Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... You may notice things feel a little different around here. After a bit of experimenting (and a very decisive poll last month…thank you for that), Artful Insights is shifting to a shorter, weekly format. Same ideas, same inspiration…just delivered in smaller, more frequent doses. And starting now, you’ll find it waiting for you on Saturday mornings, per your unanimous request! I’m just back from a few days in Washington, DC, where I spent time wandering through more museums than I should possibly have covered in one trip. The National Museum of Women in the Arts, National Gallery of Art, the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum were highlights…I’ll share a few of my favorite pieces with you in a future note. One of those unexpected, small-world moments happened at the National Gallery…I quite literally ran into someone I went to high school with. Of all the places. I’m glad you’re here...

Not Just Baseball Cards Anymore

It’s baseball season, and somehow that familiar rhythm still pulls us in…crack of the bat, worn leather gloves, stacks of trading cards. For decades, those cards have been a staple of collecting culture, especially among young boys building binders of their favorite players. But here’s the twist…there’s an entirely different kind of card quietly thriving alongside them: ACEOs. “Art Cards, Editions and Originals", or ACEOs, are tiny works of original art, just 2.5 x 3.5 inches; they must be this exact size, which is also the same size as a baseball card. What started as a niche idea has grown into a surprisingly active global market, where artists and collectors trade, buy and curate these miniature pieces like prized possessions.

ACEOs trace back to the broader Artist Trading Card movement that began in the 1990s as a way for artists to exchange small works rather than sell them. Over time, the market expanded beyond trading into buying and collecting, particularly online. Today, thousands of ACEOs are listed and sold each month on platforms like eBay, spanning everything from miniature original acrylic and watercolor paintings to hand-pulled linoleum and gelli prints to mixed media and collage. Prices can range from just a few dollars to well over $100 depending on the artist, medium, subject and demand.

What makes ACEOs so compelling is the accessibility on both sides. For collectors, they offer an affordable entry point into original art. For artists, they provide a way to experiment, build a following and create a highly collectible series without the time or material investment of larger works. And while there’s no single “formula” for what sells best, trends tend to favor bold color palettes, highly detailed miniatures, familiar subjects like animals, portraits, fantasy themes and of course…anything that feels just a little bit nostalgic. In a way, ACEOs sit at the intersection of fine art and collecting culture, where the joy isn’t just in owning the piece, but in the hunt, the exchange and the story behind each tiny canvas.

It Started with Art Supplies

Because I never pass up a good excuse to buy more art supplies, I’ve recently started creating ACEOs. And if you know me at all, you know I love a good theme. So it probably comes as no surprise, this quickly turned into a series of different collections, each with its own theme (duh!).

What’s been especially fun is using ACEOs as a way to explore different mediums and tools. Some are painted in acrylic, some lean abstract, while others fall into the linocut printmaking and collage arenas. The scale invites experimentation in a way larger pieces sometimes don’t. It’s quick, it’s tactile and it allows for a bit of creative freedom without overthinking every detail (which I may or may not have a tendency to do). And yes, a handful have quietly found their way onto eBay, But real fun is getting inspired by my Instagram feed and then just playing around and seeing where it leads.

A Sense of Home, acrylic

Big John, linocut print

Bloom, acrylic

Explore the new Artful Traveler and learn more about my ACEO journey. You can follow along for free, join as an Atelier Insider, or join for full access to everything inside the Atelier.