General Information

We suggest bringing at least 20-25 cards to trade, and it helps to have them in a binder or small album that can be easily viewed and passed around during trading. Please come prepared to trade with everyone, regardless of skill level.

Try to make at least one card in the monthly theme to participate in the Potluck Draw (in which everyone throws their theme card into a box during introductions and then we all randomly draw someone else's card in trade).

Please make sure your name is legible on the back so that those receiving your cards will know who created them. (Many artists include their e-mail addresses and website or other contact information on the back of their cards.) For further information about making cards, see links below.

What is an ATC?

Artist Trading Cards or ATCs are small works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches that are made to be traded between artists. They can be made in any media on any subject. Here is a good introduction to the format.

The idea for the ATC format was developed in 1996 by Swiss artist m. vanci stirnemann as a way for artists to exchange art without worrying about the constraints of galleries and pricing. The first trading session was in Zurich in 1997. Trading on-line has become very popular, especially for artists who cannot attend live trades locally. You can read more about the history of ATCs here. One friendly site to start trading on-line is ATCs for All.

Why make and trade ATCs? The small size of the card allows you to experiment with new media and techniques without spending a lot of money on supplies. For many participants, the interaction with other artists and the opportunity to learn new things is more important than the trading of the art itself.

To Bee or Not to Bee
by Dianna Reiter
(Hand-carved stamps)

Mark your calendar!

Saturday, March 24, 2012 Workshop & Live Trade
at the Black-Eyed Press
312 Sixth ST, Racine WI
Schedule & class fee to be announced

Saturday, April 28, 2012
Art Play Date & ATC Trade
at Greendale Public Library
5647 Broad ST, Greendale, WI
Schedule to be announced

Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 1-3 p.m.
at The Jazz Gallery
926 E Center ST, Milwaukee, WI



Spring by Gary Warren Niebuhr
(Collage ATC)