Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) ... what are they? Do you love them? Do they scare you? What's the appeal? Hopefully we'll cover a few answers to those questions today!
Artist trading cards are a way for artists to create miniature works of art that can travel the world through trading. ATCs originated in 1997 when Swiss artist M. Vanci Stirnemann created an exhibit of over 1,200 handmade cards. He asked others to create cards as well, so that on the last day of the exhibit he could trade his cards with them. The idea was a hit and turned into a world-wide phenomenon! Today, artist trading cards are used to share work, network, and practice creating on a smaller scale.
Artist trading cards are pieces of watercolor paper, cardstock, or illustration board that are 2.50" x 3.50" in size. An artist creates an original work of art on these tiny canvases and then trades them with other artists through groups and events -- similar to trading your Inchies! Trade is the operative word ... cards should not be sold.
Any medium is "allowed" on trading cards. Cards are produced in various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers), wet media (watercolor, acrylic paints), paper media (in the form of collage, papercuts, found objects). This is the perfect opportunity to use up all those little scraps of paper, ribbon and other embellishments you have lying around!
On the back of the cards the artist should print their name, contact information (an email address is fine), the title of the work on the artist trading card, and a number if it is part of a series.
To make the most of one piece of 8.50" x 11" cardstock for your ATC bases, follow this cutting guide (you'll get 10 ATC bases out of one piece of cardstock):
For my trading card, I chose a line of stamps that make Artist Trading Cards a breeze ... Cornish Heritage Farms' All Things Considered line. There are many different sets to chose from, and all the elements in the sets are perfectly sized for ATCs!
I stamped the floral frame with Cranberry ink onto Natural White cardstock, trimmed it to 2.50" x 3.50" and then colored it with these Copic markers (sorry for the fuzzy photo, they are R30, R32, R37, G21& E25):
The center floral image was stamped with Rich Cocoa ink and colored with the R-series of Copic markers shown above.
Next, I airbrushed the background of the card with my custom lighter YR31 Copic marker (made by filling an empty Sketch marker with 2 parts Copic Colorless Blender Solution and 1 part Copic YR31 Various Ink Refill).
The edges of the floral center and ATC were sponged with Brushed Corduroy ink. The center is popped up on foam tape.
To finish my ATC, I colored a Maya Road chipboard letter (it appears the store is sold out of the particular alpha set I used but if you keep a watch on this link, I'm sure they'll be back in stock soon!) with Copic R37 marker and then covered the letter with Glossy Accents.
Copper Stickles were added to the flower center and the edges of my ATC were distressed. And there you have an Artist Trading Card ... not so scary after all! Fun to create and trade, or just keep for yourself! Wouldn't a grouping of ATCs you or your friends created look wonderful framed all together? It would make a very unique home accent!
Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms-All Things Considered, Botanical Bliss (uncut) or Precut
Paper: Neenah Natural White
Ink: Ranger Adirondack Cranberry dye ink & Brushed Corduroy Distress ink, Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad, Copic markers (shown above)
Accessories: Maya Road Chipboard letter, Copic Airbrush System, Tonic-Tim Holtz Paper Distresser. Ranger Glossy Accents, Copper Stickles & Ink Blending Tool. Foam tape
