ATC’s - Artist Trading Card Group

What are artist trading cards? Well they are also known as pocket art or mail art. Artist Trading Cards

(ATC’s) are miniature works of art that continue to inspire artists who work in nearly all media. An

artistic variation of sports trading cards, ATCs have quickly become the calling cards of artists around

the world. They are a conceptual art form with very few rules. Size restriction, contact info, and

thickness are the only boundaries. However, there are no limits to art media in ATCs--collage, rubber

stamping, painting, sewing, drawing, screen printing, fine-lettering techniques, encaustics, mixed media,

xeroxography, photography and digital imaging. Whether you use pencil, ink, chalk, fibers, beads, or your

computer, the possibilities are endless.

M. Vänçi Stirnemann originated the idea in 1996. He held an art exhibit displaying 1200 ATC’s. As the

people visited the exhibit they were invited to go home and make their own. Then to return on the final

day of the exhibit to trade. This is where the trading sessions came into popularity.

Our goal for the Basin is to create such a local group. We will have monthly trading sessions on the 3rd

Monday of each month at the Library. These will begin at 5:30 pm and go about an hour or so. Light

refreshments will be served. So be sure to bring your art to trade!

Weekly we hold an ATC’s work group. 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Uintah County Library. This is to get

together with other artists and learn new ideas, new techniques and how to trade online. We will have

weekly challenges to help you get started. Much of this art comes from recycled items and left over’s if

your into scrapbooking. Our group is still small as of yet but we are sure that it will grow in time.

This is a worldwide phenomenon and you can trade with people from many countries! I’ve currently

traded with 30 of the States in the U.S. plus 14 different countries.

Rules for ATC’s-

#1 – Size is very important! The card must measure 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches. This is the standard of trading

cards worldwide. Cards can be made from anything as long as it will fit into the standard size sleeve.

#2 – ATC’s (Artist Trading Cards) are meant to be traded and not sold.

(If you do want to sell your art then your cards must be originals. Beware of copyright laws!)

#3 – As with all Artists you must put your contact information on the back. Signing your card and

leaving contact information such as email address.

That’s it! Nice and simple and lots of fun! We hope to see you at one of our weekly workshop groups

and/or our monthly trading session!

If you need help or more information please contact Cheryl Ellis – sillesix@bresnan.net