Posted: Jun 16, 08 7:56am
One thing I love about TBD is the chance to learn about new things. A new friend in the Japan language and Culture group mentioned that she is interested in Artist Trading cards.
Wikipedia, that populist fountain of knowledge, defines them as such (with my heavy editing):
"Artist Trading Cards are individual art miniatures which pass hand to hand. Some sources have credited M. Vänçi Stirnemann, ...( 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 ... 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 ... 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. [but can be of..] anything artists use."
Is anyone invo9lved in either collecting, trading or making these?
Photo from:
http://www.linesandcolors.com/images/2006-08/atc_450.jpg
