Tarot of the Cat People
1984
Karen Kuykendall
USA
Art Medium:
Acrylic paintings set upon backgrounds of usually rounded geometric forms which have been textured using airbrushing or manual spray from stiff brushes and masking areas.
Description:
This lavishly illustrated deck on a science fiction or fantasy theme was produced together with an extensive text describing the strange regions of the Outer World in which she set her imagery. The people of the major arcana were Sky people of Vapala, the Diamond Kingdom, those in the suit of Swords were Fire people of Thnossis, the Ruby kingdom, those of Wands were Sand people of Twahihic, the Emerald kingdom, while the Cups depicted the Salt people of Azhengir, the Topaz kingdom, and finally the suit of Pentacles has the Rock people of Kahulawe, the Sapphire kingdom. This imaginative structure of worlds and their inhabitants is depicted, the figures in elaborate costumes being set against gorgeous textured backgrounds. On each card cats appear as guardians, companions, decorative forms, statues, totem animals, and often as major figures in the drama. The Tower (Major 16) itself is in the form of a large cat sculpture struck by a meteor or comet. The paintings of award-winning artist Karen Tucker Kuykendall have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout Florida. The emblem sequence on the Pips to some extent follows the Rider-Waite prototype.
