This is the very first ATC I ever made.

I had been painting tutorials by Cinnamon Cooney (AKA "The Art Sherpa") for almost a year, and she had a special Facebook group for Artist Trading Cards. There was a monthly theme. In February 2020, the theme was Turning Over a New Leaf.

I didn't like my first attempt. So I tried another design, totally different from this one.

I kept one for myself, then mailed one to the Art Sherpa Swap.

Covid hit. Although I continued sending cards, foolishly, for four more months, I never received any ATCs in return.

I later painted more cards in this design for the A3ATC Swap Group, which was an international swap group that ran for about two years. There were over two hundred active members during the months that I participated in the swaps.

"Love Trees" were my first popular card on Facebook.

I made and traded quite a few of these mixed-media ATCs.

At this point, I learned something very important about ATC trading: you need a good system for keeping track of cards! I usually made the "Love Tree" cards in sets of four and posted a single image showing all four cards. Things quickly became confusing!

If you are just getting started with ATC trading, be sure to set up a good record-keeping system!

I have a blog post about that on my other website: https://pepperwoodatcs.wordpress.com/2024/04/18/record-keeping/

I soon discovered a website called "ATCs For All."

I learned about SWAPS!

My first swap was hosted by "Pancake Machine." His swaps often feature literary themes.  

This swap is based off a line from an unusual, anonymous, medieval poem.

I Saw a Peacock, with a fiery tail,
I saw a Blazing Comet, drop down hail,

I saw a Cloud, with Ivy circled round,
I saw a sturdy Oak, creep on the ground,

I saw a Pismire, swallow up a Whale,
I saw a raging Sea, brim full of Ale,

I saw a Venice Glass, Sixteen foot deep,
I saw a well, full of mens tears that weep,

I saw their eyes, all in a flame of fire,
I saw a House, as big as the Moon and higher,

I saw the Sun, even in the midst of night,
I saw the man, that saw this wondrous sight.

While it is not the most beautifully-drawn card, I thought my rendition of an ant devouring a whale goldfish cracker was a clever concept. I often trade for cards that are clever and original, and I try to be clever and original whenever I can!

I joined a LOT of swaps on ATCs For All.

One of my favorite ATCs ever was made for the  Inspired by Modern Artists swap, hosted by sarat.

Matisse's The Dance  became a tiny 3.5" by 2.5" piece and I still chuckle when I think of it.

A similar swap, Inspired by Your Favorite Artists, prompted me to make the first of MANY  artist trading cards inspired by Monet's water lilies.

This one is acrylic paint on watercolor paper.

On xxxx, 2020, I made my hundredth ATC.

It is a bit ironic that this card was not traded or swapped. It was made as an APOLOGY card.

I got so excited with the concept of entering ATC swaps that I joined too many, got the host names mixed up, and mailed my cards to the wrong person.

Sarat kindly forwarded my cards to the correct host, and, since she likes Art Deco, I painted this window from a famous building here in Topeka Kansas!

I usually try to make each of the HUNDRED cards special.

#455 is one of my all-time favorites. I have shown it as an example of BAD PLANNING many times.

I love to work with Legion Paper mini pads, but the pads are 3.75"  x 2.5".

Usually that extra quarter inch can be trimmed off without problems.

Usually I trim before drawing.

But in this case, it was a happy accident.

Many ATC artists have chucked at this card!

I've draw this close-up of a cat's face several times since September 2020.