Introducing the 2026 Deck of Cards

At the end of 2024, after completing my first painted deck of cards, I decided to keep going. Throughout the year, I had kept a running list of ideas for cards/suits in my sketchbook, and by the time I’d finished painting my 52nd card, I realized I had only scratched its surface- I wanted to paint the remaining ideas, and so I started on a second deck. 

At first, I didn’t really have a plan in mind other than to paint more cards here and there. I’d painted the first deck at a furious pace, as what had started with one card a week quickly escalated into two, three, and sometimes four cards a week, once I’d decided to have them turned into a printed and playable deck. 

If you know me and know how I work, then you’ll understand that this was challenging for me, as I am a slow painter, and like to sketch out and plan and research each project I work on, and so not having a hard deadline (or any deadline at all!) on the second deck provided me with a welcome change of pace. I started painting this new deck at the end of 2024, and completed my final card in mid-July.

A lot of thought and care went into each card in the 2026 deck, and I thought it would be fun to share some scans from my sketchbook- most of my inspiration comes from everyday life and nostalgia for the past (my own, and everything that came before me- art, literature, decor, etc.- I love it all!), and working on this deck at my own (much slower!) pace really gave me the opportunity to look at each card as its own standalone piece of artwork.

It has really been an honor to see how Deck No. 1 has shown up in all of your homes and lives- I’ve loved seeing photos of games of Go Fish on your family vacations, framed decks on the walls of your home offices and nurseries, and even table numbers at your weddings, and each one has brought the biggest smile to my face. I am really excited to send these new 2026 decks out into the world, and to see them at play!