Artist Trading Cards ARTIST TRADING CARDS (ATC) are a variation of the popular mass-produced trading cards available for sale all over the world. The difference is rather than buying them, you make them. This means that each card is an original work of art, or one of a small edition run that you can trade with other people who have created their own cards. ANY AND ALL MATERIALS and techniques are permitted (drawing in pencil, pen, marker, chalk or crayon etc., painting, photographs, collage, found materials, mixed media -- anything!). THERE IS ONLY ONE RULE: the cards should be the same size as traditional collector cards: 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches (64mm x 89mm). On the back you may want to sign and perhaps date your cards. If they are part of an edition you could number them as well. Add any other information you like, or leave it blank, it's entirely up to you. HOW YOU TRADE is entirely up to you... 1 for 1, 2 for 1, whatever you feel they are worth. You can trade cards on, that is you can trade cards you have received in previous trades (known as a "second generation trade" or "trading forward"). Of course you are not compelled to trade with someone if you do not like their cards. THE TRADING SESSION, when two or more people meet in person to trade cards face-to-face, lies at the heart of the ATC concept. I used to organize and attend a monthly open trading sessions at a local coffee shop. There is also a thriving community of people who trade by mail. If you search online you should be able to find all sorts of people around the world looking to trade. And ATCs are all about TRADING, not selling. I stopped making and trading ATCs in 2006, but my old ATC Gallery is still online. Maybe I will make more some day. |
