It’s winter solstice. It’s dark, cold and stormy here. I love this time of year. My Scandic heritage seems to kick in. Candles are lit, sprigs and pine twigs decorated, bowls of oranges adding colour and stories of the year to think about and share. Here is one of mine that popped into my mind today.
Mid way through creating ‘If Wishes Were Horses Tarot’ I started to think ahead about the costs of publishing, realising it was going to be expensive. For the first time in my arty life I decided to ask for help and applied to Creative Scotland’s Individual Artist Fund. I filled out all the questions on their lengthy form as accurately as I could and sent it off, full of hope.
A few weeks later, a reply arrived in my inbox telling me that although the artwork was of a high standard I hadn’t talked about my marketing plan for ‘If Wishes Were Horses Tarot’ and therefore was turned down.
Totally infuriating!
Nowhere on their form was there a question asking about my marketing intentions. NO WHERE! I am not a lover of forms and my dislike for forms was magnified tenfold!
Anyone else dislike forms?
I briefly looked at the go fund me type thingies, but it didn’t feel right for me. I guess because of that ‘being the eldest child syndrome’, the one that always has to do things her self and doesn’t like to ask for help! Creative Scotland had simply reinforced my ‘I can do it’ gene.
Ironically, the day after being rejected the Creative Scotland fund closed down! I guess they hadn’t done their own business plan!
I realised that despite their form Creative Scotland were right! I had no marketing plan, being more interested in the creating, the drawing, the actual making of the art. But hey, what is life if not challenges to rise too? It’s early days. I have lots to learn!
Right now, I am enjoying writing blogs and will blog more about the some of the drawings inside ‘If Wishes Were Horses Tarot’ in coming days.
There is so much to say!
That is the beauty of a tarot deck. I call them ‘talking cards’ as they invite you to consider and talk about your life – hopes, dreams, wishes, relationships, challenges, your own ‘Fool’s Journey’ in a different way, which can be very helpful. The imagery, symbolism and relationship of one card another opens parts of you psyche and emotional intelligence for consideration. It’s what makes tarot interesting and exciting. They get you thinking and reflecting and seeing the world anew.
Yesterday, as suggested by the first person who bought a deck, (thank you for a great suggestion) I designed an ‘First edition’ card to add into the box. A way of saying ‘thank you’ to anyone buying this first limited print run and hopefully a way of adding value for the future. (Dreams of ‘If Wishes Were Horses Tarot’ becoming a collectors deck!) Hopefully it is not too late to add it. I’ll find out on Tuesday. Otherwise I will find another way to honour the people who buy this first edition.
Yesterday, a friend used the expression ‘cottage industry’ to describe my endeavours. It really resonated. I hadn’t heard the term for a long time. When folk support individual makers they are supporting ‘cottage industries’, where all parts of the process are done by one person. Mass produced products may be cheaper but the values are not so high. For example, ‘If Wishes Were Horses Tarot’ is printed on recycled paper in a small sustainably powered factory unit here in the UK. Sustainability was an important considerations when choosing the printing company. I am so happy with the result, the cards feel lovely to hold in the hand.
If you would like a first edition deck, here is a link to buy – and if you do buy many, many thanks in advance – you are helping launch ‘If Wishes Were Horses Tarot’ and I am very grateful.
I will be posting out mid to late January.
With very best wishes and happy solstice.
May your candle burn bright!
Love Kirsten
