✦ Denver, Colorado · MMXXVI ✦

The Deck
of Prompts

a creative collaboration between artists & writers, bound as an oracle deck

The Deck of Prompts card back: an archway of stairs beneath an all-seeing eye, ringed by moon phases and drawing hands

28 artists chose a prompt. Each returned a card.
Together, they form a deck to unlock imagination.
The door is open. Come look.

You are invited to

The Opening

original illustrations from the deck, on the wall & in person

When
Saturday, July 18th · 10 am – 7 pm
Where
Tattered Cover — Colfax
2526 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
What
The full suite of original oracle-card illustrations, the artists who made them, and the printed deck itself

Questions? Write to thedeckofprompts@gmail.com — or join the newsletter for news of the deck.

What is this?

The Deck of Prompts is a collection of oracle cards made by many hands, a collaborative effort by the creative community. Each card began with a prompt penned by a writer and then chosen by an artist. The artists were given complete creative control over the interpretation of their prompt, resulting in a chorus of styles: gouache and graphite, pixel and print, insight and invitation, all shuffled into one deck.

The idea for the deck came from using The Autonomic Tarot for stream-of-consciousness prompts at the Magpie Writers' Forum. I am always excited by the diverse writing produced in response to the surreal and provocative imagery on the cards, which are themselves a collaboration between the writer David Keenan and the artist Sophy Hollington. I am fortunate to know a lot of talented writers and illustrators and saw an opportunity to bring them together to produce something to inspire imagination and foster creative community.

— Kirk Johnson, organizer of the Deck of Prompts

The original illustrations will hang together for the first time at our gallery show in Denver and the printed decks will be for sale at participating independent shops in Denver and beyond. Check our stockists list to find out where you can get yours.

Our Intent

The Deck of Prompts believes in:

The Cards

selections from the deck — click any card to see it larger

Ready to Get Inspired?

Bring the illustrations home to use as creative inspiration for your next short story, poem, song, tabletop RPG campaign, or just to display — the deck features 28 original pieces of art by an incredible array of talented illustrators.

Mockup of the printed Deck of Prompts: five illustrated cards fanned out
the deck, in the flesh (well — in the cardstock)

Our stockists will be named here soon.
Run an indie shop and want to carry the deck? Write to us.

Hear the Whispers First

news of the deck, the show & the stockists — straight to your inbox

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