me who are reinventing and reframing the Major Arcana in creative ways. The spirit of Tarot is ever evolving and I love that.
I chose not to include the Minor Arcana in my deck and offer Support cards instead. I channeled 56 cards that address the spectrum of emotions and situations connected with making things we care about. It's really important to me that this deck is accessible and that anyone can use it and that they can use their intuition primarily and not have to look up every card. I still have to look cards up when I use my Rider-Waite deck. It takes years to really understand every Court card and all the Minors.
So what I am really trying to say here is that the heart of Van Gogh Tarot truly is the spirit of Vincent van Gogh combined with the 22 Major Arcana. Both carry their own legacy and power.
In the last six months (now that the cards are complete, printed and can be used for readings) I see how the Major Arcana interact with the Support cards so beautifully. Van Gogh’s portraits and landscapes show up as emotional topography. The cards are potent and they interact with each other... which is so amazing to see and experience over and over again.
This deck isn’t here to predict your future. It’s here to call you into the present. It’s a non-linear way to engage with the brilliant, electric energy of Vincent van Gogh. Ask it something real. Let the cards do their thing. And the more you work with it, the more Vincent’s paintings come alive.
The cards keep it real and address the full spectrum of emotions we all feel when we are working on something that matters to us. The deck was made to support you when it comes to taking care of your work, your ideas, and yourself.
The deck is now available! The button below takes you to a Typeform that guides you through the order process. We're shipping them out to people in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
