What it’s like illustrating an Oracle deck
After completing four best-selling Oracle decks with Kyle Gray and Hay House I thought I would share some of my insights about working as an illustrator on an oracle deck and some of my tips and tricks and potential hurdles or pitfalls that might help fellow creatives on their journey. I will also be answering some questions posed to me from people on social media. If you have any questions - feel free to leave them in the comments!
Note: Working with an expert such as Kyle meant that I was primarily involved in the creative/visual side of the deck whilst not being involved in the structure of a deck and how an oracle deck is composed structurally or written, so please bear this in mind whilst reading.
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How to get an oracle deck - put yourself out there:
Being asked to work on an oracle deck was a dream of mine, specifically I dreamt of creating an angel deck. Being paid to paint angels seemed like something that was an impossibility to me - I didn’t know how to reach out to those that might be interested and as someone starting out in my illustrative career I didn’t necessarily have the portfolio to back up my request. I couldn’t very well submit my portfolio to Hay House or Llewelyn or other well-known oracle publishers without having the kind of work in it that I wanted to create. So my first tip to a budding oracle/tarot deck artist is to start creating the work you wish to do.
The rough sketch for Enigma which would later turn into ‘Blessings & Abundance’
‘Blessings & Abundance’ card
This is important because it gets you in the headspace of doing the work. Creating an oracle deck is no small feat, it’s 44+ pieces of artwork, you have to be damn sure you’re ready and willing and capable of doing that much work on time and to a professional quality. But doing the work also shows to your potential publishers and authors that you have a style and aesthetic they can get behind. Once you’ve started doing the work - then put your work out there. Being a freelance artist you have to be your own marketer, publicist, accountant and much more besides, don’t be afraid to toot your own horn and use pertinent hashtags to get your work seen.
Personally I joined multiple Facebook groups that had spiritual followings, as well as some book groups that covered fictional subject matter about angels, this put my work in front of people who already had an interest in the subject matter (it also landed me a few commissions to tide me over!). I also had my work on Etsy as purchasable prints - this is how Kyle found my artwork.
Quoting an oracle deck: time, rights, usage, etc
After receiving an email from Kyle about potentially working together, we then had a chat over zoom to talk about his ideas and whether we might get on well together (pretty important given we would be working closely with each other for a year). He then put me forward to Hay House as his desired artist for the next deck and I soon was put in touch with their team. From there I had to submit a quote for a 44 card deck plus cover and back of card design. Eek!
If you’re like me (and most other artists) we all hate quoting for work. My attitude has always been - argh I hate the money side, I just want to do my work! But I had to pull my professional boots on and find out what a project like this was worth. Coming from a graphic design background I was familiar with using time-tracking tools to track how long artwork took me, and so it didn’t take long for me to figure out how long a piece of art would take to make for an oracle deck. I then multiplied that by how many cards there were and had an idea of how many hours it would take. But I wasn’t sure what to charge!
Seek guidance from your peers. I can’t emphasise this enough. The artistic community is amazingly supportive and I strongly recommend joining some professional artistic groups on Facebook. And I mean groups that aren’t just about sharing work and getting likes, but that openly discuss professional issues such as pricing, contracts and the like. The moment I knew I was going to have to quote for this project I put a post on one such group and had 3 artists contact me directly with advice. It was amazing and reassuring to have their thoughts on publishers and approximate price points. Similarly I got first hand accounts from my peers about what it was like to work with publishers. This helped me feel more confident that the number I had in my head wasn’t outrageous (since us artists tend to undervalue ourselves).
Don’t be afraid to admit you’re new or don’t know.
Similar to the point above, after seeking advice, I also spoke to Hay House and explained that I was deeply interested in the project, but admitted I had never worked on a project of that size or scope before. I asked if they were willing to share what they normally paid for a project of this size and they very kindly obliged. Thankfully this figure aligned with what was in my head and what I had been advised by fellow artists.
Other things to consider:
Professional illustrators are expected to quote based off rights usages, publishing territories and royalties. You’ll want to make sure you’re familiar with these terms as well as copyright usages so that you know what you’re dealing with when you come to sign an agreement. Joining a professional association such as the Association of Illustrators (here in the UK) is a great place to start and to gain advice.
So to summarise:
practice keeping track of your hours when creating your art, that way you can quote more accurately
seek guidance from your fellow artists and professional associations
don’t be afraid to ask your client what their budget is
join a professional association to gain extra legal and contractural advice
‘Composure’ card art
Meeting the client and discussing the project
This goes without saying (I think) but you and the client need to be very clear about the expectations for the project. The client is investing a fair amount of money and risk in your work, and you are investing a fair amount of time into creating the work - everyone needs to be on the same page about how each other works and the standards that need to be upheld in order for things to run smoothly. Personally I also like to check in as a project progresses to ensure everyone is happy and if there are any issues I can work on resolving them.
Timing! Deadlines, late fees, rush fees
I’ll keep this point short and sweet as well, but you need to figure out your timing. Yes an oracle deck could technically be done in less than 44 days. But I can guarantee you you may not be able to work after that either physically or mentally. Working on art whether for yourself or for a client can have its ups and downs and you don’t always feel creative and there’s always the risk of burn out. Personally, times of stress can really affect my creativity and I have to find ways of dealing with it. Knowing I had to have other client work as well as the oracle deck in order to pay the bills I estimated approximately a year to complete the work. That was one piece of art a week to meet the deadline with a few weeks off here and there. Towards the end of the project the deadline was shortened and a rush fee was agreed for me to prioritise the work and get it done on time (which equated to two pieces a week). Most professional contracts will also have a late fee charge if the artist is running behind schedule. Be sure to look at your calendar and get clear on the time commitment and what you can physically create over a long period of time.
Running a creative marathon
This leads me to my next point. Creating an oracle deck (and even more so a tarot deck) is like running a creative marathon. You don’t get to stop and move onto other things when you get bored, or if you get sick - that deadline is still there waiting for you to finish. Scheduling your work appropriately and setting an achievable deadline assures your success. With enough time to complete the work which allows for creative breaks and inspiration sourcing you should still reach the finish line with wind in your sails!
If you’re not sure whether you’re up to the task - consider joining an art challenge. Throughout the year there are many art challenges happening on social media. Inktober is a big one, MerMay, Junicorn. The premise being - you create a piece of art every day within a certain theme for the duration of a month. Doing a practice like this will show you the ups and downs of working on a long project and how it will affect your life. If you give up after 4 days, then you might want to reconsider your goals! Working within a set theme also forces you to stay focused on a subject matter similar to how an oracle deck works so it will give you a good sense of the kind of creative tools you will need in your arsenal to see you through. Both my Mayflower Journal and my Crystal Journal were month long exercises to explore this habit.
Foxgloves from my Mayflower journal
Kyanite from my Crystal journal
I could write another whole article on finding inspiration and staying creative, but I will try and stay succinct! Build your toolkit for creativity! Personally, I find inspiration on sites such as Pinterest, Artstation or Behance, as well as following numerous artists whose work I admire and aspire to. When I’m feeling creatively empty I will often scroll through these sites to be inspired by colour schemes, textures or compositions. Also creativity doesn’t happen in a void, give yourself time to refill your well of inspiration, and always keep it topped up if you can. Whether that be exploring galleries, museums, going on long hikes or meditation - or all of the above. Whatever works, do it and make note of your sweet spot! Account for this in your time estimates. Yes a piece of work may take me 8-12 hours to complete, but there is also an incubation and research period which you need to account for as well! Some pieces will come to you easily, others not so much!
Take care of your health
‘Self Acceptance’ card
It’s easy to take for granted, but as someone who suffers from a repetitive strain injury, I know how easy it is to overwork my body and how much rest it can take to recover. I gave myself tendinitis in my previous job and it still haunts me to this day if I overwork myself. I know the kinds of activities that will set it off, and those that help improve it, but crucially I also know that if I draw too much it will flare up. It’s a big and scary balancing act since my drawing hand is my livelihood - so take care of yourself, research good ergonomics for your work station and take frequent rests.
I hope this article about what it’s like illustrating an oracle deck has been helpful to you. Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to ask more indepth questions, or indeed if you wish to work with me on your very own oracle deck!
Feel free to drop any questions you might have in the comments and I’ll be sure to respond!
Explore my oracle decks below, or find out more here
The Angel Guide Oracle acts as a bridge between heaven and Earth, bringing together 44 images of guardian angels with insightful, supportive, and healing keyword messages to help you activate your intuition, strengthen your communication and open your heart to their messages of love. The accompanying guidebook explains how to attune to the cards, conduct angel readings for yourself as well as for others, and how to work with card spreads.
Illustrated by Jennifer Hawkyard in collaboration with best selling Angel author Kyle Gray and Hay House Publishing, this deck comes signed by the artist in the guidebook.
RE-STOCKING - SHIPPING JAN 26TH ONWARDS
Tap into the powerful, supportive force of the Archangels with this 22-card oracle from best-selling author, card deck creator, and angel expert Kyle Gray.
The Archangels are a divine legion of angels who have been charged by the light of God to serve, protect, heal, and guide humanity towards wholeness. These divine Angels create a bridge between the realms and are here to support you through this lifetime.
This deck has been specially developed to work in tandem with The Angel Oracle and The Divine Masters Oracle to form part of a mega-deck, or can be used as a standalone deck to help you connect with the Archangels in your daily spiritual practice and life. With encouraging messages from Michael, Raziel, Amethyst, Gabriel, and many more divine beings.
Illustrated by Jennifer Hawkyard in collaboration with best selling Angel author Kyle Gray and Hay House Publishing, this deck comes signed by the artist in the front page of the guidebook.
RE-STOCKING - SHIPPING JAN 26TH ONWARDS
Divine Master within, the voice of my inner teacher, I call on you now.
The Divine Masters Oracle is a gathering of sages, saints, and angels who have been offering the world wisdom, emotional intelligence, and spiritual guidance for millennia.
This 44-card deck works as a bridge between the realms, allowing you to connect with the Divine Masters, so that you can harness the infinite power of heaven and live a spiritually aligned life.
Illustrated by Jennifer Hawkyard in collaboration with best selling Angel author Kyle Gray and Hay House Publishing, this deck comes signed by the artist in the front page of the guidebook.
