How to Find and Collect Miniature Art (ACEO)

art by ebaY member beaksandbeacons

Art Cards Editions and Originals (ACEO) are pocket-sized works by living artists all over the world. Measuring 3.5" by 2.5", each piece of art is the size of a baseball card. Finding them, creating a collection, and displaying the cards can be thrilling. Read this to learn how.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Hunt for Art Cards or ACEO

   ACEO come in just about every medium: Acrylic, Bas Relief, Colored Pencil, Copper Embossing, Glass, Marquetry, Oil, Pastels, Pen & Ink, Textiles, Watercolor, Wood burning. You can find (or commission) almost any theme, subject and style including landscapes, wildlife, historical events, architecture, nudes, pets, goth, mermaids, in impressionist, abstract, cubism; whatever your heart desires.

   Getting started is easy. Stopping once you start is difficult! Browse the web sites with the largest number of offerings. As I write this article, almost 40,000 ACEO are available for purchase online:

   * ebaY.com has 5,737 ACEO listings,
   * artcardswanted.com has 7,437 ACEO listings, and
   * etsy.com has 25,886 ACEO listings.

2. Gather ACEO

   Browsing and buying art cards online can be habit-forming. I've been buying other artists' ACEOs for 6 years now and selling my own for 5 years. Simply viewing what is available for sale is relaxing and exciting at the same time. Buying direct from the artist and seeing their gallery of other works online is an engaging pasttime.

3. ebaY seller: lotsasalsa

   Organize and Display ACEO

   If you find yourself having accumulated 100 or more art cards, as I did, an album or two is an inexpensive and practical way to organize and enjoy them. Art Cards are generally thin enough to slip into clear plastic pages with 9 pocket sleeves, the same pages used by sports card collectors. These pages fit in a three ring binder. I have one binder for 'portrait' oriented ACEO and another for 'landscape' oriented art.

   Other choices for very special or pricey art cards, or a handful of favorites include:

   (a) small wood easels,
   (b) flat wood display stands,
   (c) grouping a handful of cards in one frame with several openings,
   (d) pre-made mats with standard size outer dimensions such as 5 by 7 that have openings cut for ACEO,
   (e) business card holders,
   (f) acrylic stands,
   (g) magnetic sleeves that hold 3.5 by 2.5 inch photos and are intended for use on a refrigerator door, and
   (h) tiny picture frames that hold ACEO-size pictures or art.

4. Sweet displays!

   Share/Gift Art Cards

   If you create your own greeting cards using blank card stock, ACEO make great cover art. You can also tuck art cards into store-bought cards, books, gift boxes and Christmas stockings. Or you can set one in a placeholder or wire photo holder and make a gift of both. The little topiary holders shown in the image are by theweddingfavorbar.com. ACEO are small enough and portable, perfect for a windowsill, counter top, vanity or desk.

Tips & Warnings

• If you like an artist's work but want something a little different or larger than the cards he or she has for sale, email them. Many artists will agree to custom work.

• Search on line for 'ACEO display' and see what comes up.