Mel Wagner
Ace-Ladybug
The Ace of the deck is the most important and the one thing that has had the largest impact in my life. My first stuffed animal, my email address, and infinite other memories.
King-Pumpkin
Pumpkin king is a pun based off of one of my favorite movies: Nightmare Before Christmas.
The King of Hearts has a knife because classic decks of cards have suicide kings which is the the King of Hearts.
Queen-Succulent
Most cacti are succulents but not most succulents are cacti
Jack-Jellyfish
Jellyfish are my favorite underwater animal. They live for thousands of years and are so majestic.
Ten-Rose
Romance and Purity.
The two different colors represent the main reason for liking roses: the variety of meanings of rose based on the color.
Another reason is our old house in California had a row of roses of all different colors.
Nine-Snapdragon
One of my favorite things from when I lived in California was the yellow snapdragons. If you squeeze the sides the flower opens as if it has a mouth. It will look like the mouth snaps shut when you let go.
Eight-Mushroom
Whenever I go hiking, even when I was a kid, I always look for mushrooms. They are pretty fascinating. I can’t tell you how many pictures I have of the seemingly unlimited amount of species.
Seven-Mullein Plant
I knew I had to do Toilet Paper Plant. I call it this because it is soft enough that if you were in the forest without toilet paper, you could use this.
It reminds me when we camped in state parks in seeming isolation.
Six-Worm
Boy do I love worms. I have no real reason but one day I’d like a pet worm.
Two-Dinosaur Plant
I call this the dinosaur plant because I have a theory that all the plants with the dinosaurs were red or purple. I have no basis for this theory other than I haven’t been told why I would be wrong.
Photography Behind the Cards
For each of my cards I wanted all the photos to be my own. I felt is was important because if I copy a picture it feels like plagiarism, as if I am stealing their photo. Also I enjoy photography so I could add another level of me in the pieces.
Ladybug
I literally painted my room lime green in the Portland house to match a canvas print of a ladybug on a green flower.
Pumpkin
There is so much variety in pumpkins. My favorite are the white ones and that is what I drew.
Succulent
Jellyfish
I’m so happy I have photos that I’ve taken of jellyfish.
Fun fact: I was stung by a jellyfish when I was six but stung by a bee when I was sixteen.
Rose
Snapdragon
Snippity, Snappity
Mushroom
Tons and tons of mushrooms.
Toilet Paper Plant (Mullein Plant)
Worm
Dinosaur Plant
Behind The Photography
Makeup
My favorite genre of art is makeup. A way to feel good and look good, sign me up!
I've made various excuses for my makeup so it wouldn't be too weird when I go into school. Pride month, Inktober, renaissance fairs, etc.
Through the weirdest coincidence, I was given the opportunity to work as makeup artist for Matilda and Seussical Jr. with the JCC.
I'm so glad I was able to experience the theatre scene so now I know I want to do more in college.