Cricketts Inky Art Blot

Something I like doing when I have the time, is to make Artist Trading Cards. In the few months, I have hosted 2 swaps and made many cards for swapping individually. They are quick and easy to make and are lots of fun to collect. Maybe you would like to make one for Beth's swap that I mentioned a few days ago. What is an Artist Trading Card? Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are mini works of art that artists collect and trade among themselves. By definition, ATCs are made in limited numbers, often no more than one of a kind. Unique ATCs are called originals. The general public have started collecting them, which has started to put a dollar value on cards, but they are meant to be traded ATC for ATC. Artists often participate in international exhibitions of these cards (often with a simple theme, such as “purple”) to cheaply show their work and self promote. For the most part, they are art for art’s sake. Guidelines for ATC cards: 1. They are always 3 1/2" X 2 ½....

Today I would like to honor an wonderful artist called Beth from a community I am attached to called Milliande.Art Community. I have been touched by her request and I hope I can help her in her goal. Beth has been registered legally blind for many years and as her sight is decreasing she wishes to have one piece of her artwork traveling into as many countries on this Earth as possible .. a kind of legacy of her ability to see. You know how I obsess about the flags on my map @_@, well, I would like to ask a special favour of all my visitors, ESPECIALLY those who live in countries outside of the UK and USA (I think there are many of us already participating although every state is wished for, so still participate!), if they would consider making an Artist Trading Card (ATC) to trade with Beth. I have been blessed with many visitors from all over the globe and I would love you to connect with me to do this together. ATC's are artworks that are just 2 1/2" x 3 1/...

Tuesday Night, I guess I am still in painting mindset. I treated the ink like paint and glazed areas to get the softening I wanted around the edges. As soon as I added oil to the ink something happened. It became so good to play with; rich, oily and sensual. Who knew printing could feel so good? Using a paintbrush, I stroked the glaze onto the edges of the images and rubbed it into the main areas with a cloth. Now I feel much happier with the way it works with the paper. Tuesday afternoon, I worked on the book cover prints again on rag paper. I think I might play with inks to soften the edges of the circles. I find the edge of the blocks too harsh for such soft paper. Stitching might work well too. Hmmm, I should just get on with it as I still have signatures to make and sew for the book. Tuesday Morning I am hosting a steampunk themed ATC swap on March 1st. Here are 4 of my artist trading cards from the "Ticking of the clock" collection. I am planning ...