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I have received a request to follow up on the debate between Art Cards and ACEO. The debate lies in how these cards are collected. ATC enthusiasts only trade their cards while artists who produce cards for monetary benefits sell them as ACEO. Production of these cards is similar: both meet a guideline of being produced on a 2.5″ x 3.5″ format. The measurement standard was taken from the same standard that trading cards, like baseball cards, use.

The website www.artcardist.com was created in order to bring both forms of the card together. Since conception of the idea to create Artcardist.com in 2009, neither ATC artists nor ACEO artists have really come together in any real terms to merge the two together. However, and I find this to be quite ironic, it is not unheard of for ATC artists to produce ACEO for the benefits of selling and ACEO artists can participate in an ATC trade. The most noticeable difference is the blending of terms. ACEO when used as a search term will bring you to information on ATC while ATC used as a term in a search engine mostly brings up art card trading results or results for Air Traffic Controller.  Try google searching both terms and click image results. See what you come up with!

It is my experience that in two years the term ACEO is used more often to describe an art card. Possibly this is due to the fact that the ACEO is a commercial term and advertisement has brought the term to the mainstream just like when you order a “Coke” in a restaurant, you may actually get a “Pepsi” since cola is truly the desired request. Eventually, the term ATC may be synonymous with ACEO except among a very small audience.

Production of the art card is still a very exciting activity. Sites like eBay and ETSY have quite an active movement for selling ACEO. Facebook has many groups dedicated to the trading of ATC. Any way that you decide to participate with these cards is fine. There are many talented artists who use them to promote themselves. As a collectible, art cards are inexpensive and endearing!

For more information visit whatisanartisttradingcard.blogspot.com

The debate lies in how these cards are collected. ATC enthusiasts only trade their cards. They do so by joining online forums and engaging in ATC swaps or they go to ATC meets where they can trade cards with artists from all over the globe. The ATC movement was recreated in the late 90′s. ACEO enthusiasts create cards to be sold or they can be collectors of the art form. This group was created in the early 2000′s out of desperation. It was created because there was a desire to sell and purchase cards but the ATC movement frowns upon the selling of art cards. ACEO can be bought or sold on ebay or Etsy.com and there are numerous groups to be joined in order for an artist to showcase their ACEO work.

Even though we live in a modern age, there is a war of sorts between the two movements. Some ATC artists are also ACEO artists but not all are. Many frown on it severely. It is common to receive flack from members of the ATC movement for wanting to sell or buy. Slowly, there is an acceptance of ACEO being seen in art card communities and it is only right. The size of the art cards allows buyers to purchase mini works of fine art at very reasonable prices. The current trend for collecting these cards also benefits the artists by allowing for a way to market themselves inexpensively.

Whether one buys, sells or trade should not be an issue. This is a fun hobby and many people are joining the movement. It should be expected that both ATC and ACEO find a way to get along politically since there is a consumer demand for the product. For more information on this subject or to view a gallery of the artists pictured, visit http://hubpages.com/hub/Art-Cards