What are ACEO cards? ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions, and Originals". They are also known as ATCs, or "Artist Trading Cards".
They can be original artwork, numbered edition prints and photographs. ACEO cards are a fun way to collect art from artists all over the world at a fraction of the cost for larger pieces. Each card is 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" (64x89mm) as the size of a baseball card, which makes it easy to collect in display cases or store in albums.
Art card exhibitions continue to gain popularity, and today, there are art card swaps in almost every major city around the world.
Art cards can be on any weight of paper, thin card board or matte, texture, color or subject matter. They can be created with multi-media or any material such as etching, oil, collage, pencil, ink, acrylic or watercolor. Prints of orginal artwork are acceptable also...but the original work must be from the artist submitting the cards.
A budget solution for a art card base for children is to cut multiple 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" (64x89mm) sections from an empty cereal box. The children are allowed to make multiple cards to submit to the show if desired - many children have already made mixed media collages on a large sheet and then had their parents cut them into the proper sizes.
ACEO Art Card Supplies can be purchased at Time2Split on Etsy.com - Enter discount code SAFTH for a 5% discount on all purchases. We have discovered their art supplies to be very inexpensive and very good quality materials. Tpically artists will use a cardboard blank for mixed media art and paper blanks for painting. Most artists will also include a plastic sleeve to protect their art from damage.
Please keep in mind that hundreds of visitors view this exhibition, including many school children. While we strive to exhibit all entries, works that are overly sexual or explicit may not be put on display.
This years theme is "Diversity" - acceptance and respect of all types of artwork.
HOW TO MAKE ACEO, ART CARDS
Specifications:
1. 2.5 x 3.5inches, 64x89mm. This is the exact size required. No deviations can be accepted.
2. Original Art and Prints from your original art will be accepted.
3. COA- Certificated of Authenticity is appreciated by the collector. You can use a stamp to print directly on the back of the card or hand write. If you hand make your card you will need one of these methods. If you print your cards you can create sheets of COA’s and print them out onto the back of your ATC sheet. Make sure you line them up correctly so the front matches the back.
- Title
- Name of artist (printed - children can write initials for privacy)
- Age of Artist (only apply's to children)
- City/State/Country (optional)
- Signature of Artist
- Year of artwork
Drop off or mail your ACEO art cards by July 1st, 2012 to:
Small Art From The Heart Expo
Elizabeth Halsey's Boutique
51 East Wood Street
Newaygo, MI 49337
(on a seperate piece of paper, include your name and contact information such as; phone number, email address or mailing address along with your art cards so that we may contact you if your art is chosen to a be winner by our jurors)
History of ACEO's or Art Trading Cards: Believe it or not art cards have been around since the 16th century. Portraits were painted on very small canvases on behalf of a Lord or Master who hired an artists to paint a portrait of their loved ones to be carried with them on long journeys. These small portraits were always sold.
The idea of trading an art card did not happen until the 17th century. Both the French and English started to put small advertisements on the back sides of these tiny art works. The Impressionist painters used the cards in the same way that business cards are used today. The cards allowed people to become familiar with an artists work without journeying to a gallery and gave them contact information for the artists at the same time therefore serving a dual purpose. Often an Impressionist would trade these cards for painting supplies or food. They would also sell them for small amounts of money.
An interest in collecting art cards was revived again on Ebay in the early 2000's. Many people collect these little gems of art. Prices range from ten dollars to hundreds of dollars. Trading cards are still popular and many art card trading groups can be found on social media sites like Facebook. Many art galleries and museums often have exhibits of art cards.