October 5, 2008

Artist Trading Cards!!

It's a new week here at Studio Calico and Nik and I thought it would be fun to talk about mini art. You know that girl loves a mini album...I'm not a mini album master like she is, but I do love those little 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 pieces of expression known as Artist Trading Cards.



Maybe you're an old pro at ATC's or maybe you're new to the whole concept. A little background for you (courtesy Wikipedia):

Artist Trading Cards are individual art miniatures which pass hand to hand. Some sources have credited M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who began trading sessions in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1997, as popularizing ATCs in the modern era, although modern ATC's can be traced back to portrait miniatures and to a kind of business card popular with Impressionistic era artists.[1]

Artists have produced miniatures for trade or self-promotion in many eras and places, and the current trend is thus part of this larger context. Historically there were few standard rules or guidelines to art trading cards, and many variances in sizes can be seen in older cards. The standardization in size of baseball cards is credited with creating the standardization in size for art cards. Today the only rule for these cards is their 2.5 by 3.5 inch size (64 x 89 mm), same as baseball cards and collectible card games. There are, however, certain conventions usually observed by those who make and trade these cards, such as the expectation that they be traded, not sold, and that they be created as unique works or small limited editions of prints. Artists generally sign and date the back, and may also include a title and contact information. For many, the face-to-face trading session is considered an integral part of the concept, although others find each other via the internet and trade by mail.

Artist Trading Cards are typically made on a base of card stock. However, ATCs have been created on metal, stiffened fabric, plastic, clay, glass, balsa wood, leather, embroidery canvas, acetate, heavy watercolor paper, and many other materials. The art on the cards can be done in any media: textile arts, pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil, collage, scratch board, mixed media, assemblage, digital art, calligraphy, beadwork, rubber stamps, carved soft block stamps, pen and ink, colored pencil, airbrush, pastels, and many others - anything artists use.

When I did a forum search on ATC, I see that there has definitely been some buzz about them! I'd love have you link any ATC's you've done...I have a feeling that we might be cooking up a little RAK by the end of the week!


Here's a few links that I'd like to share with you, if you're interested in learning more about ATC's!

http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/
http://www.cedarseed.com/air/atc.html
http://www.atcsforall.com/

12 comments:

Denise said...

Excellent posting! I have never done ATCs, but have always been intrigued. I think a ATC challenge would be awesome. I definitely am up for something I have never tried. :o)

Davinie Fiero said...

What a great post!

april said...

i loved reading about ATCs, my goal when i quit my day job is to make one of these every day :)

ScrapAddict said...

I love ATCs!

Erin said...

I love ATC's too, but have a hard time with swaps where you have to make tons of the same one to give out. I'd rather make different cards. I wish I had time for daily cards, but I don't, so instead me and 2 friends decided to host a group of ladies doing weekly cards. We are actually on our last couple of weeks, but I'm a few weeks behind. Hoping to get caught up this week, so this blog post is perfect timing. Here's a link to our flickr group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/52cardscrapup/

Kimberly said...

I love ATC's. I have never created one however, I am inspired to do so after this post.

Anonymous said...

The ATC's are so cool. Love the post. Did you already pick a winner for the Halloween goodies? I think I missed the post on that.

Anonymous said...

This is great! I love ATCs :)That is... I am completely hooked ;)

Wonderful and very inspiring post :o)

p said...

I have always wanted to do atc's
thanks for the inspiration

make a mini album
scrapbook-crazy - my blog

Nina said...

Hi! Just wanted to share a recent project I did. =)

http://creatinginsolitude.blogspot.com/2008/10/atc-mini-book.html

*hugs*
Nina

P.S. Love your blog and your kits!

Anonymous said...

Here are some ATCs and an ATC album I made :o)
http://tonefslilleverden.blogspot.com/2008/10/for-love-of-atcs.html

Thanks for having this great theme this week!!! I love it :D

Anonymous said...

If anyone would like to know more about artist trading cards and their history, or how to make artist trading cards, they may also be interested in a couple of articles that I've written.