Metal Art Cards ~ Bits and Pieces
Hello all! Â This week has been a lovely bit of downtime. Â I’m in between large projects, and have taken a moment to create lots of tiny new metal pieces. Â It’s a sort of cleansing of the artistic palate. Â Large commissions require a lot of planning and precision and can sometimes leave you craving the playful creativity of just being an artist.
I love art cards at times like these — their mini formats are perfect for trying out new ideas, and it is quite nice to finish dozens of pieces within a short amount of time. Â Plus they’re fun to have at a show — people are always asking what they are, and sometimes well… what do they do?? Â Well, they don’t do much, but that’s okay. Â They’re cute and little and fun, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need. Â But I tell anyone who gets that confused look on their face a little of their story…
Art cards are the size of a playing card or baseball card, always 2.5 x 3.5 inches, but they can be any medium.  They came about in the ’50’s when artists used them as a way to share their work with each other.  They were called “Artist Trading Cards”, or ATC’s, at the time.  As they became collectible, artists began to use them as a means of selling small inexpensive pieces, and the name ‘Art Cards” –or more formally, ACEO’s (“Art Cards, Editions and Originals”) — came about.  Although there are collectors all over the world (every time the currency winds shift in the right direction I get a rash of buyers from Australia, quite fun!), you don’t have to be a die hard to love them.  There’s something very appealing about their small size and lovely little designs. (An aside: the very first “art cards” were mini oil paintings from the 1500-1600’s, usually portraits of aristocrat’s mistresses. Fun fact, so long as there are no young ears around.)
I had quite fun selling art card subscriptions for the holidays, where recipients get a new surprise card every month. I love it when my items are given as gifts, so much fun. And a few lucky people got a cute little display stand with their piece (okay, really I gave them to anyone who asked nicely).
Well that’s about all that’s going on in my world… it is a snow day (snow week?) and the perfect time for staying home, drinking tea, and creating things. Wherever you are, I wish you warmth and happiness, good tea and loving people.
Until next time…………..
………………….Chris