#octopustarot
LightNews LightNews
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
Crap, I forgot the tags. #octopustarot #prideoctopus
July 5, 2025 at 1:12 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
The internet went out, it took longer to draw this than I planned, blah blah blee. #sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #death #pride

Death is a card of transformation, not endings. Look to the east; dawn is coming.

(I like this better. Genderfluid. Friendly ghosts. Magic horse.)
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card Death, depicted by a pink octopus riding a glowing fluorescent yellow horse, whose mane and tail are the colours of the Genderfluid flag (pink, white, purple, black, blue). The octopus is wearing a black hat with the Genderfluid colours on the band, and purple bows holding white and purple ostrich feathers draping over the crown of the hat. They are also wearing brown goggles with dark lenses reflecting the horse’s glow, the rims of the eyepieces decorated with gold studs. The horse is facing left, right foreleg raised, head turned back, suggesting movement forward while looking back, or moving towards the future while understanding the past. The card number (13) is in purple Roman numerals at the top of the image, and the title, Death, is lettered in blue outlined with gold on a white ground between lines of pink and purple above, and black and purple below. The octopus and horse are surrounded by white octopus ghosts with hearts on their bodies, one beside the horse, reaching towards the pink octopus, who has an arm extended out. These represent past selves or decisions. The background is grey green hills with the pre-dawn sky, yellow, orange, and pink, fading to blue above. The meaning of the card Death is not negative, it is about change; as we move from one part of our lives to the next, we transform and grow, and leave the things we do not need behind us. Look to the east, the sun is rising. A new day awaits.
July 1, 2025 at 11:25 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #temperance #pride #pridemonth

I had a problem with my Temperance card, as it wasn’t the same shape as the others. I had an idea, and I think I worked it out pretty well. I love the octopus with cat-eye glasses!
(The fizz is non-alcoholic.) 😀💜
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card Temperance, with three octopuses, a white one in front, a pink one behind on the left, and a blue one on the right. The pink and blue octopuses have bottles they are pouring into martini glasses held by the white octopus. Pink octopus is wearing goggles and an aviator cap, both studded with gold. They have large glowing fluorescent yellow wings. They are holding a bottle marked Orange Fizz!, filled with orange liquid they are pouring into white octopus’s glass, which has a lemon twist. White octopus is holding a martini glass in their front arms, and wearing magenta pink cat eye glasses and hat, with a fluorescent glowing feather stick on the top with a bow. They have a little sideways smirk. Blue octopus is wearing gold studded goggles and a black top hat with a pink band and a glowing fluorescent yellow wing brooch. They are holding a round bottle marked Pink Fizz!, filled with pink liquid they are pouring into white octopus’s glass, which has a cherry. The card name, Temperance, is in pink on white, with pink and blue lines above and below, looking like the Trans Pride flag. The letters have a faint pink shade behind them. The number of the card (14) is drawn in Roman numerals, striped like the Trans Pride flag. The background behind the octopuses is light green grass, a stream, and hills in the background. Temperance has two glasses, so maybe choices need to be made, and it might go better if you are sober when making those choices (the drinks shown are non-alcoholic, but everything looks cooler in a martini glass, am I right? :D). It could also be more metaphorical than that, showing that life is inherently unpredictable, but you should always be true to yourself.
June 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #pride #pridemonth #theworld

I don’t like doing this, but this is today’s sketch as well as yesterday’s, b/c there was so much drawing involved.
I figured I’d finish out the major arcana w/ a fab piece, and I think it works.
The World: Success. 😀💜
An ink drawing of the tarot card The World, number 21, and the last card in the major arcana. The card features an octopus in a pair of brown goggles with gold gear-shaped eyepieces with dark lenses, in which the glowing fluorescent yellow of the magic objects is reflected. They are wearing a black top hat with a band that shows the Intersex-inclusive Progressive Pride flag. Their body is blue and green with the ends of the two front arms white, coloured to look like the Earth (the front arm tips are the poles). They are holding two batons of gold, with glowing fluorescent yellow balls at each end of both batons, held by gold eagle talon-shaped points. The octopus is surrounded by a green laurel wreath with gold berries, and a Progressive Pride flag at the base. The flag is edged with gold. The four corners of the card feature swirling cloud shapes in grey and white, surrounding circles that represent flags not represented by the Progressive Pride flag. The flags, clockwise from upper left: Asexual (black, grey, white, green white, grey black), Two-Spirit (Pride rainbow with two black and white feathers attached in the center), Kinnar (the third Indian gender, pink, white, narrow red, white, blue), and the heterosexual Ally flag (black and white horizontal stripes with a stylized A in the middle with the Pride rainbow). The title of the card, The World, is at the bottom, each letter a different colour: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, pink, and grey) on white, bordered by two thick black lines. The number of the card (21) is in Roman numerals at the top, between the top hat and the top of the laurel wreath. The background is blue, with faint white lines that look like wisps of cloud. The meaning of the card The World is success, achieving goals, good fortune.
June 28, 2025 at 8:24 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #theworld #pride #pridemonth

This is as far as I got today. The inking was complicated, and I don’t want to rush the colour. The tarot card The World has the Progressive Pride flag, plus.
Just to mock me, The World celebrates achievement. 🤭💜
An ink drawing of the tarot card The World, a WiP that will get colour tomorrow. The design of the card is an octopus in a pair of goggles and a top hat with a band that shows the Intersex-inclusive Progressive Pride flag. The octopus is holding two batons, and surrounded by a laurel wreath. In each corner of the card is a circle, showing the flags clockwise from upper left: Asexual, Two-Spirit, Kinnar, and the heterosexual Ally flag (no colour yet). The title of the card, The World, is at the bottom. The number of the card (21) is not on the card, because I forgot it, and will put it in. I want this to look nice, so I’m not rushing it.
June 27, 2025 at 10:47 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #atysky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #pride #pridemonth #wheeloffortune

I’m treading carefully with this one, and I am very open to corrections. I wanted to include the Two-Spirit pride flag, and The Wheel of Fortune felt right. 2S is only for Indigenous Americans/First Nations ppl.
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card The Wheel of Fortune, featuring the Two-Spirit Pride flag. The 2S flag is the center wheel, and a brown octopus is holding it from behind, their arms around the wheel, their head visible from the top of their gold-studded goggles up. The corners of the card feature Native American symbols. Clockwise from top right: the Wheel in the Circle, the Snake, the Medicine Wheel, and the Sun. Each symbol glows fluorescent yellow, and their title, with some of the nations/tribes that use the symbol are written around each one in very small lettering. The symbols are set on grey clouds which form a diamond shape around the center, with blue sky behind the octopus and wheel. The number of the card (10) is written in Roman numerals at top center, and the card title, The Wheel of Fortune, is hand lettered in blue on white with three lines above and below, in the Pride rainbow colours. The Two-Spirit designation and design is for Native/Indigenous American/First Nations people only, and is not used or accepted by all nations/tribes. The Wheel of Fortune card is about change, and how life is always evolving. The symbols included have different meanings for different tribes, but are about all the aspects of life. The universe is unpredictable; be ready with optimism and faith in the success of your choices.
June 26, 2025 at 11:24 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #pride #pridemonth

I finished the card! I’m very happy with how it turned out.
The Tower denotes overcoming adversity, and tearing down old, bad ways of thinking.
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card The Tower. The tower is being crushed by a giant octopus striped in trans and pride rainbow colours. The octopus is wearing brown goggles studded with gold. Their top hat has fallen off, and is lying on the left. Their arms on the right are pulling up The Tower by its foundations. The tower has glowing orange letters that read TERF TOWER. The sky is dark, and lightning is striking the tower. Stones are scattered at the base, and a small figure in blue shorts is falling from inside the tower. The card number (16) is at top right, at the originating point of the lightning. The card title, The Tower, is at the bottom, with thick red, orange, and yellow lines above, lettering in red, and thick green, blue, violet, and pink lines below. The Tower card denotes obstacles that must be overcome, sudden changes, or challenges. For the Octopus Pride Tarot set, I wanted to show the entire Pride community triumphing over entrenched bigotry.
June 26, 2025 at 12:30 AM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #pridemonth #octopustarot #wip

I’m posting this now, b/c I’m making smudges. My hands and head are tired.
Notes:
The thing on the left is a top hat on its side.
If this offends TERFs… don’t care.
A marker, ink, and paint pen WiP of the tarot card The Tower. The tower is being crushed by a giant octopus striped in trans and pride rainbow colours. The octopus is wearing goggles. Their top hat has fallen off, and is lying on the left. The tower has glowing orange letters that read TERF TOWER. The sky is dark, and lightning is striking the tower. The Tower card denotes obstacles that must be overcome, sudden changes, or challenges. Don’t think of it as a bad thing, just something to triumph over.
June 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #pridemonth #pride #thedevil

Okay, look. I had a hard time with this one. I struggled. I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
But Bob suggested heterosexuals being influenced by bad institutional ideas. Also, the ST:TOS reference!
The Devil!😈
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card The Devil. There are two small octopuses in front, slap-fighting each other, because one of them is white and black, and one of them is black and white (this is a reference to a Star Trek: The Original Series episode). They are fighting because they have been told to fear difference. They both are wearing plain brown goggles, with the lenses lit like flames, yellow at the bottom, red at the top, obscuring their eyes. Behind them is The Devil, a giant horned octopus in the heterosexual flag colours (black and white stripes)(I’m sorry, I didn’t come up with it), grinning with sharp pointed teeth, their eyes lit up like flames, their front arms raised in the air. Their horns are also striped black and white. Down the front on each stripe, is written (top to bottom): FEAR IGNORANCE BIGOTRY HATE TRANSPHOBIA ANGER The ground is reddish-purple, and the background behind the Devil is lit like a fire is beyond the horizon, yellow at the base, to dark red at the top. The card number (15) is in white at the top, between the Devil’s horns, and the card title The Devil, is in red on white between two black stripes at the bottom of the card. The Devil is one of the only cards in the Rider-Waite deck that has no positive meanings, even reversed; the card means that you must recognize a mental attitude that is ultimately going to cause pain, and not be tempted to blame other people for things that are not their fault.
June 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot #theheirophant

Here it is the other way around. I realized Bob couldn’t turn it upside down to look, b/c the tablet is obliging, and flips.
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card The Heirophant, set up so it is reversed (the title is at the top, the drawing is upside down). (NOTE: The card has been rotated, so the octopus is upright.) The Heirophant is a blue octopus lounging on a throne, with a papal tiara tilted at an angle on their head, and holding a staff loosely, both of which are glowing fluorescent yellow. The staff is held sideways, and a flag in the Bisexual Pride colours (horizontal magenta pink, purple, blue) is attached below the crosspieces at the top. The blue octopus is wearing purple goggles with gold studs and dark lenses, and has a little half-smile, hidden behind their raised left arm. The throne is wood, with a blue and purple tapestry draped over the top, with purple tassels at the corners. There is a purple cushion on the seat. The number of the card (5) is at the top of the throne (the bottom of the card), in white Roman numerals. The title, The Heirophant, is at the top of the image, in blue lettering on white in a purple border, upside down in relation to the rest of the card. The tarot card The Heirophant represents a love for rules, order and bending to authority. Reversed though, the card represents freedom or a rejection of stifling rules, and discarding outdated ideas. My card is drawn in such a way that no matter how it is dealt, it is always reversed. I do not like outdated rules.
June 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #pridemonth #pride #theheirophant

The Heirophant is all about rules and authority, but reversed, the card is all about anarchy. I set it up so no matter which way it’s laid, it’s always reversed. I hope my Bi viewers like it! 🩷💜💙
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card The Heirophant, set up so it is reversed (the title is at the top, the drawing is upside down). The Heirophant is a blue octopus lounging on a throne, with a papal tiara tilted at an angle on their head, and holding a staff loosely, both of which are glowing fluorescent yellow. The staff is held sideways, and a flag in the Bisexual Pride colours (horizontal magenta pink, purple, blue) is attached below the crosspieces at the top. The blue octopus is wearing purple goggles with gold studs and dark lenses, and has a little half-smile, hidden behind their raised left arm. The throne is wood, with a blue and purple tapestry draped over the top, with purple tassels at the corners. There is a purple cushion on the seat. The number of the card (5) is at the top of the throne (the bottom of the card), in white Roman numerals. The title, The Heirophant, is at the top of the image, in blue lettering on white in a purple border, upside down in relation to the rest of the card. The tarot card The Heirophant represents a love for rules, order and bending to authority. Reversed though, the card represents freedom or a rejection of stifling rules, and discarding outdated ideas. My card is drawn in such a way that no matter how it is dealt, it is always reversed. I don’t like outdated rules.
June 23, 2025 at 9:33 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot #thechariot #pride #pridemonth

I finished The Chariot, and I’m happy with it. This was a lot of looking at public domain images, but the sari design was inspired by a photo by @pixel_wali, and the decoration on the chariot from temple photos by saiko3p, both on Shutterstock.
A marker, ink and paint pen drawing of the tarot card The Chariot, represented as a blue octopus in a red and gold sari, standing in an Indian (Asian) covered chariot decorated in gold, red, light blue, and pink, with fine decoration on each colour in the same colour, but darker or lighter. The Chariot is led by two glowing fluorescent yellow Brahma cows, decorated in gold, with painted horns in pink and blue, necklaces of bells around their neck, and red and gold head coverings. The cows are seated, looking in different directions. The number of the card (7) is drawn in pink Roman numerals at the top of the image, the title, The Chariot, is in blue hand-drawn letters on white at the bottom, surrounded by a border of gold and pink, with darker pink fine line decorations over the lighter pink. In the background are green trees, grey mountains, and on the left, a Hindu temple decorated in pink, blue, and red paint. The sky is pale blue. The octopus and their chariot represent Kinnar, the Indian third gender. Kinnar is not trans, or intersex, but a four thousand year old Indian third gender, finally recognized as an official gender (again, after British Colonial law outlawed them in 1860) by the India Supreme Court in April 2014. Their flag is horizontal light pink, white, narrow red, white, and pale blue. The Chariot represents forward movement, success, and willpower. Though the cows are seated, and looking in different directions, the driver of the chariot will always move forward, surrounded by the possessions and rights they have earned through their hard work. (Note: there are no reins on the Brahma cows; they are sacred, and not used for work. The magic of the cows pulls The Chariot behind them, showing their approval of the occupant. This is my interpretation; the Rider-Waite cards used Sphinxes, which are also sacred.)
June 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #tarot #pridemonth #pride

The tarot card Death is often misunderstood. It is a card of transformation, not an ending.
Look to the east; the sun is rising. A new day awaits.
A marker, ink, and paint pen sketch of the tarot card Death, depicted by a black octopus carrying a grey/black banner depicting a fluorescent yellow rose. They are riding a white horse, whose mane and tail are the colours of the Genderfluid flag (pink, white, purple, black, blue). The octopus is wearing a purple hat with the Genderfluid colours on the band, and pink ostrich feathers draping over the crown of the hat. They are also wearing pink goggles with dark lenses, the rims decorated with gold studs. The horse is facing left, right foreleg raised, head turned back, suggesting movement forward while looking back, or moving towards the future while understanding the past. The card number (13) is in pink Roman numerals top right, and the title, Death, is lettered in pink outlined with white on a blue background with a purple border. On either side of the title, within the border, are roses. A rosebud on the left, and an open rose on the right, meaning transformation. The meaning of the card Death is not negative, it is about change; as we move from one part of our lives to the next, we transform and grow. Look to the east, the sun is rising. A new day awaits.
June 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #wip #octopustarot #tarot #pride #pridemonth #thechariot

The Chariot is here represented by Kinnar, the third gender, dating back in Western Asia at least 4,000 years. I was happy to find they have a flag!🩷🤍❤️🤍💙
This is a WiP; the gold isn’t behaving, I’m tired.
A marker, ink and paint pen drawing (unfinished) of the tarot card The Chariot, represented as a blue octopus in a sari, standing in an Indian-style chariot, led by two glowing fluorescent yellow Brahma cows. The number of the card (7) is drawn in pink Roman numerals at the top of the image, the title, The Chariot, is in blue hand-drawn letters on white at the bottom, surrounded by a border of pink. The octopus and their chariot represent Kinnar, the Indian third gender. Kinnar is not trans, or intersex, but a four thousand year old Indian third gender, finally recognized as an official gender (again, after British Colonial law outlawed them in 1860) by the India Supreme Court in April 2014. Their flag is horizontal light pink, white, narrow red, white, and pale blue. The Chariot represents forward movement, success, and willpower. Though the cows are seated, and looking in different directions, the driver of the chariot will move forward, through their determination.
June 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #octopustarot #tarot #pride #pridemonth

This one is for the Aromantics.
The Hanged Man denotes a different perspective, calm and clear-headed. You see things in a way others don’t. That’s a great skill! 😊
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of a green octopus hanging upside down from a T-shaped flourescent yellow wooden post with a vine with white flowers and green leaves along the top. The octopus is wearing a top hat striped in the Aromantic Pride colours (dark green, light green, white, light grey, dark grey). They are also wearing a pair of gold studded grey goggles with dark lenses, in which the light of the post is reflected. Far from being uncomfortable, the octopus is gripping the post easily with their front two arms. An arm on their left is holding a flower from the vines growing at the top of the post, and their two back arms are holding their hat on their head, almost as if they are about to lift it to say hello. The number of the card (12) is drawn in green Roman numerals at the top center, and the title of the card (The Hanged Man) is drawn in green letters at the bottom, surrounded by a green border. The Hanged Man means a different perspective on events, calm, clear-headed, and able to see what others don’t see.
June 20, 2025 at 9:35 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot #pridemonth #pride #artsky #blueskyart

I finished up The Sun! This one is a final drawing, not a planning sketch, so I took more time with the shading (and got the number done).
The oldest literary work in the world includes a non-binary, possibly intersex person. Sex is not binary.
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card The Sun, with a purple octopus on the back of a white horse, in a field of flourescent yellow sunflowers. The sun is the Intersex Pride flag (a purple circle on a yellow ground). The octopus is wearing brown gold-studded goggles with dark lenses, and a black Victorian riding hat, that has a light purple scarf tied in a huge bow around the back of the hat band, with the ends flowing in the wind. The octopus’s left front arm is petting the horse’s head, while the rest of their visible arms are holding on to the horse. The horse’s legs are obscured by the title of the card - The Sun - hand lettered in purple on white, with a yellow border, set into a brick wall. The number of the card (19) is drawn in purple Roman numerals on the top part of the Sun, above the purple circle. The Sun is the card of optimism, success, accomplishment, and that things will get better. It is a card of joy and good feelings.
June 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot
June 20, 2025 at 12:53 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot
June 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot
June 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot
June 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot
June 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot
June 20, 2025 at 12:50 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#octopustarot
June 20, 2025 at 12:50 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
I am! If you search on #pridemonth on my feed, all of them should come up. But I’ll go back and #octopustarot in the comments (I didn’t do that until about halfway through).
June 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
lauramellinatelier.bsky.social
#sketchaday #artsky #blueskyart #art #pride #pridemonth #octopustarot #tarot #thesun

Visually, this one was obvious to me, but keep in mind that not every intersex person identifies as LGBTQ+.
The Sun card (19; I forgot the number): things are going to get better, happiness, achievement of goals.
A marker, ink, and paint pen drawing of the tarot card The Sun (this is a WiP). The image is a purple octopus on goggles and a Victorian riding hat, on the back of a white horse, in a field of flourescent yellow sunflowers. The sun is the Intersex Pride flag (a purple circle on a yellow ground). The octopus’s hat is black, with a light purple scarf tied in a huge bow around the hat band, with the bow in the back. The octopus’s left front arm is petting the horse’s head. The horse’s legs are obscured by the title of the card - The Sun - hand lettered in purple on white, with a yellow border. The number of the card (19) has not been drawn yet.
June 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM