Elven Earrings - ACEO

I've been working on a bunch of ACEO's [Art Cards, Editions and Originals].  They are fun to do because  they're so tiny--only 2.5 x 3.5 inches--each card is a small piece of original art. 

The history behind Artist Trading Cards is fascinating.  Art cards, or miniatures were all the rage back in the 16th Century.  They were the first wallet "photos."   Sometimes they were exchanged when rich people arranged marriages.  There was quite a rumble when Henry the Eighth divorced Anne of Cleves, because in real life, she did not match her miniature. 

During the Impressionist Age, artists traded Art Cards among themselves to study differing artist style and techniques. They even traded, or sold the art cards as necessary for supplies, food and lodging. 

Today's Artist Trading Cards developed from the mail art movement and has its origins in Switzerland.  They say an artist by the name of M.Vanci Stirnemann is the reason modern Artist Trading Cards have become so popular.  In 1996 he held the first Art Trading Card [ATC] workshops in Zurich, Switzerland. This caused a resurgence of interest and is where today's ACEO movement began. By the way, the difference between ATC's and ACEO's, is that Trading Cards are traded, ACEO'S are offered for sale.

Artist Cards are produced in various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc.), wet media (watercolor, acrylic paints, etc.), paper media (in the form of collage, paper cuts, found objects, etc.).  Or they can be numbered, signed, limited print editions of larger art pieces. 

I have been fascinated to discover the volume and popularity of these baseball card sized pieces of artwork.  They're a delightful art form.   They're almost like small pieces of jewelry.

My Etsy Shop is at Beth's Artworx.