For a custom card project, I created four custom hanafuda cards, which I sketch in pencil then later painted in gouache.
Hanafuda (花札, lit. “flower cards”) is a type of playing card that can be used for many games. The cards are known for their designs which feature 12 suites of 3 cards, each representing a different month and a plant that grows within that month.
The paintings all started as pencil sketches on sketchbook paper, which I later traced on Bristol board in pen and painted with gouache.
The first painting is of Naoi, from the Lycoria series, depicted as the 10-point Sake cup Chrysanthemum Hanafuda card, which is representative for the month of September.
The second painting is of Naida, from the Lycoria series, depicted as the 20-point Curtain Cherry Blossom Hanafuda card, which is representative for the month of March.
The third painting is of Murasaki, from the Lycoria series, depicted as the 20-point Ono-no-Michikaze Willow Hanafuda card, which is representative for the month of November.
The second painting is of Umaq, from the Lycoria series ( in wolf form), depicted as the 20-point Full Moon Susuki Grass Hanafuda card, which is representative for the month of August.
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