The Long Thought Lost Tarot, illustrated by James Arnold and presented by Hit Point Press, is a love letter to tarot from the mind of a generational talent in illustration and graphic design. Available both digitally and physically with accompanying musical score by Mark Sparling, it’s a defining project for all involved.
I was able to catch up with James for a mini-view about his artistic career and this brand new project, straight from the creator himself:
Donny Caltrider: Hi James! As I always start- who are you, where are you from, and what do you do?
James Arnold: I’m James Arnold (That Guy James). I’m originally from Rochester, NY and a graphic designer who specializes in TCGs and game system iconography.
- MtG: Senior Graphic Designer for 4+ years
- D&D: Concept and production artist (most recently illustrated 4 Tarokka cards released for Ravenloft this summer)
- Lorcana: Graphic Design consultant
- Transformers TCG: Graphic Design Lead
- Emergents TCG: Graphic Design consultant
- Cataclysm Arcade TCG: Lead Creative
DC: That’s quite the roster of TCGs. Can you give everyone a brief explanation of what you did at Wizards for Magic?
JA: I was part of the Worldbuilding team in R&D (Studio X), responsible for a lot of the graphic elements that went onto Magic cards. My tenure stretches from Dominaria to Dominaria United.
- Frames (SO MANY FRAMES)
- Expansion Symbols (80+)
- The cleaned up expansion symbol watermarks for Masters 25 (A25)
- Cleaned up Ravnica Guild Symbols for the Guilds/Allegiance sets
- Concept work and frame refinement for the first generation of booster fun cards
- Promotional artwork (GP Shirts, Ravnica Guildkit inserts for Boros and Gruul, Anniversary Playmats of the minimalist Moxen and the GP Vegas Black Lotus logo)
- I did the opening voice for the Guilds of Ravnica trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Dff3PRv-c
- And of course, cards!
DC: Cards, you say??
JA: It is a continuing honor to be among the few who have been chosen to lend their artwork to a Magic card. Each one is so special to me.
Many of my cards are a direct result of my work in developing the frame for a set. Spending days and weeks working on the container for a piece of art I can’t help but start to piece together what would go in the center. My most sincere thanks to my wonderful coworkers Mark, Kelly, and Cynthia for giving me the opportunity to take these notions into their fully realized forms.
DC: And now away from Wizards and Magic, how has your art and career changed and developed?
JA: I’m currently freelancing for several clients (Cataclysm Arcade foremost among them) and continuing to push my independent art forward.
I think the tarot is seen among artists as a meaningful “someday” project that we would all love to accomplish. Tarot is a beloved, timeless, and deeply human tale. It allows us as creatives to concentrate on technique and storytelling craft. Each of us chooses what element(s) to concentrate on, how to approach the assignment, and what kind of experience we hope to imbue the viewer with. It becomes a self-portrait, as all art is, though even more so due to the familiarity of the myriad tropes. I made this deck as a snapshot of who I was at the time, a student of the craft who felt ready to share his journey so far. Not only what I’d accomplished as an individual, but as a member of a much larger continuum that spans ages. It was the work of those who came before me that entranced me as a young artist, and it is that work that I pay loving tribute to in my own efforts.
DC: What would you say you’re most proud of?
JA: I’m proud whenever I’m able to leave things better than how I found them.
DC: Incredible. And finally, where can folks find you online?
JA: Right here!
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thatguyjames2/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thatguyjames.bsky.social
Upcoming Seattle-Area Shows: Oddmall (Nov 21-22) and Market of the Beast (Dec 20)
DC: James, thanks so much for this quick trip through your artistic journey, and congrats on an incredible project! You love to see it.
Wrapping Up
The campaign for James Arnold’s Long Thought Lost Art Deco Tarot by Hit Point Press ends Thursday, November 19, 2026. With over 600 backers and nearing 50K in support, the project is already a resounding success. Don’t miss your chance to add this absolutely gorgeous collection of cards to your shelf!
Donny Caltrider (he/him) has been writing about Magic: The Gathering art since 2018. He has an M.A. in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University, and works in varying capacities as an agent with nearly 50 Magic artists.
He likes baseball, Magic, good cards, great art, whiskey, and you.