All about ATCs and ACEOs - Guest Post by Crystal Harris Donnelly

This month's Guest post is by artist, Crystal Harris Donnelly, sometimes known as 'Charris'. 

Crystal is an altogether talented lady but here she focuses on just one of her many gifts, ATCs and ACEOs.

Crystal introduces herself:

A bit about me…

I have been involved in the arts for all of my life, and have done many portraits of pets and people. My favorite of all mediums just has to be pastel.  I have designed craft projects for national craft magazines and my projects have been included in several hardback craft books.  Horses have been a big part of my life, with my daughter showing extensively.  I am also part owner of a Tack Shop, selling English and Western tack and apparel.

Crystal's blog 

Crystal's Etsy Shop

Crystal at Fine Art America 

ATC, ACEO - what in the world are they?

Acronyms can be confusing.  Believe me, I know, because my husband, who works in the aviation industry, uses them on me all the time while I look at him in confusion.  ATC and ACEO’s are not that difficult to explain.  They are basically miniature art.  I have always enjoyed creating pieces of miniature art.

Perhaps it comes from being thrifty with my art supplies, or maybe it is because these pieces are quicker to create as opposed to larger items.  The best reason of all is that since they are so small artists can sell at a price that is agreeable to just about any budget. When I discovered ACEO’s while exploring the Internet one day, I felt as if I had found my niche. 

The difference between the two types of Art cards is pretty simple to explain.   

• An Artist trading card (ATC) is a card that an artist creates for trading with other artists and is never for sale.  They have been around for many, many years.  

• Art cards editions and originals (ACEO) on the other hand, started online by some enterprising and creative artists.  Now, everyone, artist and non-artists alike can afford to collect fine art.

There are very few rules to creating art cards.  You are free to create them in almost any medium you can think of, but they must always be 2 ½” x 3 ½”, the size of a sports trading card. Before shipping I slip them into a plastic sleeve made for sports cards.  Collectors sometimes place them into albums or mat and frame them.

Since the onset of ACEOs, collectors have sprouted up all over the world.  Some of them limit their collections to certain subjects, such as horses, cats, landscapes, etc. A good place to sell your aceo’s is on www.etsy.com and www.ebay.com. 

My etsy shop is Art2Cee2 and I sell on ebay as Charrisart

When I work on my ACEO’s, I work under a true color Ott light bulb with a large magnifying glass in one hand.  This way I can get the detail that I love so much.  Detail is not necessary and there are many collectors who treasure abstracts and expressionistic pieces. 

Why not try an ACEO today?

Crystal's blog

 Crystal's Etsy Shop

Crystal at Fine Art America