Art Cards

Artist Trading Cards—A New Phenomenon

Although the circulation of Artist Trading Cards (ATC) was begun over a decade ago, it has taken a while to catch on in the U.S. and is now creating a huge response.  Artists in all disciplines are eager to exchange ATC’s and do so in huge numbers every month.  There are few “guidelines” or rules involved and anyone who does works on paper or other thin materials can create and trade.  In celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the ATC, we offer the following details and encouragement for you to start your own series.

ATC’s are a new version of trading cards and are miniature works of art that are traded person-to-person just like sports trading cards, etc.  They were sparked by Zurich artist M. Vanci Stirnemann, who began trading sessions in Zurich in 1997.  He then went on to popularize the cards via the Internet and still creates and trades cards.

The rules are specific, but very simple.  The card used as a base for the art should be 2.5x3.5 inches and thin enough to slip into a clear trading card sleeve.  That means that you can use some texture and embellishments, but they must be thin enough to fit inside the envelope with the card.  There is no stipulation as to media or mixed media.   The cards were designed to be traded with other artists at face-to-face meetings and gatherings.  Each is an original or a very small numbered edition.  Cards should have contact information on the back so the recipient will know with whom he/she traded along with the date of creation.  If the card is part of an edition of very similar or exact cards, a number identification should be included with the signature and date.

Some artists have expressed the idea of selling their cards.  In that case, the cards are considered an off-chute of the original concept of ATC and are called ACEO, “Art Card, Editions and Originals”.  However, the original concept of ATC did not include the sale of cards, only the trading and collecting among the creators themselves.

As stated, materials used are unlimited – except for thickness and bulk.  Draftsmen and those gifted in drawing do original drawings and sketches; paper artists create original papers for their collections; rubber stamping artists use their original stamps and other materials, just like they do for their cards, scrapbooks, book arts, etc.; painters do small originals in their chosen media; collage artists and calligraphers, photographers, and even fabric artists do spectacular small works.  No lamination is required. 

To kick-start your creative juices, following is a list of some of the materials that have been used by artists on the ATC’s:  fabrics, threads, string and yarns; thin polymer designs; hot glue; rubber stamps with puff paint or metallics; computer printed images; photographs; shrink plastic; canvas; bottle caps, coins; tags; tickets; brads and eyelets; buttons, beads and sequins; charms; gems; lace; ribbons…the sky is the limit.

Why not pick up the phone or send out some emails and start your own exchange event?  If you already belong to an arts organization, just put out the word and things will happen!

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 12 — October 2007