a curious phenomenon on the internet, artist trading cards (or ATCs), miniature artworks that are exactly 2.5 X 3.5 inches.. strictly speaking, ATCs are traded (or swapped) and not sold, and so now there is the ACEO or art cards, editions and originals [read more at wikipedia]...
[some new card stock listed at etsy...]these art cards don't fall into either category, since they are resolutely square, and digital prints of my artwork - all the same, they look quite nice at this reduced size.. original artists' works as greetings cards is an affordable, appealing option, unique in its way.. which leads me to comment on those ghastly, cheap (or not so cheap - a real money spinner for the suppliers) card-making kits that are sold on ebay and tv channels like QVC.. but is it art or even a craft?? but, it's all the rage, apparently...:: square greetings cards with matching gold envelopes :::: greetings cards or notelets :::: blank for any special occasion :::: image 9cm, card 13cm, gold envelope 14cm :::: sealed, cellophane wrapped :::: $5 (£3) each ::...
notes to self
It is now time to take stock of my first open weekend as part of the Harleston & Waveney Art Trail. I received lots of praise for my paintings and my visitors left some very nice comments in my guest book. I must admit I was not completely prepared on saturday morning - donning marigold gloves (last minute tidying), greeting my first guest on the dot of twelve noon (note to self: successful artists operate as a business, are always on amber alert, there are no sleep-ins or late starts). As a past buyer of my work, my first visitor said I that was an inspiration to her, and yet it is patrons such as her that make what I (try) to do so much more an uplifting and worthwhile venture. Today, I had two more guests arrive shortly after noon. I am deeply ashamed to admit that I was dressed in the usual sunday morning slumber wear, seated at the kitchen table bagging up and labelling my handmade cards unaware of the time - but one of my idols, the artist Antoni Tapies, painted in his carpet slippers using a house broom as a giant brush - and so I like to see my minor clothing oversight as one of my little artistic idiosyncracies.Anyhow, as a means for my work to be accessible to more people over the duration of the Art Trail, I had decided to spend an evening creating some small handmade artist cards - the four seasons theme returns - and at £5 each surely they are a knockdown price for original artworks... I have made about twenty so far, here are just four of them..
Spring, new growth, a small shoot emerges from moss-laden undergrowth...
Summer (usually!) brings warmth and aridity, the golden sun, seed pods, a scorched earth...
Autumn, ploughed fields, fallen leaves...
Winter, frost, ice and snow, proud pine trees...I have quite enjoyed creating this series of small collages, creating within the confines of a small folded square of cream paper, but sometimes it seems too frivolous and easy an activity to be regarded as serious art - but if I sell them then I will be encouraged to make more handmade cards in my more whimsical moments (it saves on framing too). However, I feel I must finish off three more paintings for next weekend, since the main two walls downstairs were barren with only two large pieces on show with other smaller works dotted about - and the room in which I work, with all its artistic clutter, did not show the other works at their best. However, I have learnt three important things this weekend:Make more time for preparation - cards, invites, labels, hanging pictures!Provide visitors with as much related information as possible (as above) - they may be unsure what questions to ask and are greatly helped by knowing what they should be looking at.It is not really necessary to make excuses for the apparent state of my house/studio/dress/hair - I am an artist after all!