Picture this: Two art aficionados sit together, eyeing each other?s spread of glossy tiny cards. They negotiate an art deal over a couple of glasses of Merlot. "All right then, I'll give you the Da Vinci, but I want that Monet. You have three of those — let's make a deal."
Well, not exactly. Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) aren't about famous artists; instead, the people who exchange ATCs are also the ones who make them, be it an artist or amateur. And about the only way you can get some is to make some, because these small-scale art pieces aren't for sale.
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Standing, from left: Sheela Denton, Lori Evers and Sherry Buck; Seated, from left: Judith Braden, Karen Doyle and Jill Welty
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The gals gather to make their cards.
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What is ATC
Step inside Scrapbook 'N Such in Longview any afternoon, and you'll find women gathered in the back of the store allowing their creative juices to pour out of their minds and onto their small 2.5" x 3.5" canvasses.
In a sense, artist trading cards are mini works of art that are traded between artists. They can be about anything and made with any materials or techniques. They can be produced as one-of-a-kind originals or in a series based on a particular theme. It's all up to the artist. While the artistic freedom of ATCs is an attractive feature, there are two simple rules an ATC participant must follow: The cards can only be 2.5" x 3.5" in size, and the artist must never sell 'em, only trade 'em.
Sherry Buck, a long-time stamper, scrapbooker and all-around creative cat, joined an ATC group about three years ago, and finds the energy and attitude of the 14-member club refreshing and eye-opening.
"You get to create a mini canvas in your own way and your own style, using whatever media or combination you like," Sherry said. "You get to play, and, when you're done with it, you can choose to trade your art for someone else's. We have a great mix of women with so many different talents. It's fun."
Show and tell
The process of trading is key idea behind an ATC group. Once a month, the ladies gather for a trading session. Just as you might hear baseball enthusiasts trading a Josh Hamilton for a Derek Jeter, at an ATC trading session you might hear artists swapping two beaded cards for a collage piece. A trading session is an artistic show-and-tell.
"Each month, we designate themes for the cards," Sherry said. "One month, we'll all have to do picnic-theme cards and the next month we'll have to design all of our cards centered around the letter 'O.' It really stretches are imagination, and it's fun to see how everyone interprets each theme or subject matter."
The trading sessions are designed to be fun, social, supportive and educational. Participants learn from each other. All levels of artists, from beginner to advanced, are welcomed.
Newcomer Karen Doyle, who has been a part of the group for only three months, finds the activity fun and rewarding, and loves the encouragement she receives from fellow ATCers.
"Everyone's so supportive and welcoming," she said. "The group really nurtures each person's individual talents. Whether you've been doing this 12 years or three months, it doesn't matter. It's just about creating art and enjoying yourself."
Anyway you want it
These cards can be thrown together in just a few minutes or gently crafted over time — it's totally up to the individual creator. They can be simple or elaborate, abstract or concrete, whimsical or contemporary ... whatever floats the artist's boat.
"Using such a small canvas gives us as artists a way to explore new effects and techniques," Sherry said. "For instance, we use different mediums, not just paper. We use canvas, cereal boxes, playing cards, plastic. And the bits we dress up our cards with can be anything from beads to lace to polymer clay. It's whatever strikes the artist's mood at the time."
You don't need art or drawing lessons. You can paint them using watercolors, oils or acrylics. You can use photography, or, if you like to sew, pick up a needle and thread and craft a card from fabrics. You can decoupage, rubber stamp or stencil. The cards can be two- or three-dimensional, as long as the design is flat enough to fit into a standard trading-card sleeve.
You can literally do it anyway you want it!
"You look at things in a whole new way, too," Sherry said. "I see a scrap of paper, and I think 'Can I fit this onto an ATC? I scrapbook, so I'm always ending up with extra pieces of paper. Some look at those as scraps; I look at them as treasures to be used!"
How very eco-friendly.
If this sounds like your cup o' tea, stop in at Scrapbook 'N Such and let your imagination run wild.
"It's fun making these because I feel like I've accomplished something in such a short amount of time and space," Sherry said. "It's a rewarding hobby that anyone can take part in!"
