I work with quite a few potluck enthusiasts. I get bashful, though, whenever we have these sorts of celebrations because my cooking skills are...unimpressive. After a few half-hearted attempts the only thing I've learned is this single nugget of wisdom: Choose your battles. I figure what I lack in accurate measurements and cooking times, I make up for in presentation.

More after the jump...

Someone once told me that I should draw every day for 20 minutes regardless of whether or not I want to. This is solid advice because it is startlingly easy to fall out of practice. Making art is not like riding a bicycle (...actually, maybe it is. The last time I got onto a bike I fell right back off of it). It takes practice. There is only so much that talent can do for you.

ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) are baseball card-sized works of art that are meant to be traded. That's about all there is in the way of specifications. ATCs can be found in every medium and every style. ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) are basically the same thing, but people tend to sell ACEOs. Mostly, the two names are used interchangeably. Here are a few links relating to ATCs and ACEOs:

Art-e-zine ATC Swap

 ATC Swiss Site

 

Etsy's ACEO Street Team Blog

IllustratedATCs - A Juried Swapping Site

I like that ATCs provide an official little area to try out new things. The parameters make it feel important without it having to be that important. I have a feeling I am going to use them to get some of my more on-the-nose ideas out of my system (because small silly things are easier to enjoy than large silly things).

In any event, I am going to post one every Wednesday. Here is my first try. I made this on a Sunday while my friend and former studio mate, Meghan, was visiting. It has no purpose...just a few elements loosely related that are grouped together. It was fun to make:

 

 You can find little envelopes for the cards at Dick Blick-type places. They are adorable.

 

 I've yet to decide what I am going to do with them after I make them. I may give them away to people who ask for them in comments.  Keeping them defeats the purpose. Of course, I may require that the recipients make an ATC in turn. Is that fun or frightening?

Your Sister in Craft,

LB