Five-card draw

When the Magazine decided to create a deck of quads-centric playing cards, it sent illustrator Philip Cheaney some links to campus gargoyles, grotesques, and figures in stone. Then it was Cheaney’s turn to deal.

King of spades—campus inspiration and initial sketch
Cheaney decided to “stick to the traditional male and female figures for the king and queen cards.” To get more critters and carvings into play, he added a cyclical design of a smaller creature at the card's center.

King of spades—final artwork

Queen of clubs—campus inspiration and initial sketch
Going against gender stereotyping, Cheaney enlisted Rosenwald Hall’s Greek God of the West Wind, Zephyrus, to play his queen of clubs.

Queen of clubs—final artwork

Jack of hearts—campus inspiration and initial sketch
As College first-years quickly learn, campus tradition associates the gargoyle at the bottom of Cobb Gate with them. Second- and third-years are seen climbing the gate, and the fourth-year preens at the apex.

Jack of hearts—final artwork

King of clubs—campus inspiration and initial sketch
For the four kings’ scepters, Cheaney used architectural elements from the quads—in this case, an ear of corn picked from a corbel supporting a Wieboldt Hall arch.

King of clubs—final artwork

Joker—campus inspiration and initial sketch
For the joker, Cheaney chose a monkey found on Stuart Hall and then doubled the fun—each of the prankster pair has nabbed a regal prop in the final artwork.

Joker—final artwork