Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

::Mrffgrraghhhh::

HehHeh.

Edited to add:  Tina, we were posting simultaneously.  I think your cards are terrific!  I especially like the text background you used.  Very nice!   

I love TT with all my heart but the problem with posting art cards here is that your audience is limited.  People here might appreciate art cards but are mostly here to talk about, learn about, and view BEARS.  Right?!?

:)

My suggestion would be, Christine, that you take the plunge and register at a site like www.ATCsForAll.com, and then post your cards there, because people are looking for trades in droves every single day there!  It's open to all and free to join.  Check out the rules and the galleries there, to see how things operate.  It's daunting at first, but I'll help you understand if you have questions!  The site admin have become friends of mine and they are compassionate people who will NOT ban you if you make a newbie mistake in good faith! 

Sites like Craftster are also terrific for finding swaps but that place is absolutely, positively overwhelming to a newcomer.  I'd suggest starting at a more focused, smaller site first.

It's also a great idea to register for a free Flickr account, if you don't have one already.  At first, Flickr seemed "weird" to me, in terms of how the program "thinks."  But once I understood it, I found it one of the easiest, quickest, handiest ways around to get my images on the web, and organized perfectly and beautifully.  Check it out:  www.flickr.com.

Let me know if you have more questions.  I'll check back and try to answer!

Here are some awesome books on the subject of ATC's.  And yes, I own them all.  :)

http://www.amazon.com/Artist-Trading-Ca … 887&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/000-Artist-Tradin … 887&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Stamping-A … 887&sr=8-4

Alexis, I love your enthusiasm and curiosity. :)

Why not check out the pretty & informative online webzine, ART TRADER ZINE, which is published by the folks at IllustratedATCs.com. ???  It's available to view online as a .pdf file -- you need Adobe Acrobat, a free software program, to view it -- and it's hugely colorful, full of lots of interesting articles that cover lots of mail art related topics (with emphasis on ATC's) -- and I can personally vouch for the fact that the people who publish it are really smart, funny, talented, and cool.  And no, I'm not one of them... although I did have a tutorial published in the first issue.

There are two issues available online and as far as I know they will remain online for eternity so there's no rush to view them.  I happened to get my own copies printed out at Kinko's, which was, by the way, not cheap.  But I'm a part of that site and these are my friends so it's a kind of sentimental thing for me, as much as fun reading material.

The pages are gorgeous online, too, though, on your monitor.  So give it a peek!  I know they've written articles about what ATCs are and how they're made, etc.  And the second issue has an article specifically for people just like you, Alexis, who want to learn more, find out where to swap, and understand all the terms & definitions relating to ATC's and mail art:

Here's the link:  http://www.arttradermag.com/

As for your more specific questions...

ATC's can be made in ANY medium.  Fabric, paint, collage, ink, rubber stamping, metal, Sharpie, colored pencil, India ink, tissue paper... whatever!  The sky, and your imagination, are the only limits! 

Sometimes, certain swaps call for "collage only" or "hand-drawn only" or "fabric only" ATC's, but that's up to the preference of the swap host -- or the focus of the site where you're doing your trading.  IllustratedATCs.com, for example, is a JURIED site -- meaning you have to "try out" to be a member -- and it has a strong focus on hand-drawn, illustrative art.  Meaning that we don't have a lot of fabric swaps, etc., at that particular site.  However, there are oddles of places all over the web where you CAN do fabric, wood burnt, collage, or glass swaps.  There's no one way to do it, and as far as I'm concerned, it's all good.

If you're purchasing (vs. creating, for swapping) art cards, remember they're called ACEO's (not ATC's, although technically they're the same thing as ATC's, but with a pricetag attached).  Those can also be made from any medium -- fabric, glass, whatever.

Last, if someone paints a card on canvas or paper or board, they can simply SCAN and PRINT it, if they plan to offer copies in the form of "prints."  However, most cards are considered to be worth less, have less value, when there are more of them floating around.  Originals usually have more value, because they are one of a kind... and this is true whether you are purchasing an ACEO or swapping an ATC.  Most people find it more desirable to obtain something unique. 

Cards like Judi's wood burnt card can be reproduced via the scan and print process, but of course that's nothing like the original, which all that texture and probably even wood smell!  And it's fairly easy to scan or photograph and reprint 2D art, like a drawing or a painting... but it certainly loses it's sparkle and magic as a print, when you compare to the original.  Which isn't to say that "prints suck", because they certainly do not.  It's just that, given the choice, I'd always rather have the original, vs. a copy, simply because it has more of a hand-made, soul-touched vibe to it.  Ya know??

In case anyone is wondering, when I reproduce my cards (which I do rarely), I print at home using archival Vivera inks on premium photo paper, and then laminate my prints using an acid-free cold lamination process for long, scratch-free life.  Other people print on matte paper or even regular paper... so read the fine print if you're buying, to make sure you're getting something designed to last without fading or scratching.

For artists, it's important to always state at the outset whether the card will be available as prints, or whether it will be one of a kind... and then stick to that, so that your swap partners/customers don't ever feel misled or ripped off.  You'll be able to tell, as you browse on swap sites, on eBay, and on Etsy, what it is you're looking at (print vs. original) because most people are extremely careful to include that in their listing.

Hope this helps!

I'm with Sue Ann.  That would be a HUGE loss to the bear world, Sonya.  H U G E.  I know sales are tough but I hope you'll find some way to hang on to the joy and keep on keeping on, even if some modifications are necessary in order for you to do so.  I just saw your wonderful work in Nevada City last month.  It would be too, too sad for collectors to lose it.

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Oh, yay, thanks for the contact info for Deborah, Brenda.  That's so cool that you know Deb in real life.  I only know her via the web.  I'm envious!

Brenda... art cards ARE a horrid, magical addiction.  It's kinda all I think about the last long while.  They frustrate the bejeebers out of me because I'm always trying to improve but that takes time and practice and not just a strong will and wishful thinking, and it can't be rushed.  I so hope you give it a serious try but I admit, once you do, you'll probably be lost to it a bit. 

Alexis... That's a nice compliment about my Alice card; thank you!  :redface: 

The community at www.atcsforall.com often runs teddy bear related themes and as I mentioned, that site is available to all.  www.bid4bears.com has a specific trading card area (it's an auction site just for bear lovers) but I'm not sure how active it is.  When I started out with ATC's I made several art cards based on and featuring my teddies and sold/traded them which was great fun.  And I know there are some bear artists who are making art cards in addition to teddy bears; Deborah Burnham comes immediately to mind.  She's modest as all get out and kinda shy, but she makes some of the most AWESOME, high quality, heavy-in-your-hand cards I've come across anywhere, bar none.  Check out her whimsical, vintage-styled, collage art card offerings, which often feature her gorgeous Bearhaven Bears:  http://www.bearhavenbears.com/ATCs.htm  Maybe you can talk her into selling you some.  I seem to have lost her eBay ID and it's not currently listed on her site but I know she's sold some cards in the past.  I have a few garnered from swaps with her and truly, they are amazing.

Have fun!!!

Loverly like always, Karen.

Amen to THAT sentiment, Gail!  I think I kinda peed myself a little when I realized it was THE Kelly Dean referencing some dorky thing I wrote here in the kindest of terms.  Posting here at all, actually.  Welcome!!

Some more thoughts since you got me on a roll with this question -- hitting yourself yet?? :)~

Often at ATC sites you can find other kinds of mail art like journal and chunky book swaps; altered domino or tin swaps; charm swaps; inchie swaps (tiny one inch squares of art); and all kinds of other delicious things to trade.  Fun!

There are a million ways to participate in the ATC community.  You can swap 1:1 with another artist or join themed swaps, like "Coffee's On!" or "Faeries & Mermaids" or "Steampunk" or "All Asia," and so on.  This makes collecting by theme a real adventure.  My own themed collections include:

Alice in Wonderland
Gothic
Zetti
18th Century France / Marie Antoinette
Shoes
Funky, Whimsical Art
Evil Women & Bad, Bad Girls
Favorite Artist (reproductions of work by my favorite artists Scott Radke, Cassandra Barney, and Audrey Kawasaki)
Fantasy (unicorns, mermaids, faeries, etc.)
Dia de los Muertos
Animals
Beauty of India
Cakes & Confections
Vintage Image Collage

There's also something in the ATC world called a "Pick A Theme" swap.  Unlike a "regular" swap where you join, say, 30 other participants and then send in 3 cards and get 3 in return on that one theme... in a Pick a Theme swap you join a SUBGROUP of the PAT swap; choose your own personal theme; and the other members of your subgroup (usually 5-8 people) all make cards to your requested theme.  These kinds of swaps require greater commitment and trust because if someone drops out, those who've made cards for that person are left with nowhere to send them, and no cards on their own chosen theme coming in return.  Therefore, PAT swaps usually require a history of feedback in the ATC community before members are allowed to participate.  This is usually true regardless of the swap site.  Despite these complexities, PAT swaps tend to be my favorites because I get to specify EXACTLY the art I want in return for my own efforts, and I even get to choose which group I "play" with.  In "regular" swaps, the swap host chooses which cards go to which player.  Sometimes they try to match ability to ability but other times, hosts simply swap out cards randomly, which can be a great gift to the newer artist and a huge disappointment to the more experienced one.

I could go on and on... and probably, you're thinking, already have... :)... but I'll stop for now.  Just hoping to give you all the flavor of this addictive hobby.  Whee!!

Ooh... my ears are burning, in the nicest of ways.  Thanks for the shout out and warm fuzzies, peeps.  Very appreciated.

Alexis, you pretty much understand artist trading cards (or ATC's) already.  They're, as you put it, "like sport trading cards but have your art on them."  That's as good a way to describe them as any I've read!

Now that I've been part of the ATC community for a while I can firm up some info I wrote in that initial post I wrote, and expand on it a bit more, with greater confidence, but in fewer words.  Check this out.  Artist Trading Cards:

There's a big market for ACEO's on eBay and Etsy.  Wonderful, wonderful stuff.  Most cards sell in the $5 - $10 range making them very affordable, although some more sophisticated originals can go as high as $30 - $90.  You can often buy prints of fabulous artwork -- sometimes in open editions, sometimes in limited runs -- for a very reasonable price.

ATC's are traded in live sessions; check www.meetup.com if you're interested in finding a local ATC group to join.  They're also traded on a number of forums and sites on the web including Craftster, on Flickr groups, on Yahoo groups, and on specialized sites.  Some sites are for anyone and everyone at every skill level, such as www.ATCsForAll.com, where I myself trade.  That site used to be called ATCards.com, a site which is now defunct.

There are also juried sites, including my favorite on the web, www.IllustratedATCs.com.  This is a juried site and is for the experienced illustrator, fine artist, or graphic designer.  They're pretty particular about who they let in there which is why I like trading; my returns are always excellent.  However, it really tests my ability to be a member, and I always have to stay totally on top of my game and really push myself, which means I spend an extraordinary amount of time on each card. 

I love trading ATC's and rarely sell my work.  I just like the purity and "just for me" concept behind swapping them, myself. 

If you have any questions at all I'm a happy cheerleader for all things ATC so please, don't hesitate to contact me or write your queries here.  I'll do my best to answer on behalf of this very large, very talented, very enthusiastic and ENORMOUS community.

PS  I post all my ATCs to my Flickr page, http://flickr.com/photos/potbellyarts/s … 143477998/.  They're not great art or anything -- although I'm thrilled my skills are improving.  They're just fun, fun, FUN!

Positively wonderful!  Really, your bears are ALWAYS absolutely outstanding.  I find that so remarkable because on the one hand they're very traditional so one might think they'd sort of blend in with what's already been offered.  But they so... do... not.  They stand out and then some.

Just precious.

Send me one, won't you?

(hee hee)  You may be right, Daphne, but I feel like I KNOW everyone who's commented here, and so I feel like I KNOW that talking people out of this opportunity really isn't anyone's intent. 

So yeah, sorry Craig... but we're really just trying to be supportive of one another here, which is one of the things TT does best.  I hope it doesn't have the outcome of biasing people against manufacturers, but instead, possibly opens their eyes to the things they might watch out for; protect passionately; and think about, before arranging such a partnership.

Oh yeah!  Absolutely one of my faves, and completely applicable here.  And also the part where they dialogue something like this:

Tom Hanks:  It was just business.
Meg Ryan:  It was business to YOU.  To ME... it was personal.

Amen, too, to what Brenda said.  In retrospect, my own manufacturing experience was also fair to decent.  But it absolutely killed my creative spark for bears -- beautifully worded, Brenda! -- at least temporarily (and more than a little of my ability to trust and believe), which hurt me personally and professionally.  A lot.  It's all coming back around, though, for me, and I'm feeling that hunger again.  Although like Brenda, I'm re-designing at least some of the ways I'll be making bears from now on.  Somehow, it has to have a "newness" to it, to help me move on.

Thanks Sue Ann.    I don't want to discourage people from participating in what might be an excellent opportunity.  I just hope folks will protect themselves and work smart. 

I'll be curious to hear where this goes, and whether or not anyone here at TT, regular or lurker, pursues this opportunity.

For anyone considering such a relationship, my own advice, for what it's worth, would be:

1.)  Hire a great lawyer to help you draft a rock solid contract and work hard to protect and guarantee your interests even if you feel "selfish" doing so.  Put every last little thing of importance -- what you will, and will NOT, be doing for the hiring firm -- into the contract, in writing, in crystal clear language that can't ever be disputed.  No point is too small to make at the outset, and even if you feel you are being "annoying" with numerous revisions it's important to get every last paragraph absolutely right up front BEFORE you begin, or you won't be protected.  It does not behoove you to think about others in this aspect.  Don't allow yourself the luxury of being "starry eyed" over the compliment of their attention.  Instead, proceed at every step by asking yourself, "What is the worst thing that can happen, if I don't create a contract to ensure it WON'T?"  Think only of yourself as you develop your contract, and NEVER accept the first draft you're sent unless, by some miracle, it's a perfect fit.  Trust me, though... it won't be.  Except to the company that developed and sent it.  If things go sour, the other guys will be thinking of themselves... not about you.  That's the harsh reality of it. 

I took this approach in my own dealings with a manufacturer and it served me amazingly well, to significant financial advantage, even though none of my bears were actually produced due to factory limitations.

2.)  Keep ALWAYS in mind that it's not fun and friendship and fellow bear artists you're dealing with... it's business, and business people.  They really don't much care about how hard it is to make a symmetrical face; how much time it takes to design a pattern; how time consuming it is to find "just right" materials to best make their prototype; how much a perfectionist you are; that your background is as a OOAK artist and you have a learning curve in manufacturing; and so on.  The bottom line is not how nice you are, or how beautiful your artwork might be, but rather, cashflow.  And even if you explain this all upfront and the company appears sympathetic, don't count on sympathies and humanity when deadlines come into play!

In the end, it doesn't matter how good a person you, or they, are, or how hard you're trying for them, or how earnest and well intended your efforts.  What matters is, how soon can you get them product... and will your product profit their company.  ??  And that's ALL that matters.  In the end, if your designs are such that the company can't produce them at a price point that will net them a profit, no matter how hard you worked or how beautiful your product, it won't get made.  Period.  In this respect, you have almost zero control and oversight.

3.) Make absolutely CERTAIN you have the power to approve and disapprove factory prototypes. Even if everything else is lined up perfectly, if the factory produces work your name will be on that doesn't meet your expectations, YOUR name is sullied.  Protect your branding!!

4.) Be very clear about who gets what permissions.  In my case, I sold specific patterns/concepts to a manufacturer and created prototypes for those concepts.  That's ALL they bought, though.  They did NOT buy the use of my name, my company name, or any of my other concepts or designs, past or present.  SPELL THIS OUT in the contract.  Protect yourself and be smart.

5.) Make absolutely CERTAIN that a production calendar, or at least some very clear suggestion of what that calendar will look like, is included in your contract. That way, you won't be surprised -- or enslaved -- when the company asks you to create twenty prototypes in a two week period.  Which they may be able to legally do, if you're not careful to explain otherwise in your contract!  I had a contract which stated I'd make AS MANY AS "X" number of prototypes per month (a small number), and possibly less.  Find a number that's reasonable for you and stick to it, or you'll end up burying yourself in a workload you can't manage.

6.)  Find out who your ONE contact person is going to be and communicate ONLY with that person about issues and problems, even if others in the company keep sending you notes or calling to monitor progress and check in.  Ideally, your contact person will be in the design/production department... and not a marketing or strategy guy.  When the company sets you up with too many contact points, confusion ensues, because the one hand doesn't always know what the other hand is doing or saying.  A situation like this can quickly become confusing, then frustrating, then downright impossible to work with, especially if you're hearing conflicting stories from each party.

7.) Insist on percentage (not time) based royalties from every last item produced and sold which is based on your work, whether that item is a precise copy of your submitted designs, or a derivative item like a greeting card.

8.)  Remember that working for a company takes you away from your regular customer base and sales market(s)... and make sure you're compensated accordingly for your absence. Make sure what you're paid by the company -- for prototypes, in royalties -- exceeds, or at least matches, what you'll lose by stepping outside your usual sales circle(s.)  Otherwise, you're giving your time and talent away for cheap.  Value yourself!

9.)  Realize that if the company won't agree to these terms, you likely don't want to be working for them, because their ethic is likely unfair and might aim to take advantage of you.  These are FAIR terms.  Be objective and remember... charity begins at home.  Pay yourself first.

10.)  Expect the worst.  That way, if/when it lands in your lap, you won't be surprised, and can turn it to your advantage.

11.) Hope for the best!  In the best case scenario, you might not only increase your name brand recognition and customer base, but you might get richer to boot!  And unlike what the rest of us are sharing (how odd, and sad), you might have a heckuva good time, too.

And for the record, in case anyone is wondering... I'm the kind of gal who never says never.  Stilll, I feel pretty confident in saying that unless the business world somehow reinvents the manufacturing wheel, I'll NEVER work with a manufacturer again.

Good luck!

Love your stuff!  You're already on my blog; I added you a while ago.  And please do add me to yours if you're willing.  My own blog addy is:

www.potbellyarts.typepad.com

As for your question... I add people without asking them first all the time.  I NEVER talk disparagingly about other artists and if anything, just want to share my excitement about their work and send people their way for a peek!  I can't imagine anyone would ever have a problem with this philosophy, which is why I don't bother to ask.  I'm also not looking for kudos or thanks, so I don't notify after the fact either.  In several years of blogging, this has never been a problem, and I've received more than one "thank you" when people have seen hits to their blog coming from my site.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.  She looks like a PRECIOUS to me!

Well, how exciting is that?!?  Congratulations!

Hi Ginger!  My shop is empty at the moment but you can bookmark it at www.potbellyarts.etsy.com.

I'll be trying to mark all of you as Favorite Shops over the next few days.  I love Etsy!

What a darling set, and that elephant is absolutely to DIE for.  Seriously.  Love it!

VERY nice!!!  And twice the fun!

Ha!  And... ouch!  Been there, done that.  Not a pretty picture!!

Ooh, richly colored and beautiful!  What a great grouping!