Updates:

Well, here we are at the end of the month, and I am getting ready to do a massive art upload in a few days. I have been very busy working on things to sell. I would like to first write a post about some some things I have been doing.

I have finally finished the monkeys necklace. Hard to believe, but it is true! It is finally done! You can't believe how ecstatic I am over this. I am very proud of how it looks and look forward to sharing it with you.

I have been writing several articles on Helium of late. Don't know what Helium is? It's a great place where you can share your knowledge, and get paid to do so. You won't get rich doing it, but it is a nice little supplement to your regular income, and you can write about things you know! Who doesn't want to show the world how smart they are!

I am finishing up all 4 seasons Carousel Horses that I have been talking about. They will be included in all the other posts.

Today I intend to design the ACEO playing cards for hearts 2-10.

I am just about finished with the Herald of Spring piece. It took a while to decide how to make it attach to a chain, but I am happy with the decision I have made, I just need to "make" it.

If anything interests you to buy, please let me know via email or comment here. I accept payments via paypal, as well as through the mail via check, cashier's check, or money order.

I look forward to sharing these works with you!

"ACEO" Playing Cards

At this point I am going to do an Anglo - American deck of cards. I may do the various other styles of decks, but right now I am just focusing on one - the one I know the best.

The rules for Anglo - American decks of cards are:

• 52 cards.
• 4 suits Diamond, Heart, Spade, Club One of each pip/number - Ace (1), 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,Jack,Queen,King
• The face cards are historically reversible.
• Typically 2 Jokers (sometimes 1 or 4) with one being more colorful than the other(s).
• Jokers have no hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs on them.
  
• Index lables of number and suit on opposite corners, one being the top right.
• The Jack of Spades, Jack of Hearts, and King of Diamonds are drawn in profile.
• The King of Hearts is the only King with no mustache, and is also typically shown with a sword behind his head, making him appear to be stabbing himself. (suicide king)
• The axe held by the King of Diamonds is behind his head with the blade facing toward him. (suicide king)
• The Jack of Diamonds is laughing.
• Queen of Spades holds a scepter.
• Queen of Clubs holds a flower.
• Usually the other queens hold a flower as well, styled based upon suit.
  

New Project sparked

I just got a second idea for a new project using ACEO cards. I will be making at least 1, (maybe multiple different ones) ACEO cards as playing cards. 54 of them, including the jokers. I just need to do a little minor research (as I am not that much of a card player) to figure out what the different details are (such as how many one eyed queen, king, and jacks there are, etc.)

If you are interested in "commissioning" one of these decks from me, let me know. I would absolutely be open to the idea of making one to "order"!

So many projects, so little time...

I am doing a series of 54 original ACEO cards. They will be available for sale through this blog, my website, ebay, art-cards.org, and artcardswanted.com.

I hope these will be some inspiration sparking quick little polished works for me to test (hopefully successfully) some ideas for larger pieces.

Don't know what ACEO cards are? They are also called ATC (though not 100% interchangeable).

ACEO stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards. Artist Trading Cards can be printed "copies" ad noseum of the same card that was originally done by an artist.

ACEO cards should always be signed by the artist. They should state whether they are "Editions" or "Originals". The difference would be:

• Editions would be variations of the same picture. Such circumstances would be similar to a Series in effect, more than one of the same imagry with a good portion (or effectively all) the same, maybe doing it in a different style, different color scheme, different, medium, (but not required) but each one unique while alike all the others even if it is simply because it is hand painted, printed, drawn, etc.
• Originals would be one of a kind (OOAK). Each and every picture is unique. They may or may not have things in common (theme, medium, color scheme, style), but each is a piece in and of it's self, not relating to the others.

Compare these definitions to other similar definitions:

• Prints would be duplicates. A good example would be posters. Exact copies of the original. They have nothing different than any other. These can be done in limited runs (becomes called Limited Edition Print - confusing I know)
• Limited Edition Print are prints which would be signed, and numbered in order of printing and sold on a first come first served lowest number basis.
  
• The other kind of print would be print on demand type limitless numbers.

Some people swear that the limited edition runs are more valuable than the limitless runs, and only buy that type of print, but the print more often than not is the same quality, and therefore, it is my personal opinion you should buy what you can afford, and therefore, what you like, regardless of the "value". Otherwise, all anyone would buy is Picasso's and Worhol's etc. If the art is something that you like, then it is priceless. Ok, off my soap box now.