Unique Gift Idea: Illustrated Playing Cards Show Off Cityscapes

If you’re shopping for a gift for someone, you can stop: we’ve found a unique, handmade item that almost anyone will love: illustrated, city playing cards.

Travel lovers, city dwellers and art fans can all appreciate the sketches of artist Aaron Voronoff Trotter, who is transforming the typical deck of cards into a gallery in a box.

At the beginning of his career, Aaron loved to draw iconic landmarks in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Inspired by graphic novels and Renaissance sketchings, he aimed to have his illustrations turned into greeting cards, post cards, calendars and coloring books. But after producing 200 sketches, a light bulb went off: what about playing cards?

Aaron designed his first deck of cards in 2010, customizing every detail from hand drawn suits and numbers to custom boxes that have each been signed and folded by him. Every box comes with an index of the locations featured, and an artist’s statement, making them both special and informative.

Portland was just the beginning, as Aaron has since gone on to release decks featuring cities like Eugene, Bend, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York City, Washington D.C., Denver, Paris and Rome. There are even specialty decks featuring breweries in Seattle and Portland, wineries in Oregon, and “secret” places of Portland. And next up? He’s heading to Boston.

Aaron’s decks are all printed in Portland on UV coated card stock, displaying drawings that were sketched on location and embellished without the aid of photographs. The fact that Aaron details them using his Great Aunt Ethel’s 1910 ink pen adds an authentic touch, making these that perfect hard-to-find gift for someone who has a special memory in one of the illustrated cities (i.e., your friend who fell in love with Paris).

Aaron’s playing cards are available for purchase online at illustratedplayingcards.com.