There are 3 effects to be performed with 8 cards, each one depicting a famous art painting of a popular artist.

The first thing to note is that the write-up of the trick is inaccurate.  There are 8 art cards, not 7.  There are 3 effects with these 8 cards, not 4.

Each of the 8 art cards has 2 small holes punched through them, one near the top and one near the bottom.

In one of the effects, an artist brush is supplied.  An art card is chosen and lost in the packet.  The brush is pushed through the top holes of the cards so that the packet is hanging on the brush.  Magically, the chosen art card swivels around to the top of the brush.

In the second effect, the packet of cards is placed inside an envelope with 2 holes at each side of it.  The paint brush is inserted through the envelope through these 2 holes.  Mysteriously, the chosen art card rises straight out of the envelope.

In the third effect, the packet is securely tied by a piece of string.  The ends of the string are brought around and tied in front of a spectator’s neck, with the packet of cards dangling but tied on the string behind the spectator’s back.  The performer is able to release all other cards except the chosen art card which remains tied behind the spectator’s back.

The methods are simple and effective, but they are based on known magical principles.  They are certainly not original ideas by Gustavo Raley as claimed in the write-up.  What Gustavo Raley has done was to apply these principles to art cards.

You are supplied with all the props – the 8 art cards nicely printed and laminated, the paint brush with gimmick, the paper envelope and the string.  Instructions are given in a DVD.  The DVD also contains a segment on Daniel Gustavo Raley, who is obviously very popular in his own country of Argentina.

The art theme provides novelty.  You need to know the details of each art piece (such as the painting and the artist) as depicted on the cards.  Unfortunately, this information is not provided in the instructions.

Good quality props with a novel art theme.  (3.5/5 stars).