Inspiration:
Playing cards have been around since the Tang Dynasty in China, where there is evidence of royalty playing a “leaf game”. Other fun facts about playing cards include: the four suits may represent the four seasons, the 52 cards in a deck may represent the 52 weeks in a year, and the 13 ranks may symbolize the 13 phases of the moon.

Another interesting piece of historical information about playing cards is that before the French Revolution, Kings and Queens were the highest rank. During and after the French Revolution, people played with the Ace as the highest rank to symbolize the lower classes rising above the royalty.

Everyday Art Lesson:
Concept Focus:  Decorative Playing Cards
Mess Factor: Moderate to messy, depending on if paint is used.
Ages: Can be modified for ages 0-18 years
Objectives: Kids will create a decorative playing card. They can create a symbol to represent their own suit, or use existing suits to design their card. They can also design the back of the card using symmetry.

Babies, toddlers, and younger kids: Create Playing Card Print Collages!
Suggested Materials:
•    Card stock or water color paper cut to card size, or larger.
•    Water colors or tempera paints
•    Crayons or markers
•    Sponges (for printmaking)

Younger kids and babies can draw with crayons, or create sponge prints on the card paper. Cut a sponge into the shapes of hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs. Using tempera paints or watercolor paints, young children can print a card collage with the different suit shapes.

Overlap darker colored shapes over printed lighter colored shapes for a transparent effect if using watercolors. If using tempera paint, print with the darker colors, then overlap the lighter colors.

Older Kids: Designer Playing Cards?
Suggested Materials:
•    Card stock or water color paper cut to card size, or larger.
•    Scissors
•    Colored pencils
•    Sharpies
•    Markers
•    Water colors or tempera paints
•    Deck of interesting cards for inspiration

Older kids can create a designer playing card, or create an entire deck of cards for the ambitious teen. Start by looking at different examples of art playing cards on Pinterest or Google images, or buy a pack of interesting cards at the store. Trace a couple of cards on a practice paper to sketch out ideas.

Kids can choose a suit and their lucky number to create an interesting design, or they can create their own suit to symbolize them. Allow their creativity to run wild with this project. They can use one or a variety of drawing and painting materials for this project.

Lastly, older kids can design the back of their card on another sheet of paper (so that paints or markers don’t leak through). They can use symmetry to create the design, folding the second sheet in half length-wise, then width-wise to find the center. Once finished, attach to the front of the card, or display side-to-side.

Plan a family game night after, using the pack of playing cards used for inspiration. Or, use the cards designed by your teen to play “memory” or another game of your choosing.

(TIP: Always check for the ASTM d-4236 standard and ACMI AP seal, which should be on all art materials given to children. Materials are like ingredients.  Many things can be substituted for what you have on hand.)

References:
www.bicyclecards.com/article/a-history-of-playing-cards/

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Jennifer Barrett is the Arts Liaison and Performing Arts Coordinator at a public junior high school in Brooklyn, and has taught visual arts there since 2002. She founded Creative Space Arts in 2014 to offer a different kind of art studio, always changing and inspired by the immersive environment of galleries and other creative spaces.  She has also guided countless students through the rigorous audition process of portfolio development, with many gaining acceptance and even scholarships into some of NYC’s most prestigious art schools. Jennifer’s paper creds include: B.F.A. in Drawing, M.Ed., S.B.L Certification.