- The divinatory art of the 52-card deck -
A self-taught visionary artist, spirit medium and occultist who spent more than three decades turning an ordinary deck of playing cards into instruments of divination.
“Your work is a living, breathing entity.”
Primarily working as a bartender by day, C.J. devoted his life to exploring the hidden world within the deck - producing hundreds of original symbolic illustrations channelled through his deep connection to unseen worlds. His art stands as one of the most distinctive and underexplored contributions to modern American occult practice.
63 works · a page still in progress
Queen of Spades — Medussa
Queen of Spades — Freeman
Morgana Wood Block Woodblock
Queen of Spades — Game Crafter
Early Morgana Wow
Queen of Spades — Lowerkb
What follows is a sampling of what is now published in the "Doors of Somlipith" Book and Card Set for Divination with Playing Cards.
Lady of Hearts — Bethany
Jack of Hearts — Lahire
Queen of Hearts — Déja
King of Hearts — Nichomiah
King of Spades — Mardoc
Queen of Diamonds — Livia
King of Clubs — Sol
Ace of Clubs — Ethra Somlipith
Ace of Hearts — Agana
Ace of Spades — Terra Incognita
Two of Clubs — Moon Fire
Three of Diamonds — The Severed Head
Three of Spades — The Beggar
Four of Hearts — West Wind
Five of Hearts — Fata Morgana
Five of Spades — Impotent King
Seven — The Sword
Eight of Diamonds — The Guardian
Eight of Clubs — Wicca
Eight of Hearts — The Faun
Eight of Spades — The Curse
Two of Diamonds — The Rivals
Joker — Female Otto
Joker — Male Toto
These are the earliest examples of C.J.'s art — large pencil drawings on newsprint. Many were preliminary sketches for the paintings that followed.
Dango Sketch
Bluebeard Rose
The Alchemist
Lady of Spades — Sketch
Joker — Man Hat
Lovers Strange
Untitled work by C.J. Freeman
Jack of Clubs — Lancelot Sketch
Hanged Man
Creepy Guy
Queen — Pope
Untitled work by C.J. Freeman
Lady of Hearts — Bethany Sketch2
Seven — Hand
Untitled work by C.J. Freeman
Illustrations from this period were pen, ink and pencil. He had a big box of 8½ × 11 paper and would draw on loose sheets.
Madamdart
Three of Hearts
Jack of Spades
Lady of Hearts
Ace of Clubs
Two of Spades
King of Spades — Early Sketch
Nine of Hearts
Three of Clubs
Six of Hearts — Sketch
Queen of Clubs — Early
King of Hearts — Fur Early Sketch
Queen of Diamonds
Dango Early
Jack of Hearts — Lahire Woodblock
Nine of Spades — Carnival
Eight of Spades
Lady of Spades — Terrene Fatefortune600
This page is a work in progress - C.J. produced hundreds of images for the playing cards. Enquiries about the originals are welcome.