WHAT ARE ATCs?
Artist trading cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as modern trading cards baseball cards, or 2 1⁄2 by 3 1⁄2 inches and small enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets. The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and has its origins in Switzerland. Cards are produced in various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc.), wet media (watercolor, acrylic paints, etc.), paper media (in the form of collage, paper-cuts, found objects, etc.) or even metals or fiber. The cards are usually traded or exchanged. When sold, they are usually referred to as art card editions and originals (ACEOs).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artisttradingcards
ATCsForAll.com: Trading Site IllustratedATCs.com: Trading Site ATC Quarterly Trading Card Questions Original Art Trading Society (OATS)
Steps
Getting started with your own ATCs
Thumbnails:
- Start with the size in mind. Artist trading cards are 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches. This is the size of playing cards and other trading cards. You can even start with mismatched playing cards as a base for collage or altered item artwork. I will also have pre-cut cards for you to use.
- Cut the background material to size. If you choose to use a background material, you may start by cutting card stock or heavy paper to size. A paper cutter, if you have one, will help you make square, straight cuts quickly.
- Choose your media. If you work in another medium, such as leather or fabric, you may either cut it to size or work so that the finished result is the correct size.
- Express yourself or show your style, using your preferred medium or media. If you can do it inside of 3.5 x 2.5 inches, you can make an ATC.
- Drawing and painting are easily done at this size, but so are plenty of other arts, including quilting, photography, crochet, leather work, metal work, and collage. The possibilities are LIMITLESS!
Work somewhat quickly. You don't need to be careless when making an ATC, but there's no need to work your masterpiece in miniature, either. ATCs should be simple pieces that you're willing to give away when you're done.
Make lots. You'll need a selection of cards. Remember that you will be giving your cards away. "Lots" can be relative. It could be half a dozen or a few dozen, depending on how many you expect to trade.
Show your style. Is there a particular palette or medium you prefer or a technique you've been exploring lately? Make YOUR card stand out!
Sign & Title your cards and attach information on the back. On the back the artist will title the work, list the media, and can include their first name and grade/age. The title is optional, but it will give your recipients or viewers a context in which to view your work. Here is an example:
9. Share. The whole point of ATCs is to trade with other artists, so once you have a selection
of cards, trade them.
CAC will be trading with:
OTHER WAYS TO SHARE/TRADE:
- Find artists or groups in your area that trade cards.
- Attend gatherings of artists in your area, and remind them to bring ATCs to share.
- Carry them with you as you would business cards, so that if you find an occasion to trade or give away a card, they are with you.
- Spread the word. If your local artist community is unfamiliar with artist trading cards, you may have to give away a few cards or offer them with a request for one in return before you get many back.
- Organize a gathering to swap ATCs. Let people know what ATCs are about, and get together to try trading some.
- Look on-line. There are on-line groups that will match you up with others the world over who can mail cards in exchange for yours.
10. Collect others' ATCs.
Michelle Salmans & Rachel Downs-Blair lead the Art Club at Lawrence Free State High School in Kansas. Lawrence is a city of just under 90,000 which houses the University of Kansas, about 40 miles west of Kansas City and 25 miles east of our state capital, Topeka.
*Fun Fact: Ms. Downs-Blair presented about ATCs at NAEA a few years ago and is a huge advocate and knowledge house for the process.
LINKS:
Lawrence Free State High School: http://fshs.usd497.org/
Rachel Downs-Blair: http://downs-blair-art.tumblr.com/
Michelle Salmans: http://salmansinart.weebly.com/
WHEN ARE WE GETTING STARTED?
OCT. 14th & 15th
WHEN ARE WE TRADING?
I plan on making two bulk mailings, one before Winter break and another in the Spring.
DATES: TBD, Before Winter Break
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