Artist Trading Cards

A short history of the Artist Trading Card (ATC)…

Artist Trading Cards have been around for less than a decade. Yet, their historical roots can be traced back to the Dadaist and Mail Art movement of the 1920s.

Mail Art- a worldwide cultural movement that began in the early 1960s and involves sending visual art (but also music, sound art, poetry, etc.) through the mail.

M. Vanci Stirnemann• Swiss artist who first developed the

concept of ATCs in 1996, when he decided to document his activities with other artists by producing a catalogue of 1,200 cards he created by hand.

• He exhibited the cards at his bookstore gallery in Zurich in May 1997. On the last day of the exhibit, Stirnemann invited anyone who wanted a card to create their own ATC to trade during the closing reception.

Artist Trading Card Examples…

What can you incorporate into your ATC?

• Images cut out from magazines, old books, from the internet, photographs

• Drawing, painting, collage, printmaking• Words from poems, literature, your own

writing, quotes and more• Recycled/ Reused materials that you have

found, think three dimensional details• POSITIVE THEME- words of encouragement,

lyrics, poems, quotes that are POSITIVE

Trading Cards Must…• Measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches • Be traded for another card• Be flat enough to fit into a plastic trading card

sleeve• Have both a front and a back design• Be legibly signed and dated on the back of the card• Be based on an element, principle, term, material,

medium, artist, culture, movement or period in art or art history, or focused on one main idea/theme

PROCEDURES:• Decide on a material to start with, sketch some ideas

onto rough draft paper.• Take a blank ATC and begin your design! Remember, if

you use paint or glue you can always glue two cards together with a glue stick so they are sturdy enough.

• You are to have a front AND a back. You can create your own logo or signature to put on all of your cards.

• To begin the ATC mural, make additional cards to fill in open slots. You are allowed to take ONE card for every ONE card you create.

Rubric for first 2 ATCs• Fulfills Assignment: Create 2 artist trading cards with both a front and back using

provided materials with a central theme. 0 1 2 • Creativity and Originality: How original, daring, and inventive are the artist

trading cards? Did you put effort in being creative? 0 1 2 • Elements and Principles: Were the elements and principles of art used to make

the visual elements work well? Did you show an understanding of art techniques?

0 1 2

• Effort and Craftsmanship: Is the work neat, clean, organized and presented well, and done with effort and care? 0 1 2

• • Work Habits: Did the student stay on task? Was the student cooperative? Did the

student act appropriately and provide appropriate feedback? Was the student respectful of supplies, materials, space, and others? 0 1 2

• TOTAL 10 Points