"The Magic Rat" for Collins is a nickname for the railroad conductor who was known for his charismatic personality and ability to entertain the passengers during their journey. His real name is Pat Collins, but he gained the nickname because of the enchanting atmosphere he could create on the train. Collins had a unique way of interacting with the passengers, making ordinary train rides feel like a magical experience. He would tell captivating stories, perform magic tricks, and even sing songs. Passengers would eagerly look forward to their trips, excited to see what surprises Collins had in store for them. Not only did Collins entertain the passengers, but he also took great care of them.
Maille does not shy away from challenging imagery, and that’s most prominent here in the suit of Swords. That Eight of Swords is so clever, though, isn’t it? It brilliantly conveys the sense of being stuck, restrained in place, but it’s illusory, and there is a way out, if you apply reason. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such ingenuity in interpreting the Swords suit as we see here in the Ink Witch Tarot.
By the way, check out Maille s online art portfolio, especially the page of his full-color bird illustrations , where each work is titled after a deity, like Icarus, Prometheus, Pandora, Medusa, Ariadne. Maille s Etsy shop describes his work as witchy and queer-friendly art, to which I d also add covers an eclectic range of cultural iconic references.
Not only did Collins entertain the passengers, but he also took great care of them. He made sure they were comfortable and attended to their needs promptly. His warm and friendly nature made everyone feel welcome and created a sense of community among the travelers.
Ink witch taror
It's that time of the year when you might be looking to buy someone special a tarot deck or to treat yourself. So I wanted to review an independent deck that's still available and that hasn't been easy to find! However, thankfully the Wootique are still carrying this little gem. So here we have The Ink Witch Tarot. Just to be clear up front, this isn't a witchy deck. I don't know if the name refers to a nickname for the artist or not but although you'll find a cauldron, some magic wands and such like in this deck, you won't find anyone wearing a witches hat. It still has a magical quality though. And that comes in it's ability to enable you to become a storyteller extraordinaire.
This is a fully illustrated deck but it isn't an RWS clone. The art work is kind of hard to describe, it's not cartoony but it's not too grown-up either. Maybe a little bit fairytale but with some gentle reality thrown in. The colour palette for the deck stands out in its muted tones. It's all pale blues, browns, beiges, black and white and as such has quite a calm and together feel. It's not too sparse but there's lots of space to enable you to see what's going on.
The card stock is good quality, smooth playing card stock. So it's easy to overhand shuffle as well as to riffle and bridge. As you can see the images are borderless, with the exception of the footer at the bottom and the font is very easy to read. The traditional suits and titles have been retained with Strength at VIII and Justice at XI. For those of you who like absolute symmetry, do be aware that the footers are of different depths and shades.
The cards come in a standard tuck box without any guide book. There is a guide book available for purchase, I believe in the U.S. but if you're in the UK, you can download a PDF copy from the artists website www.ericmaille.com/downloads
I would recommend downloading it as there is some excellent information about why the artist chose to represent the images in a different way to the traditional decks.
There is diversity in age, sex and sexual orientation but not in skin-colour or culture. There are animals real and imagined. Its strength doesn't lie in its diversity. It's key point of interest is it's storytelling ability. It will transfer you to magical lands or just a slightly magical version of this land and spark your intuitive readings. While all the time blending nicely with your furniture, no doubt. Quite a remarkable little deck.
A while back I reviewed the book The Cards: The Evolution and Power of Tarot by Prof. Patrick Maille. Eric Maille is his son, an artist, and the creator of the Ink Witch Tarot. Maille is an Oklahoma-based artist and illustrator whose works explore “the irony that we as humans often feel poorly equipped to live out that experience, struggling against our environments, the people around us, and our own emotions” (per his artist statement). And you’re going to find that theme at the heart of these beautiful illustrations.
Collins became a beloved figure among the regulars who would often choose his train specifically to experience the joyous atmosphere he created. They would share stories and experiences with one another, building connections that lasted beyond their time on the train. The Magic Rat for Collins created a unique and memorable experience for train passengers. Through his charisma and entertaining nature, he turned ordinary rides into magical journeys that passengers would forever cherish..
Reviews for "The Magical Charm of Rat Collins: Enchanting Hearts Worldwide"
1. Jane - 1 star - I really did not enjoy "The Magic Rat for Collins." The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were one-dimensional and unconvincing. The writing style was also very choppy and disjointed, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. Overall, I found the book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it.
2. Mark - 2 stars - "The Magic Rat for Collins" had potential, but it fell short for me. The concept was intriguing, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow, and the story seemed to drag on with unnecessary details. Additionally, I found the dialogue to be unrealistic and forced. Overall, I was not captivated by this book and felt it could have been much better.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I was very disappointed with "The Magic Rat for Collins." The characters lacked depth and development, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The plot was also very predictable and cliché, making it difficult to stay engaged. The writing style was also lacking, with overly descriptive passages that didn't add anything to the story. I would not recommend this book to others.
4. Tom - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Magic Rat for Collins," but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The pacing was uneven, with slow sections that dragged on and fast-paced parts that felt rushed. The plot was also convoluted and hard to follow, with too many subplots and unnecessary details. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and would not read it again.
5. Emily - 1 star - I really struggled to get through "The Magic Rat for Collins." The writing was overly verbose and pretentious, with sentences that seemed to go on forever. The characters were also unlikable and unrelatable, making it difficult to care about their story. The ending was also very unsatisfying and left many loose ends. Overall, this book was a disappointment for me, and I would not recommend it.