Artist trading cards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Artist trading cards, also known as ATCs, are 2 ½ x 3 ½ inch (64 x 89 mm) miniature works of art which artists trade with one another, similar to the way people trade sports cards. ATCs are a relatively new art form which formally began in September 1996. The concept was created by Swiss artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann.[1]
Cards can be in any media: textile arts, pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil, collage, scratch board, mixed media - anything creative artists use. Artist Trading Cards are produced as single originals, in a series, or a limited editions.
Conceptually, ATCs are about exchanging art without exchanging money, and without interference of the business side of the art world. Artists trade their cards in face-to-face trading sessions as well as via mail. Artists who trade by mail often make their arrangements online and/or through e-mail. In some artists' opinions, trading cards by mail is a diminished experience when compared to an ATC trading session.
It should be noted that painting or otherwise altering playing cards and Tarot cards to produce small works of art has been in practice since the first playing cards were printed for general use. A broken deck might have indiviual cards repainted or embellished and given as gifts or used has hand-passed political satire. The current concept of Art Cards has given the practice a name and a face, and is a world-wide pastime.
[edit] Rules of ATCs
Only a few true rules apply to modern Artist Trading Cards:
- The dimensions of the card must be 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 x 89 mm).
- The cards must be traded rather than bought or sold.
- The artist of the card should sign and date their cards, and number them if they are part of an edition. Contact information can also be included so other artists can get to know them and their work. (Some artists like to make a personal calling card with a self portrait on the front and contact information and anything else they'd like to include on the back, to give out with their trades.)
Artist Trading Cards are typically made on a base of card stock. However, ATCs have been created on metal, stiffened fabric, plastic, clay, balsa wood, leather, embroidery canvas, acetate, heavy watercolor paper, and many other materials. Various techniques are then applied to the chosen substrate: collage, textile arts, assemblage, digital art, calligraphy, beadwork, watercolors, rubber stamps, carved soft block stamps, pen and ink, colored pencil, airbrush, and many others. The back of the card typically includes the artist's signature, the date, and sometimes the number (if the card is part of an edition or series), and title. If part of an organized swap, it is common for people to add the name of the swap and sometimes the name of the swap host.
[edit] ACEO
A highly debated offshoot of the ATC is the ACEO - Art Card, Editions and Originals. ACEOs were founded when some artists began to create cards to sell on eBay, in addition to trading among themselves. The selling of these cards is a sore point with some ATC purists; however the practice is not unprecedented: trading cards in other areas such as sports have also been traded and sold. Many artists continue to sell small art cards on eBay. The practice is meant to augment their incomes, as well as increase their patronage.
