In the News...

Two Wednesdays ago I had a Family Art Night for Artist Trading Cards at my elementary school where I teach art. The story made the front news of the paper the next morning!

Last Wednesday was my school's family art night  for Artist Trading Cards that I put together. I had written a DonorsChoose.org grant (my first one ever) and it was funded by the Prout Family and Robert Hanley, CEO of Home Video Studio.

This fun-filled art night lasted from 5:30-7:30 with a special presentation half-way though the night and a DVD slideshow IMOVIE that I put together of all the students artist trading cards. 22 Different families totaling over 70 people showed up for this event throughout the night. We even had a reporter present (who some how began calling these artist painting trading cards?!) that took photos that made the front page. 

It was so nice to hear from all of the parents and see the younger students making the ATCs (because I do not teach K-2 to make these yet). One family even brought a huge box full of playing cards, old book pages, puff paint, sharpies, and more to go above and beyond in making and trading their cards! 

This night was special because I had recently published a book featuring Etsy ACEO artists and my Elementary School Art students.

All proceeds of this book go back to purchasing books for students and ACEO education. 

Check it out in my shop or at the Official Book Blog!

Create. Collect. Trade. Has been Featured in ACEO Magazine's Newsletter!

ACEO Magazine has featured my artist and student ACEO book, Create. Collect. Trade. in their new edition of Cardaddix, a monthly ACEO newsletter that features interviews with worldwide artists, techniques, articles, and more!

For those of you not framiliar with Project ATC or the ACEO book that I am putting together that features 32  ACEO artists and elementary student artists here is some information...

I am an elementary school art teacher from Indiana who teaches the art of ACEO and ATC to student artists. About two months ago, I began searching for ACEO artists willing to donate ACEO cards to trade with my students. The purpose of this search was not only to introduce students to real artists from all over the world, but also to help students understand the large range in imagery, styles, and media used in ACEO art. After an overwhelming response from artists, this project, now being called “Project ATC,” began to evolve into something much bigger.

I wanted these artists to be able to share their love for ACEO art, while being able to inspire student artists and promote their art at the same time. To best do this, I came up with a book project where ACEO artists and student artists would be featured together to show how one can inspire the other, and to visually show the range of ACEO art. This book, Create. Collect. Trade. A Collection of Artist Trading Cards Created by Artists and Students, is now in its first edition (with a waiting list of artists to be in the second edition).

32 ACEO artists are featured alongside over 25 different student artists in the 2008 first edition, which is expected to go on sale mid-March.

There are a variety of ways that you can become involved in this wonderful project and help spread the news about ACEO art!

To Donate ACEO cards and trade with a student, please contact myself at:  Art2theextreme@yahoo.com

 To receive an e-mail when the book goes on sale OR to be put on the waiting list for the 2^nd edition of Create. Collect. Trade., send an e-mail with this as the subject line to: Art2theextreme@yahoo.com

 If interested in donating $5.00 or a gift of $23.00* (enough to purchase 1 free book for a student). Please visit: http://createcollecttrade.blogspot.com/

*Donors who purchase a whole book will have the chance to write a message to the student on a donor label to be included in the book. Name inclusion is optional.

For more information about “Project ATC” or Create. Collect. Trade., please visit  the Official Book Blog. http://createcollecttrade.blogspot.com/

I have been talking to the Editor, Kelly, who will also be featuring the book on the site for ACEO magazine in the near future. This is very exciting because the magazine has a large following and is sent worldwide to ACEO artists.

To visit their newly revised website or to get your own copy of the newsletter, please visit their site at:

http://aceomagazine.com/

ETSY ARTIST FEATURE #3: HeavensEarth

During my quest to find ACEO and ATC artists to feature in a promotional and educational book I am putting together called, "Create. Collect. Trade. A Collection of Artist Trading Cards by Artists and Students," I ran across a post in the book thread by heavensearth. I began looking though her shop and found the most colorful and beautiful art I have seen in a long time!

In her shop, Heavens Earth, the artist uses a greens, pinks, and reds to create stunning works canvas paintings and ACEO cards. She even has works organized by series such as her Tree Series and Flower Series.

My eyes were immediately drawn to "Green Eggs" on a canvas. I would really love to see this on an ACEO, which she has created before, but sold out of!

Another favorite of mine is pictured above called, "Picking Flowers." This ACEO reminds me of the students I teach art for at two elementary schools (the same students for the start of PROJECT ATC) the colors are AMAZING. 

Please take some time to comment about her work or visit her shop! Prices are very affordable and images are too unique in beauty not to buy!

LINK TO Heavens Earth