The Perfect Gift : Fridge Magnets with my Art Trading Card Designs!
These magnets have been created from a unique art trend, called Art Trading Cards (ATC) and ACEO Art Cards Editions & Originals. All the art and illustrations you see here have come from my own original cards. The reason I decided to create this section in my store is because this Magnet is the exact same size and proportions as the original Art Cards themselves. The ART and ACEO movement have grown rapidly over the years and has become quite the hobby for many Artists. To learn more about ATC's and ACEO's please read on for a full explanation.
The History of Art Trading Cards:
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.[1]
Artists have produced miniatures for trade or self-promotion in many eras and places, and the current trend is thus part of this larger context. Historically there were few standard rules or guidelines to art trading cards, and many variances in sizes can be seen in older cards. The standardization in size of baseball cards is credited with creating the standardization in size for art cards. 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. The art on the cards can be done in any media: textile arts, pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil, collage, scratch board, mixed media, assemblage, digital art, calligraphy, beadwork, rubber stamps, carved soft block stamps, pen and ink, colored pencil, airbrush, pastels, and many others - anything artists use.
There is also a branch off from Art Trading Cards called ACEO which stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. The ACEO is different from Art Trading Cards because they are sold to art patrons who would like to collect these type of cards but are not Artists themselves. This is a great venue for both the Artist and Patron. The main place you will find ACEO cards are on Auction Style Websites such as Ebay.
