Artist Trading Cards

Maple Leaf Print ATCs

Canada and Mexico were our topic for cards. I made some but didn't get to the trades. Of course, I hope someone will want them when I do get to the next trade. 

I've begun getting ready for October trades, both of which feature Halloween and Day of the Dead. These two seem to get the most enthusiastic participation and most creative cards each year. Just this evening I was walking the neighborhood taking photos of boles that will become creatures to frighten unsuspecting children. I must admit the photos were so much fun to take, even one conversation with a neighbor working late in her yard. Expect finished cards here beginning next week!

 I wonder just what these two photos may become.

Halloween can be so much fun. I'm not really into the fright of it but do love passing out candy and looking at the children who come to the door. 

I also remember some childhood exploits!

Artist Trading Cards for Fall

Prints of oak leaves cut out and collaged onto an older print
L. pinoak, R. probably burr oak
Phillip Hoyle 2018

My thoughts have turned toward fall. The end of summer and early fall I gather leaves for printing. The days are shortening. In Colorado aspen leaves at high elevations are showing off their gold. Here in town trees are tired of the near drought summer. 

Pinoak print collaged onto another print
Phillip Hoyle 2018

The seasons do change. I find myself thinking of new ideas and having more energy to work since the evenings are cooler. I've been writing and was pleased when I quit re-writing my current projects and put them aside to age. So here I am going crazy with leaf prints in ATCs and other larger prints. I like when I get artistically productive. It's like fall is my spring. 

I've begun more ATCs related to leaves. Some are turning out very nice. I especially like when I use good quality print paper. Then the technique is most satisfying. 

Nothing like a falling leaf for fall.
Phillip Hoyle, 2018

Artist Trading Card Collage Abstracts

ATC Abstracts, Phillip Hoyle 2018

I attended an ATC workshop on Thursday in which I made a group of collages from collected paper items. The company was fine, conversations sparkled, artwork seemed especially creative. The first trades were related to the evening's theme, insects. I brought prints of grape leaves with Japanese beetles busily eating holes in the leaves. 

ATC insects, Phillip Hoyle 2018

After that trade I started work on the abstracts using mostly magazine images from a folder of things torn or cut from old magazines. We had to work quickly since we were each aiming at making at least ten new cards in two hours.

Viewing all the completed work of the evening was like entering an art gallery for a diverse show from nine artists ranging in age from teens to eighties.

Phillip Hoyle 2018

Artist Trading Cards from scraps 2

ATCs by Phillip Hoyle 2018

So many of my Artist Trading Cards are made from scraps. I throw them in a flat box. There are bits of magazine cutouts, paper I've torn or cut off of pieces just a little too big for my current project, odd things that come in the mail, cards that didn't work out right, and more. Sometimes I'm surprised what all I find there. I get a kick out of grabbing a 3.5 x 2.5 ground from some painting I didn't like or cut from scraps of mat board or something else that I once thought might make a nice start for a new card. 

ATCs by Phillip Hoyle, 2018

I grab a glue stick, my small scissors, some pens, a pencil, a paint brush, a piece of string, some of the scraps in my special box, and go to town. (I admit to being easily entertained.) I know I'll soon take this piece along with others like or unlike it to some trade where I'll meet other artists who are like minded. I'll return home with some of their works and many ideas that arise in the conversations. 

Swapping Artist Trading Cards is a great stimulus for further work, not just for cards, but for larger, more complex cards. Making them is a playground for experiments with technique, supplies, ideas, and images. The investment is usually of a bit of time. The payoff is gathering to trade. Check out your town or city for local listings related to the cards. 

Artist Trading Cards from Scraps

ATCs from scraps, Phillip Hoyle, 2018

Saturday's Artist Trading Cards swap didn't draw many people but did present lots of cards for trade and interesting conversations and three art installations to view at the same time. CORE New Art Space is located in the Arts District on Santa Fe at 9th Ave. right next to Spark Gallery. The trade takes place on the second Saturday morning of the month from 10 to noon. Artists are encouraged to come by and trade some of their cards with other artists. The weekly trades have been going on in Denver for nearly 20 years. 

ATC abstracts by Phillip Hoyle, 2018

Since this month's topic was so open--ATCs from scraps--we saw a large variety of artistic techniques, approaches, and materials. The variety always fascinates me and makes for good trading. Just seeing so many tiny works of art inspires me to keep at the work, use up the scraps, recycle rather than simply throw away. Making the cards is always instructive and invites improvisation and experimentation.

ATCs of contrast by Phillip Hoyle

Kind of Creepy! Phillip Hoyle 2018
Not a self portrait

Why so long at the fair?

The ATC tent right in the middle of things.

I attended the 8th annual Denver County Fair. Plans for such a fair reach back to the mid-19th century but were interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War. Finally in the early 21st century the idea was picked up by some enterprising folk, many of whom were artists. The competitions in food, horticulture, urban farming, urban livestock, community action, popular culture, family activities, carnival rides, and fried foods continue. So still blue, red and white ribbons are given for art, crafts, speeches, cooking, baking, and spelling bees, just to name a few categories, prevail. Cats have their own pavilion! I saw turkeys and chickens, ducks and doves. Pigs were showing off their abilities to receive and carry out tasks to the great amusement of a crowd. This year featured a roller derby and much more. One woman who has been involved in the art part of the fair said, “It will be a real county fair as soon as they get drag races. Still, she enjoyed the Drag Show—an urban touch.

Multi Panel ATC made at the Fair, 2018

I was there at the Artist Trading Cards tent where adults and kids could make and trade art cards. It’s a messy experience since glue is available to children. It seems squeezing overly generous amounts of glue in the messiest way is tolerated by parents. I cleaned up after quite a few such parents.

But I also saw the creation of many wonderful cards. Plus we volunteers made contact with a number of adults who might join in one of the Denver ATC groups. This last is our main goal.




And, of course, there was a lot of laughter, conversations with all sorts of people, good coffee, good ice cream, and so much more.

I didn’t stay too long at the fair, yet two long days will satisfy me for a year.

Pizza Rain, ATC, Phillip Hoyle 2018

Artist Trading Cards Favorite Colors

Red and Black are my favorite color combination.
Two collages, Phillip Hoyle 2018

All my life long I've loved red. I called it my favorite color. I fondly recall a red sport coat, red crayons, a red cap, and several red shirts. I don't recall wearing red slacks, at least not bright red. Perhaps I'm just too shy. 

When I began doing artwork seriously, I gave an important part to the color. It often worked as an accent. With Artist Trading Cards red serves as a background or often as a main color. And through the work with ATCs I have realized how much I like red and black together. 

I didn't really mean to repeat the left image but am away from my printer.
Anyway, you get the drift.
Phillip Hoyle 2018

Last weekend, July 13-15, I had three pages (9 images each) in the Denver County Fair Art Show. All 27 pieces were made since last year's show. The Fair was located at the Denver Stock Show Exhibition Hall. The art is fine and varied; the displays engaging. One of my pages won the Green Ribbon due to my using all recycled products.