I started two new drawings today, working the first layers with water color pencils. It is pretty much just ground prep, throwing color down into the textured watercolor paper to add depth to the final drawing.
If they turn out okay, then fine… if not, oh well. I can trim off edges, keep what interests me. That is what happened to the drawing inside the black mat. It started out as a larger drawing to end up in an 8×10 frame. You may recall seeing it larger unfinished in a previous photograph.
I have found a new use for art scraps, as one can only use so many bookmarkers cut from the trimmings. Why not cut them into Art Cards?
The idea came when I was cleaning out a drawer and came across two boxes of outdated business cards. I was debating about ordering new ones, but I really do not need 500. It is not like I’m running a business or anything. I just like having a card with my basic contact information on it for the rare occassions when someone asks, “hey, you got a card?”
Call it “cheap” or call it “green” for recycling art scraps, but I think it is a cool idea because it is a throw back to the art cards of old school artists who, hundreds of years ago, made their own art cards for various purposes. Essientially, their art card was a sample of their work, sometimes as a means to share their techniques with other artists. Some art cards were small works of art traded for food or lodging. In the Victorian Era, some artists made their own calling cards.
I am purposely cutting my Art Cards ye 2×3 inches to avoid any possible connection or confusion with ATC and ACEO movements.
“Artist Trading Cards” and “Art Cards, Editions and Originals” are the exact same thing – small 2.5×3.5 inch works of art – with one seriously major distinction causing controversy and snobbery between artists: who is allowed to have or collect art in that size. The ATC folks believe that art in this size is to be traded exclusively as in ONLY between artists and never, ever sold. Some artists rebelled, renamed art that size ACEO, and started selling their art cards on ebay, thus opening the door for common people lacking the space and resources to amass a huge art collection to be able to collect baseball card size works of art.
Okay, so perhaps making art cards undersize is bumping all the rules… even the biz card rules since business cards are 2×3.5 inches. But, they will serve the purpose: a free sample of my art style with my basic contact information on the back.
A friend suggested printing the info on the back. Since my scribble may be hard to read and the easiest way to quick print anything onto a small surface is with a rubber stamp, I ordered one custom made from thestampmaker.com late Wednesday night. It should be here by Monday since this woman-owned stamp making business is just up in Michigan. The email with shipping information arrived today.
Well, the furnace just kicked on so I better go shut my windows. It was 84 yesterday but cold winds came through, supposed to dip cold enough for snow flurries tonight. Thanks for reading!
Barnbees 