Why We Trade Artist Cards- A Hobby Handed Down From the Past

From Baseball Cards to Garbage Pail Kids
When I was a child, the boys traded baseball cards and the girls collected Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls. Then this gross little card called Garbage Pail Kids came along and suddenly both boys and girls traded them. They came with stickers, too! We had them on our school books, stuck inside of our lockers and plastered on our bicycles. I remember how serious some kids were about them. Collecting every card in the series. Keeping them stored in plastic sleeves in a three ring binder. The same way that baseball cards are collected and the same way that some people store their collected art cards. All this done in the hopes that they would someday be worth something. We already know that there is value in a baseball card, especially if you own a rare one. Garbage Pail Kids can be found at Ebay. So, were they worth saving? Whether or not the cards ended up retaining or gaining in value, the point of collecting is because it is fun. So be it with Art Cards and ACEO. However, since you are able to collect both Art Cards and ACEO that are original pieces, the value is definately worth more than a Garbage Pail Kid Card.

How Trading Cards Got Their Start

In the 1700's, the people in France and England realized that they could advertise on playing cards. Playing cards then became little works of art in their own right. The Impressionists traded their own artist cards for art supplies, food and even room and board. They were even known to sell them for money. In the 1800's, baseball cards were developed and it wasn't until later that the trading card size was standardized to that of a playing card. 2-1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches.

If you grew up in the 50s you may remember how many parents played cards on set nights of the week. They played Bridge, Canasta, Poker, Gin, to name a few. It was a way to socialize. First at one family's house and the next week at another. The playing cards that they used often had different pictures on the backsides. Horses, sailboats, landscapes, dogs, etc. Kids used spare cards to build houses out of cards and they also traded off the different cards with their friends. It was the rage before Garbage Pail Kids.

So is it so unusual that we, after generation and generation of card traders, should be surprised that Art Cards are such a great and popular hobby? Not at all. Baseball cards are still extremely popular and there is a great following and many books and other games developed after a simple card called Pokemon! Collecting ATC and ACEO is a hobby that will maintain itself for years to come since it is open to all ages and people of skill level. It allows you to meet new people and develop your art skills. Trading Artists Cards is a keeper of a hobby! Be glad you are an enthusiast!

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Trading Art Cards vs. ACEO = ARTCARDIST

As an artist who produces art cards, it is interesting to find that there is a heated debate over these tiny fine art works. Art cards are for trading and ACEO's are produced to be bought and sold. There lies the only difference between the two. Each form of pocket art still must meet the requirement of 2.5 x 3.5 inches to either be traded or sold.
If you produce artwork and have joined the art card trend, you may be forced to take sides. Either be a trader of art cards or be a seller of ACEO . In the world of art cards there is no in between. I have actually been denied acceptance into forums because I had the audacity to suggest that I was looking for information on buying and selling art cards (to be p.c. I must say buying and selling ACEO). What I have ended up with at first is mass confusion. Unless you have done your homework, you may not know that an art card is intended for trade only and you submit yourself to being snubbed by many fine artists, many of whom you would like to trade cards with.
Don't choose a side! If you want to trade, TRADE! IF you want to sell, SELL! Consider yourself to be an ARTCARDIST.
An ARTCARDIST is an artist or crafts person who wants to produce cards with the intention to trade, buy and sell. They want to establish their reputation as an artist and communicate with other artists, so they trade. They also want to make a name for themselves and let the public be able to obtain fine art for a minimal price, so they produce cards to sell and buy. For those of you out there who wish to neither subscribe to being a trader only nor a buyer/seller only become an ARTCARDIST !
Visit my website www.artcardist.com for more information on trading, buying and selling fine art cards or ACEO.