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My personal definition of Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) is that they are a fun way to share a piece of you with friends, family, and future acquaintances. The ATCs that I have done have usually included some amount of quilling, so for me an ATC is also a way to share something that I am passionate about. You too can share your passion, an art form, medium, quote, dream, or craft that you love through ATCs as well.
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.(quoted from http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/)
The official size of an Artist Trading Card is 2.5 in x 3.5 in (6.4 cm x 8.9 cm). Think of baseball trading cards. Many people will start with a playing card since the average card is this size. The orientation of your ATC can be either vertical or horizontal, there is no "right" way, I have created and received them both ways. Some form of cardstock usually is the base of the ATC but any material can be used. Think of polymer clay, thin balsa wood or metal to give you some alternative ideas.
From what I have seen and read, there is only one universal rule:
they have to be 2.5 in x 3.5 in (6.4 cm x 8.9 cm).
Everything else is up to you.
Some ideas for your ATCs:
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Sketch a design or pattern
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Paint with acrylic, oils or watercolors
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Scrap a shabby chic design
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Take the "altered" approach and alter your trading card
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Decoupage your trading card
Controversy? Yes, even with Artist Trading Cards there is controversy. The generally accepted approach is that trading cards are to be "traded and not sold!" So the controversy arises when some artists sell theirs. I have personally only given mine away. That is because I love to share what I do with others, and this is a small way for me to connect with people and share quilling. |
