In 2006, I attending a 3 week summer program at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio USA. This is also where I plan on attending college next year to major in animation. While I was there, the first day consisted of students getting to know one another, and one of the activities we were subject to, where Artist Trading Cards (ATCs).

ATCs are miniature works of art, usually done on card stock, that are traded between artists. They can be about anything and made with any media, materials, or techniques. They can be produced as one-of-a-kind originals, in limited editions, or in a series based on a particular theme or subject. It’s all up to the individual artist. So, as you can imagine, they are a unique and fun way of meeting new artists and getting your paws on some original art by your favorites.

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HISTORY:

There is a short history to ATCs that you may find interesting. They have been around for less than a decade and the concept was developed by Swiss artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann in 1996. He exhibited 1,200 original cards at his bookstore gallery in Zurich, Switzerland in May 1997. On the last day of the exhibit, Stirnemann invited anyone who wanted a card to create their own ATC to trade during the closing reception.

“The First International Biennial of Artist Trading Cards” at The New Gallery in Calgary, Canada included 80 artists from 10 different countries and was a collaboration between Chuck Stake (a.k.a. Don Mable) and Stirnemann.

With the help of the internet, interest in ATCs has spread about the globe, making them a fun and exciting way for artists to express their art in small ways and meet others. ATCs can be displayed and traded via the internet or at organized face-to-face ATC swap sessions in most major cities around the world. In the fall of 2006, Columbus had a major exhibit known as the “House of Cards II.”

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RULES:

The rules for ATCs are simple:

- They must measure 2.5 X 3.5 inches (64 X 89 mm)
- They must be traded for other cards - not sold
- They must be flat enough to fit into a plastic trading card sleeve (media is unlimited!)
- They must be signed and dated on the back of the card

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Today the only rule for these cards is their 2.5 by 3.5 inch size, 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. The face-to-face trading session is considered an integral part of the concept, although many people 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.

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ATC MATERIAL AND MEDIA:

Anything goes as long as the design is flat enough to fit into a trading card sleeve! Materials and techniques include, but are not limited to:

markers, oil-pastels, colored pencils, inks, watercolors, acrylics, rubber stamps, stencils, linoleum blocks, sewing, patterned or textured papers, rice papers, old photographs, text, magazines, stickers, digital images, found items (tickets, stamps, ect),

Adhesives for collage work: glue sticks, hot glue guns, gloss acrylic medium, gel medium, mod podge, white glue,

Also consider: photo-transfer methods, photocopies, ink-jet or laser printer images, old playing cards, old trading cards, scraps of interesting materials, failed prints or paintings, fabric

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ATCs AND APPROPRIATION (from www.artflex.com)

When we use existing imagery that we did not create in our own art, we need to be mindful.

Appropriation - to take possession of another’s material, often without permission, reusing it in a context which differs from its original context, most often in order to examine issues concerning originality or to reveal meaning not previously seen in the original. This is far more aggressive than allusion or quotation, it is not the same as plagiarism however. An image reused in collage is an example, but more complete are the photographs that Sherri Levine (American) made of photographs by earlier photographers.

Plagiarism - The taking of ideas, writings, or other creative work of someone else, passing them off as one’s own.

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ATC TIPS:

Ideas for content:
- create a series of cards that relate to each other in concept, media, or theme
- use cards as a way to collaborate with other artists
- use cards to explore design elements or principles
- make a card that focuses attention on a particular social or ecological issue

Design and Collage Tips:
- when creating a card, follow the “Rul of Three” by including a background, focal image, and an embellishment
- work from front to back
- plan composition before you assemble
- tone the edges of cut or torn shapes with a soft-leaded pencil to help them blend into the background
- you can start with large areas of background and later cut to size

Collage Strategy
concept -> research -> gather -> compose -> build -> add accents and detail

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TRADING ATCs:

Trading is a must, ATCs are very conceptual in this way. It is a way to share original art and receive it in return. It encourages artists to “let go” of their creations and rewards them with gifts from others. Trading sessions encourage artists to be social and helps them to know one another. ATCs are usually traded one for one, but some extraordinary cards may be traded for more than one. You can “trade forward,” which means trading a card you received in an earlier session. All ages, skill levels, ect can make and trade ATCs. EVERYONE’S WELCOME!

Remember, the most important thing to remember about art is to HAVE FUN. Meet other artists and learn from those you look up to. Collaborating and Trading ATCs is a way to do small projects with the artists you love, and allows you to trade and receive free of charge while also improving/expanding your skill. So get out there, share the fun of ATCs, and start getting to know and work with your favorite artists! ^_^ Have fun and good luck!

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EXAMPLES:

The following are examples of ATCs that I have found here on deviantART! Do have a look at them ne? As you can see, they are made in all sorts of different styles and media. And if YOU have some, be sure to post! This article was made to encourage and inform people to take part in this fun project!