Artist Trading Cards Become Wall Art
for a Guest Bath

By Bobbi Holmes

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            An artist trading card or ATC is a pocket-sized work of art intended for trade as opposed to resale. Initially artists swapped the miniature canvases, allowing each artist to collect the work of fellow artists. Each card is approximately the size of a standard playing card, and some artists use playing cards as their canvases while others cut similar sized pieces from sturdy cardboard.

            I was first introduced to artist trading cards by the same person who introduced me to altered books, Jim Halteman. I first met Jim when he and I sat on the board of the local museum. Jim was a retired art teacher and managed the museum store. We became friends and his creative ideas always inspired me.

            Jim participated in a number of local craft classes, including several on artist trading cards. After he and his fellow artists would create a new assortment of artist trading cards, they would sometimes exchange their creations. He kept his collection in a three-ring binder, each card carefully encased in a clear acid-free sheet protector.

            Jim’s cards caught the fancy of another museum board member, Judy Whelan. Judy is creative in her own right, and decided the cards would make interesting wall art for her guest bathroom. The photographs included in this article (a total of eight web pages) were all taken at Judy’s home.

            The other day we had an informal brain storming session at Judy’s, for the museum, so I took my camera along. I’ve been wanting to take pictures of her collection and her unusual display for sometime. I asked Judy if she’d led me take the pictures, and add them to my craft website, and she generously agreed.

            Our dear friend and fellow board member, Jim Halteman, passed away on Friday, February 26, 2010. I miss his cheerful presence and I don’t believe he ever knew how much he inspired my creative interests.