Artist trading cards

[bogiesan]

I searched and did not find this topic mentioned anywhere.
Artist trading cards, ATCs, is a trend that waxes and wanes in various communities where online connections turn into real world meet'n'greet connections. Kitemakers, knitters, photographers, fountain pen freaks, gamers, horsemen, dog people, cat people, mail artists, sculptors, teachers; they all come to their conventions and warrens with a pocketful of personal statements in this reduced art form. As simple as a run of business cards printed on Avery label stock or a series of intricate rubber stamp or painted or enhanced originals, numbered, signed and dated.

They can also be exchanged in snail mail and there is a sub-movement of artists who design email meant to printed by the recipient.

You can look up the term on any search engine and get lost for a few hours. Most of the paper supplies for ATCs are only available in standard playing card sizes which makes doing tarot artists traders a bit challenging.

[Masa]

I have a pack of these, but I've never done anything with them. I considered making some cards just for myself, but I think they're all different materials.

Doing a group deck could be potentially rad, though.

[GoldenWolf]

I've been in ATC swaps both IRL and online. They're a lot of fun. I've never done a Tarot ATC swap, but have done Loteria cards before. I haven't done one in a while, but I do remember how they run basically.

[Bhavana]

I love working in small sizes, and have been investigating the ATC sites - but it seems that so many are scrapbook related....for example, a piece of decroative paper with a little slip of matching ribbon and the color co-ordinated butterflies sold to compliment the decorative paper, all slapped together in 30 seconds with some Modge Podge. Not that I am knocking those sorts of ATC's, I just don't really want any of them. I wanted to get involved on more of a "fine art" level - you know, real drawing or painting, and even collage....
The idea of tarot ATC's sounds great to me. I would love to try it.

[GoldenWolf]

Originally Posted by Bhavana

I love working in small sizes, and have been investigating the ATC sites - but it seems that so many are scrapbook related....for example, a piece of decroative paper with a little slip of matching ribbon and the color co-ordinated butterflies sold to compliment the decorative paper, all slapped together in 30 seconds with some Modge Podge. Not that I am knocking those sorts of ATC's, I just don't really want any of them. I wanted to get involved on more of a "fine art" level - you know, real drawing or painting, and even collage....
The idea of tarot ATC's sounds great to me. I would love to try it.

That's why I don't do many swaps anymore. By no means am I a professional artist. I'm lousy at drawing. But I'm okay at collage for a hobbyist. I would make my own backgrounds, paint, and layer each card with different techniques. Then I'd get a card of the type you're referred to and feel a bit cheated.

Usually organized swaps are three cards for three. I used to make the host an extra as a thank you for doing the work of swapping them and mailing them out. You can do one on one exchanges though if three for three seems overwhelming.

[Briar Rose]

I have a whole bag of artist's cards. I collected a few years ago at a huge juried art fair so that I would have them to reflect on, and get ideas from if I should get a creative spark in any medium.

I never thought anyone did this but me. Nice to meet you!