I'm throwing the idea around of creating my own set of traditional rider backs. My thought is they would be the court cards that I use in all of the decks that I create that call for a more traditional set of court cards. As of now I'm calling it the Kings Wild Signature Series. This is a back design I've been playing with. I also would love to do this deck OFF of kickstarter and only make these Kings Wild Signature Series decks available via my website. Its also nice to start getting back to creating instead of shipping all day long. I really just need a breath of fresh air.
The design still has a hint of my love of intricate line work.
Ain't nothing wrong with nice linework - the Aristocrat Banknotes are popular for a reason.
That's a serious back - looks very nice. Looking forward to seeing those signature courts you want to make. My advice - tweak away all you want, but for a "traditional" deck, don't stray too far from the basics. Incorporate the standard imagery in terms of cards that are one-eyed, bearded, carry a "bedpost", are committing suicide, etc.
One of my favorite court sets in recent history was from the Virtuoso deck. It had the traditional look and feel but the artwork was more modernized and the Queens were so much more attractive - like women you'd see on the street as opposed to in a history book. Updated, slightly modernized art would do your deck well.
For the card gods' sake, don't go the typical route of taking your friends faces and putting them on your courts! They end up looking contrived and the concept is getting overused. The only person who pulled that off with style was the designer of the White Knuckle deck, and he practically drove himself insane creating that deck...all work and no play make Jack(-son) a dull boy...
But damn, aren't those White Knuckles beautiful? He also did a fine job of something I don't often see - depth of field, a real sense of three-dimensionality rather than a flat picture. That, too, would do your deck well.
