Alison McDonald

Published November 12, 2012 Updated April 24, 2022

Artwork for The Watersprite Tarot© designed and painted by Alison McDonald.

AustraliaOn the CardsTarotAlison McDonald

Alison McDonald’s tarot card artwork

“I started my working life as a Community Psychologist employed by the government in rural NSW. I ended up spending quite a few years creating The Watersprite Tarot - how this quantum leap in perspective occured is a mystery to me. Having no formal art training behind me, it has initially been a long and arduous process to design and illustrate the cards, especially trying to master the craft of watercolour. However it has also been a journey of great joy and discovery. To me the most impotant aspects of the cards are symbology, colour, mood and energy. I think the archetypal symbols of the tarot are universal and fixed in history.” Alison Muir McDonald.

Each card is intended to fit inside a frame. There are 78 cards + 1 blank.   See the FINAL PRINTED DECK →

the High Priestess from a set of tarot cards designed and painted by Alison McDonald

Above: the High Priestess.

the Empress from a set of tarot cards designed and painted by Alison McDonald

Above: the the Empress.

the Fool from a set of tarot cards designed and painted by Alison McDonald

Above: the Fool designed and painted by Alison McDonald.

the Wheel of Fortune from a set of tarot cards designed and painted by Alison McDonald

Above: the Wheel of Fortune.

the World from a set of tarot cards designed and painted by Alison McDonald

Above: the World

the Queen of Swords from a set of tarot cards designed and painted by Alison McDonald

Above: the Queen of Swords.

All artwork © Alison McDonald. Contact Alison McDonald

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By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

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