An Introduction to Artist Trading Cards

Artist Trading Cards are a fun way to pass the time and experiment with different art techniques. The small format has very few boundaries aside from size, and there is an ever growing community of participants online and in person who will gladly trade cards if you ask.

What are Artist Trading Cards?

Artist trading cards are one of a kind, original works of art made on a piece of material exactly 2.5" by 3.5". The rules are simple. It must be on a 2.5 by 3.5 surface. It must be one of a kind. It must be original. That's it. There is no limit to what you can do outside of these two rules.

What do you do with Artist Trading Cards?

Think of artist trading cards as a really unique business card for an artist. You trade them with other people who make artist trading cards. To facilitate this process, you do need to put some important information on the back of your card. Write out your name and any contact information you wish to provide (address, phone number, e-mail), the title of the card, and your signature. Then, you can meet up with people at artist trading card swaps or arrange trades online with other artists.

How do you make an Artist Trading Card?

The simplest way to make an artist trading card is to start with a standard size playing card. These are exactly 2.5 by 3.5 inches meaning you have a perfect template. While you can work directly on the card (and many people do), the surface is rather slick. It might be a good idea to cover one or both sides with a piece of paper or card stock to allow for easier use of non-paint materials. After that, it's up to you. Some draw the entire thing. Others do collages. Some use paint. Others use markers. Some don't even use paper as the base. Others make the entire card out of pieces of paper. The possibilities are limitless.

Anything else?

Aside from trading, there are entire online communities dedicated to artist trading cards where you can upload your cards and share them with the world. They share techniques with each other, which can give you more ideas of what you can try. Maybe you'll even develop your own unique technique for making artist trading cards. There are even magazines dedicated to artist trading cards that open calls for submission to be featured in the magazine.

Conclusion

Artist trading cards can be a great hobby. You can make art in any style without having to work on too grand a project. It's almost instant gratification art.