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Thirty-One Days to Go
Thirty-One Days to Go
I began working on this Web Site, A Year in the Life of an ATC Artist, on December x, 2025.
On that day, I decided to use September as a starting point for the project. Although I began making and trading Artist Trading Cards early in 2020, there were two fairly long breaks over the years. In 2023 I began teaching acrylic painting classes at the Topeka Art Guild, and I also worked as their web master. I made a few ATCs, and I did several workshops in the old classroom, but I did not trade online much. Next I tried doing ATC workshops at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. It was difficult to commit to the workshops without a partner. So I decided to quit making ATCs altogether. I was volunteering at the Mulvane Art Lab weekly, and I thought that would be enough.
But I missed discussing art with grown-ups. So on September 1, 2025, I started trading online again. I made a LOT of cards in September. I completed the Inktober challenge for the first time in October, and continued doing other challenges through November. I made a LOT of cards in November.
Then, in December, I decided to write a book. An online, non-linear book which is almost complete.
I have enjoyed the journey. I hope, eventually, others will find A Year in the Life of an ATC Artist and enjoy the site.
The Plan for August
The Plan for August
As I write this on August 1, 2026, I must confess that I wanted to end with a real showcase my very best ATCs. I wanted to PROVE that I am a good artist.
I CAN draw fairly well.
When I take the time, I can paint well.
When I do needlework, I stitch original designs.
I just learned to carve rubber stamps or linoleum.
I'm not bad at painting with oil paints. (Today is actually cool enough in Kansas for painting outdoors. I only use oils outdoors. I do not like the smell.)
However... I do not think the goal of making ATCs is to prove that we are good artists. ATCs are for trading. ATCs are for encouraging other people to discover the joy of making art.
I don't like to say "No" to anyone who requests a trade from me. This is a hot topic in all of the Facebook groups. I am not saying that it is wrong for any artist to create their own boundaries for trading. But my boundary is somewhat fluid. So I seldom spend more than an hour on any single ATC. I can bear to trade away an hour of my time to anyone who requests my art.
So I will spend these last thirty-one days making ATCs just as I have made them for almost seven years. A little bit of this. A little bit of that. A lot of fun experimenting. A lot of fun. And a few trades along the way.
Three of these cards were displayed on the July page, but they belong together.
Cotton floss on wool felt.
Each has a pocket on the back, so that I can insert a card with the Title, Name, etc. into the pocket.
A lot of work, but very satisfying.
The new one, which "counts" for the August 1 entry, is the yellow flower. I don't really have clever names for needlework. So many of the designs are the same. These four motifs are simple and versatile and always work up well.
Pink Heart card TRADED
Framed Flower - PPB
Framed Flower - PPB
This was supposed to be a replacement for the Needlework Tree that was stitched on very heavy felt. But it took me well over an hour to stitch this, and the other two ATCs were also very thick... so I just decided to remove myself from the swap. Lesson learned.
Nine PM
Nine PM
For this final month of creating ATCs for A Year in the Life of an ATC Artist, I am going to try to make just one card each day.
On the third, I nearly did not make it. This version of the card is flawed, but I like it enough to make it again.... better.
How We Cope 5
How We Cope 5
I have traded one or two hybrid copies of these each month, starting in May. So I decided to color TWO today. One for trade, and the other for ME!
The First Black and RED Doodle Cat Card
The First Black and RED Doodle Cat Card
While cleaning out my studio (again) I found an unfinished HD Doodle Cat card. Finished it!
Deeper
Deeper
It's another acrylic paint circle, but different from my usual style. I made a mistake when trimming, so added a frame.
Verla
Verla
I've drawn a LOT of elephants, all based on a photo I took at the Henry Doorly Zoo. This one is alcohol marker on Yupo.
Clay Heads 1
Clay Heads 1
Inspired by the May 25 2026 Instagram post by wildrainbowco, this ATC was a bit of an experiment. When I went back to take a second look at my screenshot, I realized I put the figures much closer together. I also make them entirely the wrong shape!
Clay Heads 2
Clay Heads 2
Second ATC inspired by the May 25 2026 Instagram post by wildrainbowco! I started out trying to make a fairly precise copy of the original image... then I just started sketching more freely.
Four. Seven. Eight. IYKYK
Four. Seven. Eight. IYKYK
Today I learned a new technique, so I made an ATC to celebrate the success.
PKP
PKP
Just playing around with the paint left over from the Four.Seven.Eight.IYKYK card.
It started with dots, then the palette knife border. But the border overshadowed the dots so the person was revised. It gives me an idea for a similar piece....
Inspired by Vincent
Inspired by Vincent
Acrylic on canvas.
I didn't measure, so it ended up too small...
Double-framed!
Flinthills 1
Flinthills 1
Every time we drive to Manhattan, I try to get landscape photos worthy of painting. Composition is always going to be my weakest link....
Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society
I took a screenshot from the movie Dead Poets Society and drew this using alcohol marker on Yupo.
Chicken. Alcohol Marker.
Chicken. Alcohol Marker.
More alcohol marker on Yupo: this was inspired by a chicken colláge ATC made by La Vonda and posted on Facebook.
Creepy - 2608
Creepy - 2608
Final alcohol markerk on Yupo ATC for the day: based on an ATC made by Laura Stewart Judd and posted on Facebook. (Hers is MUCH better.... )
Enigma
Enigma
Sometimes the very simplest cards delight me. I found a card with black dots on it. I believe I was experimenting with printing a bit of needlepoint canvas. Adding a bit of black paint, months later, gave me this face!
TRADED
Stones and Stars
Stones and Stars
Acrlyic paint on my favorite Legion Stonehenge Black Watercolor Paper.
Very chunky.
TRADED
Sacred Cirle 260816
Sacred Cirle 260816
I spent the day cleaning up my studio (AGAIN) and listening to an audio book. I found another partially-completed circle and finished it up. These look (and feel!) SO much better "in person...."
Sacred Circle - White Variation
Sacred Circle - White Variation
The bit of canvas I decided to "finish" started out with black circles on a green/blue background. This is the first time I have tried doing a single-color layer on top. I like it.
Mud Circle
Mud Circle
Not at all my usual color combination.
I was using up some leftover paint.
I like it.
TRADED
Prismacolor Demo
Prismacolor Demo
I love the look of Prismacolor pencils on Legion's Stonehenge Black watercolor paper.
This was made a while ago as a demo. Today I trimmed it and added it to the page to fit in this spot so I could put the next image in a BIGGER ...webpage block?
TRADED
Pepperwood Sampler 1
Pepperwood Sampler 1
Oh! No! A Blind Trade?
This trade started out with the panic I always get with “blind” trades. My work is all over the place… how can I be sure my trade partner will like what they get? Then I came up with this fun idea, and
I am very pleased to present a “Pepperwood Sampler." I often paint acrylic “Sacred Circles” and Six Minute Six Step Scenes. Robots and “Doodle cats” frequently appear on my ATCs. Prismacolor pencil on Legion Stonehenge Black is a favorite combination, and I also do digital colláges. (Silly Symphony Skeletons were a Halloween series back in 2025.)
Designed 260820
I may make more of this series.
This is number 1
LuAnn Pepperwood, Topeka, KS, USA
TRADED... but can be re-made "on-demand"
F is for Flower - First
F is for Flower - First
I joined an ATART-a-thon this weekend. I just missed the last one, so I was happy to see that I would have one more chance to write about ATARTs before I finalize this web site.
TRADED
F is for Flower - Final
(for the day...)
F is for Flower - Final
(for the day...)
Also for the ATART-a-thon, both of these are even more special because the theme of the ATART-a-thon is "The Letter F," and this was drawn in a room full of FRIENDS.
TRADED
Flawed Felt Flamingo
Flawed Felt Flamingo
I stitched this ATC for the second day of "The Letter F" ATART-a-thon.
I should never start a needlework card at 9:50 in the evening. It was more frustrating than fun... but at least it is finished.
TRADED
Fast and Furious Five-minute Flamingos
Fast and Furious Five-minute Flamingos
Another card for the ATART-a-thon.
TRADED
Fish with Flowery Frills
Fish with Flowery Frills
Odd. But Fun.
Flower with Floating Frame
Flower with Floating Frame
This is a quick and fun felt card that I make often. It fits the "F" theme of the ATART-a-thon.
Five "F" Inchies
Five "F" Inchies
If in doubt... do an "Inchie" card....
Fractured Fairy Tales
Fractured Fairy Tales
I thought this would be a quick and easy card to make. It wasn't. I have a new-found respect for animation artists!
Another Sampler...
Another Sampler...
I made these inchies for a second "Pepperwood Sampler" earlier this month, but I didn't fasten them down until August 23rd. Here is Sampler 2.
A Few Words about the ATART-a-thon
A Few Words about the ATART-a-thon
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
I just mailed two envelopes from the weekend art event featured on the wonderful website ATCsForAll.com:
"F ATART-a-thon."
The first envelope had a single card, but it was a felt needlework piece that was thick enough to require mailing alone. I will be receiving a wonderful "Flea Circus" drawing from the artist WildHolly. The second envelope contained FOUR cards and is going all the way to Canada. I "met" an artist who is new to me, Amai, and I simply love her work.
I made eight cards for the event: two on Thursday, one on Friday, one on Saturday, and the final four on Sunday. The problem with "ATARTs" is that I get carried away with the theme and end up making cards that work for an ATART, but aren't really very trade-able otherwise. Oh well. The most important part of an ATART-a-thon is participating. There is also much joy in the conversations, the meeting of new artists, and challenge of creating ATCs that meet the theme of the event. It is time to stop worrying about trades and just enjoy the journey!
The ATART-a-thon cards brought my total number of cards for the month of August to 31 exactly.
HOWEVER: there are seven more days to the month (counting today, of course!) I shall try to finish the month (and the YEAR) strongly.
Sweet Dreams
Sweet Dreams
The "blanket" was woven on a pin loom, but not by me. I found the loom plus a little bag of woven patches at a thrift store years ago. I have added felt, wool yarn, and a bit of ribbon to make this old-fashioned piece.
Clay Stamp
Clay Stamp
An experiment.
The result:
The clay looses definition rather quickly, and each print will be a little bit different. But it is a fun technique and I may try again.
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