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Artist trading cards, also known as ATCs, are 2 ½ x 3 ½ inch (64 x 89 mm) miniature works of art which artists trade with one another, similar to the way people trade sports cards. Artist trading cards have a long history, stemming from the popularity of portrait miniatures in the 17th century, and gaining added momentum during the impressionist era. Originally artist trading cards were traded solely between artists so they could study each other's techniques. In some cases the cards acted a advertisements or business cards for artists, with original art on the front and the back listing an informal resume. The Impressionists opened the ATC market to the art buying public when they began trading, or selling, their art cards in exchange for art supplies or room and board.

A standard size was not used with the early cards, although generally they had to be smaller then 4" X 5" to be considered an art card. In this way art trading cards are similar to baseball cards, which also did not have a standard size at that time. Both baseball cards and art trading cards gained the standard size that we know today at the same time. The popular standardization of baseballs cards is usually credited with creating the standard for artist trading cards.

Cards can be any media: textile arts, pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil, collage, scratch board, mixed media - anything artists use. Artist trading cards are produced as single originals, in a series, or a limited editions.

Among certain arts and crafts movements, ATCs are about exchanging art without exchanging money, and without interference from the business side of the art world. Artists trade their cards in face-to-face trading sessions as well as by mail. Artists who trade by mail often make their arrangements online and/or through e-mail. In some artists' opinions, trading cards by mail is a diminished experience when compared to an ATC trading session. Other artists insist on sending their cards open, through the mail, causing higher collectible value for their officiated stamp mark.

Some common rules to modern artist trading cards:

1. The dimensions of the card must be 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 x 89 mm).
2. The cards are traded, never sold. Cards sold are referred to as "art card, editions and originals" (ACEO).
3. The artist of the cards should sign, date and number them if they are part of an edition. Contact information can also be included so other artists can get to know them and their work. (Some artists like to make a personal calling card with a self portrait on the front and contact information and anything else they'd like to include on the back, to give out with their trades.)

Artist trading cards are typically made on a base of card stock. However, ATCs are created on metal, stiffened fabric, polymer clay, plastic, clay, balsa wood, leather, embroidery canvas, acetate, heavy watercolor paper, and many other materials. Various techniques are then applied to the chosen substrate: collage, textile arts, assemblage, digital art, calligraphy, beadwork, watercolors, rubber stamps, carved soft block stamps, pen and ink, colored pencil, airbrush, and many others. The back of the card typically includes the artist's signature, the date, and sometimes the number (if the card is part of an edition or series), and title. If part of an organized swap, it is common for people to add the name and date of the swap, sometimes including the name of the swap host or venue.

A highly debated offshoot of artist trading cards are the "art card, editions and originals" (ACEO). ACEOs originated when some artists began to create cards to sell on eBay, in addition to trading among themselves. The selling of these cards is a sore point with some ATC purists; however the practice is not unprecedented: trading cards in other areas such as sports have also been traded and sold. Many artists continue to sell small art cards on eBay. The practice is meant to augment their incomes, as well as increase their patronage.

• Art in your Pocket
• Artist Trading Cards
• Artist Trading Card Forums
• ACEO website
• Ecritures (in Dutch/in het Nederlands
• (Richmond Art Gallery ATC Sessions
• evey-in-orbit
• ATC Quarterly, a magazine all about artist trading cards