What ACEO is all about
ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". These cards have one main rule - they are 3.5 inches by 2.5
inches - the size of a trading card.
The reason for this is, of course, that Art Cards are made to be traded! But while artists were happily trading
cards, the general public was left out in the cold, having no Art Cards to trade. A group of artists realized this, and
quickly made their cards available for sale at remarkably low prices so that everyone could join in the fun!
Cards are also sold either as originals or editions. Make sure you know which you are buying! If it is a print it
should say so, and it should be numbered and signed, usually on the back.
Art Cards can be a riot! Artists from all over the world are creating, and now selling these little gems in different
mediums and of different subjects. Watercolor, Oil, Acrylic, Colored Pencil, Pastels, Pyrography, Pen and Ink,
Sketching, Collage - the sky is the limit. Abstract, Surrealism, Outsider Art, Impressionism, Expressionism -every
style you can think of - and then some!. Every interest and subject is covered! Extremely collectable Pocket Art,
you can't stop at just one!
Just like sports fans collect baseball cards of their favorite players, art fans collect art cards of their favorite artists
or artwork.
There are three main categories of art cards:
1. Open Edition - Prints/reproductions of artwork that is printed in the standard card size. Open editions can be
printed and reprinted depending on the demand for the card. There is no limit to how many will be printed. This
can also be a mini-print of a larger original artwork.
2. Limited Edition - This type is also a print/reproduction, but there is a limit to how many cards will be ever
printed/sold. These cards are more valuable then open edition cards, because there is only a limited amount of
each card that is available in the world. Many times, limited edition cards will be numbered on the back of the card.
3. Original Artwork - This card is a unique piece of artwork done by the artist. It can be painted or drawn, but it will
be 100% original and only one card exists in the world. This type of card is the most valuable.
The History of Art Cards
Art Cards have a very long and very interesting history.
Art cards or miniatures where the rage in the 16th century. They were mostly portraits and they were sold, not
traded or given away. They were the first wallet "photos". Men would have nudes painted of their Mistresses on art
cards (without their wives knowing)--usually by the same Artist that would do the big family portraits of their wives.
Miniature Portraits would be used for exchange when rich people arranged marriages. In fact, this caused a big
problem for poor Henry the Eighth, when the artist who painted his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, took a little too
much "artistic license". Poor Anne was not up to standard and Henry divorced her.
The French artists were the first to come up with advertisement on the art cards. It wasn't until the mid-1700's that
the English picked up on the idea of using the Art cards for advertising. The Art Cards of Europe are slightly
larger than ours as is their standard deck of playing cards is much larger than ours.
During the Impressionist Age artists traded art cards among themselves to study each other's style and
techniques. They also traded or sold the art cards as necessary for supplies, food and lodging
In 1887 "baseball" cards started to appear. These early cards are now very rare and it is uncertain what they were
made of. They were not mass produced. During the period 1902 - 1935 baseball was in its golden years. Cards
during this time were usually sold with bubble gum, chewing tobacco and cracker jacks. As they were marketed
with different size products, baseball cards were different sizes and it was not until the 1960s that the modern 2.5
x 3.5 size was standardized.
"What am I going to do with a 2.5" x 3.5" painting?"
That's a very good question and I thought the same thing myself when I heard of this,however,I then looked back
to my past in the 70's and remembered "Garbage pail kids" cards,and of course,my small collection of baseball
cards.Then in the 90's my children collected "Pokeman" cards.Then it dawned on me,that's what these
are...collectors cards of your favorite artists.Maybe you don't want to invest hundreds of dollars into art but really
like a certain artists work,then why not an ACEO card.These cards can be put into plastic magnet sleeves to put
on your fridge,lockers,metal cabinets.They can be matted with a larger mat and put in a 5x7 frame.They can be
kept in a protective photo album and left on your coffee table for you and your friends to enjoy.They also make
cute mini paintings for doll houses.
Today there is a resurgence of hand made art cards for sale and trade. Happy Collecting!!!