Teen Patti Playing Cards

Anjali DSouza an illustrator from Chennai, India has designed a pack of cards using Indian truck art and the Indian folk art as inspiration.

Revival and Revamping

In an era of computer games, children have lost interest in playing board games that are a part of India’s tradition. The project aims at giving board games and playing cards a new avatar using illustration techniques and Indian folk and truck art as inspiration.Also the aim was to achieve an Indian feel as well as teach and familiarise children and adults with Indian folk art.

The Concept: Teen Patti Playing Cards

The concept for designing the playing cards was to bring out the vibrant feel of the Phad folk art of Rajasthan and create a story through the cards. The cards are illustrated using bold black outlines and vivid hues that resemble the Phad style of painting. Instead of black and red to differentiate between suits, indigo blue and orange is used for the spades and clubs and green and red for the hearts and diamonds. The background of each card is a saffron colour, significant and prominent in Phad folk art. The font chosen matched the quirky illustrations on the cards. Each suit tells a story through the illustrations of the King, Queen and Jack. The suits show various activities of the royalty - gambling, romance, war and revelry. The Joker is dressed in the Rajasthani attire and has comical features. The cards not only show the style of the Phad paintings but also completely change the look and feel of playing cards.

The handmade box compliments the cards and is illustrated using motifs from the borders of Phad painting. The cards have a fun element as well as familiarise one with Rajasthani folk art.

You can see more of Anjali's illustrations and artwork on her Behance portfolio.