Metal Art Cards ~ Bits and Pieces

Metal Art Cards ~ Bits and Pieces

Hello all!  This week has been a lovely bit of downtime.  I’m in between large projects, and have taken a moment to create lots of tiny new metal pieces.  It’s a sort of cleansing of the artistic palate.  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.  Plus they’re fun to have at a show — people are always asking what they are, and sometimes well… what do they do??  Well, they don’t do much, but that’s okay.  They’re cute and little and fun, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.  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