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Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... Turns out May has five Saturdays. I plan four weeks worth of newsletter content. What to do?! What to do?! I decided to put all four weeks of content into one newsletter and distribute it - kind of a bonus in case you missed a week (not really a bonus, I get it...). But WOW!! This is A LOT of content!! This newsletter is HUGE! Perhaps I should think of it as the perfect amount as you enjoy your morning coffee. Might I suggest venturing outdoors with your coffee and your phone, so you can read this while the birds are chirping and before it gets too hot? Whatever plans you have for our last weekend in May, I hope you enjoy yourself! I’m glad you’re here...

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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.

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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!).

Lately, that’s taken the form of a new state series I’ve been working on, inspired by the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States (I am missing all the birthday hoopla I remember from the bicentennial in 1976!). I've carved all 50 states (see photo at right for the remnants) and am about to start carving something synonymous from each state. I plan to carve and print these in the order they became states! Think of it as a journey across the US, one tiny card at a time.

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

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The Pull of Printmaking

Lately, printmaking has become my newest creative obsession. And interestingly, “printmaking” is quite different from “printing.” Printing refers to reproducing an existing image…think posters, books or giclée reproductions. Printmaking, on the other hand, is considered an original art form. In printmaking, the artist creates a matrix (a surface they manipulate and ink to create a pulled print); the matrix can be a carved block, etched plate, gel surface, stencil or screen…and each pull becomes part of the creative process itself. Even when multiple pulls are made, each one often carries slight variations, textures and surprises (good and bad!) that make it unique.

Countless forms of printmaking exist, ranging from traditional techniques like linocut, woodcut and etching to more contemporary approaches like gelli printing and monoprinting. Some methods involve careful carving and planning, while others lean heavily into experimentation, layering, texture and happy accidents. I’ve been primarily experimenting with linocut, gelli and monoprinting, combined with layering and texture (think collage). I love the preciseness required with linocut and the looseness and experimentation of collage, gelli, and monoprinting. It feels part art, part process and part science experiment.

Carving the John Hancock building in Chicago

Carving the windows

Removing the background

Final carving

First pull

Final piece

Another example - Lilies

Final print, with two colors

Mixed media example using multiple layers of gelli prints and collage

Additionally, I was in Washington, D.C. last month and visited the National Gallery of Art. One of the things that made the current Mary Cassatt exhibit (see the Don't Miss Exhibitions section below) so fascinating (beside seeing the originals of two pieces I had hanging in my home for many years), was seeing her remarkable printmaking work up close. While many people know Cassatt primarily as a painter and Impressionist, her color prints were groundbreaking for their time, heavily influenced by Japanese woodblock printing. The layering, patterns and softness of color felt surprisingly modern…and honestly, seeing them in person may have set fire to my current fascination with the medium.

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Don't Miss Art Exhibitions in May

Smithsonian Carousel National Mall, Washington DC One of the more joyful returns to the National Mall this year is the reopening of the historic Smithsonian carousel after an extensive restoration. Originally built in 1947, the carousel has a fascinating history that stretches from a segregated amusement park near Baltimore to its longtime home on the Mall, where it now stands as both a beloved attraction and a quiet symbol of civil rights history. After nearly three years away, its freshly restored horses are spinning once again…just in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Ongoing

A Nation of Artists Philadelphia Museum of Art As part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is partnering with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for a sweeping exhibition called A Nation of Artists. Spanning more than 1,000 works across three centuries of American creativity, the show brings together iconic artists like Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins, Horace Pippin and Mark Rothko, alongside historically underrepresented voices. Timed to coincide with the nation’s semiquincentennial, it promises to be one of the largest and most ambitious American art exhibitions ever mounted in Philadelphia. Through July 5, 2027.

Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris National Gallery of Art, Washington DC Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris celebrates the life and work of Mary Cassatt with a special exhibition marking 100 years since the artist’s death. Bringing together paintings, drawings and rarely displayed prints, the show highlights Cassatt’s distinctive perspective as an American artist working within the French Impressionist movement. It’s an intimate look at an artist whose quiet scenes of everyday life still feel remarkably modern today. Through August 30, 2026.

Making Their Mark National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC The National Museum of Women in the Arts (make an effort to visit this museum!) is currently hosting Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection, a sweeping exhibition highlighting the powerful role women artists have played in shaping modern abstraction. Featuring nearly 80 works by artists including Faith Ringgold, Joan Mitchell, Kara Walker and Julie Mehretu, the show spans generations, mediums and perspectives while exploring themes of identity, power and representation. Through July 26, 2026.

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Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier Artful Rating: 4 Brushstrokes​ 🎨🎨🎨🎨

I finally picked up Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier - a book that had been sitting on my “want to read” list for years. It completely pulled me in from the very first page. It’s a quick read, but one that lingers. Although the story is fictional, centered on a young girl who becomes a maid in the household of the famous painter Johannes Vermeer, it’s grounded in the known facts of the time. Chevalier brings 17th-century Delft to life so vividly that you can practically walk the canals and catch the sharp, unmistakable sights and smells of the meat market along the way.

What I found especially fascinating was the glimpse into the (presumed) artistic process…those small, tactile details that make it all feel real. I knew, in theory, about the use of animal intestines for storing paint, but I didn’t realize that practice was reserved for the most expensive pigments, carefully sealed with a nail to preserve every bit. It’s those kinds of details that elevate the story, along with the way light, color and composition are described with a artist’s sensitivity.

Chevalier builds her narrative around Girl with a Pearl Earring, one of Vermeer’s most iconic works. Vermeer himself remains something of a mystery; he lived in the 1600s and left behind only about 35 known paintings, many depicting quiet, intimate interior scenes. The girl in this particular painting is unknown, and the work is considered a “tronie”, more a study of expression than a formal portrait. That ambiguity gives the novel its space to imagine the background and story. It’s a beautiful blend of fact and fiction, and if you have even a passing interest in art, history or the creative process, it’s well worth the read.

P.S. You’ll notice something new in this section going forward: a simple rating system to go along with each book. I’m calling it Brushstrokes. Think of it as a quick, visual way to capture how strongly I’d recommend something. Each rating will be paired with a set of palette marks 🎨…because, well, we don't use stars around here.

🎨🎨🎨🎨🎨 5 Brushstrokes → Worth the journey

🎨🎨🎨🎨4 Brushstrokes → Highly recommend

🎨🎨🎨3 Brushstrokes → A good stop along the way

🎨🎨2 Brushstrokes → A quick sketch

🎨1 Brushstroke → Pass this time

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May's Best Destinations

San Diego, California Easy Coastal Living May is a near-perfect time to visit San Diego. The weather is comfortably warm without the peak summer heat, and while the coastal “May Gray” mornings can roll in, they often give way to bright, sunny afternoons. It’s an easy time to enjoy the coastline, wander through Balboa Park or explore neighborhoods like La Jolla without the heavier summer crowds. There’s a relaxed, open-air rhythm to the city in May…perfect for taking it all in at your own pace.

Cusco, Peru Clear Mountain Skies May is an ideal time to visit Cusco, right at the start of the dry season in the Peruvian Andes. The skies are typically clear, the air is crisp and the surrounding mountains take on a striking, sunlit beauty that feels almost otherworldly. It’s one of the best times for exploring nearby sites like Machu Picchu, before the heavier crowds of peak summer arrive. Its blend of Incan history and Spanish colonial architecture feels especially vivid under those bright May skies.

Paris, France Soft Golden Light May is one of the most beautiful times to experience Paris. The city feels fully awake; gardens and tree-lined boulevards are in bloom, café terraces spill out onto the sidewalks and the light has that soft, golden quality artists have chased for centuries. The weather is comfortably mild, making it ideal for wandering without a plan, whether along the Seine River or through neighborhoods like Montmartre.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Historic Spring Revival May is one of the best times to visit Philadelphia. The city comes alive with spring color; parks and historic squares are in bloom, and the weather is mild enough to spend hours walking without a plan. It’s an ideal time to explore landmarks like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, then wander into vibrant neighborhoods filled with cafés, galleries and street art.

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Highlights from a visit to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

The National Gallery of Art (NGA), is one of those museums where you could spend days and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface. Spanning everything from Renaissance masters to Impressionism to modern works, the collection is both enormous and surprisingly approachable. During my recent visit to Washington, D.C., I primarily spent my time perusing American Art, Impressionism and Modern Art. Here are a few of my faves with a brief explanation as to why I enjoy them.

The first two pieces I'll share brought me back to grade school. In my 5th and 6th grade art classes, our teacher, Mr. Curt Stewart, also taught us about art history. We each even had a binder for famous artists and artworks. Two works we studied back then were Winslow Homer's Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) and Andrew Wyeth's Wind from the Sea. It's interesting to me how art, like music, can bring you right back to a time and place, far far away. I can still smell Mr. Stewart's art room.

Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) by Winslow Homer, 1873-1876.

I love the boys on the boat. The far right boy is steering. Homer painted this after the Civil War; all is well.

Wind from the Sea by Andrew Wyeth, 1947. The sheerness and the texture of the lace curtains are just amazing.

Next up are two of Mary Cassatt's paintings: Child in a Straw Hat and Children Playing on a Beach. During a work trip to DC in the '80s, I visited the NGA and purchased mounted prints of these two pieces. They have hung somewhere in my home(s) ever since; I also have a lamp with a straw hat shade that is always nearby. It was great to see these in person again.

Child in a Straw Hat, c. 1886.

Children Playing on a Beach, 1884.

The next two I'll share are water centric landscapes, but are vastly different, yet equally intriguing. The first is by one of my favorite artists, John Singer Sargent, Setting Out to Fish. The other is by Paul Cezanne and entitled At the Water's Edge. The manner in which they both depict water and reflections is so interesting - and each beg the viewer to get up close and personal to best see how the brushstrokes are laid down to create the reflections.

Setting Out to Fish, 1878, depicts peasant life in a natural/realistic manner. Sargent uses light extensively in the clouds, water and skin to create energy and move your eye around.

Close up of the expertly painted tidepools - the seafoam and reflections are amazing. Also amazing are the light and dark areas on the legs.

Close up of the far left; very few brushstrokes and very few details are provided, yet everything is still clear for the viewer.

At the Water's Edge, c. 1890, is an abstract, geometric water-centric landscape.

Cezanne primarily uses geometric shapes with a limited palette to create his work.

Close up of the structures and reflections created with very clear, almost abrupt, brushwork.

Now we'll take a look at some portraits: another piece by Paul Cezanne entitled Antony Valabregue and Auguste Renior's Mademoiselle Sicot.

Cezanne painted this portrait of Antony Valabregue (1866) early in his career using primarily a palette knife (vs brush).

I was particularly drawn to the hands. Up close, they are a conglomeration of colors and strokes, barely depicting a hand. But from afar, it holds quite a different look.

The left hand is particularly bereft of form - almost club-like, but also works well in this somewhat crude portrait.

Renoir's Mademoiselle Sicot (1865) uses vibrant colors (royal purple against an emerald green background) to attract and move the viewer's eyes.

This painting is a little quirky to me, but the luminosity achieved in the sheer (?) purple overlay of the dress is enticing - particularly against the textured black lace.

The most interesting component of this piece to me is the ring. Is this an engagement ring? Was this portrait done as some sort of engagement or wedding present? I couldn't find an answer, but that's what my brain wants to think, so I'm going with it!

In last week's edition of Artful Insights, I reviewed Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, which is a historical fiction book about artist Johannes Vermeer's creation of his famous painting of the same name. I will end this segment by sharing two of Vermeer's paintings from the NGA: Woman Holding a Balance and A Lady Writing. Note that only 35 paintings (in the world!) can be attributed to Vermeer!

Woman Holding a Balance (1664) depicts a clearly pregnant woman examining weights and jewelry, standing in front of a very large religious painting on the wall. Is someone judging? Is someone being judged? Also look at the light and reflections coming from the window and dancing on the wall. Just magnificent.

In A Lady Writing (1665), it seems like Vermeer painted her in the exact same location as the previous painting (he frequently posed his sitters in this position, near the window). He also frequently used the same jewelry as props in his paintings (note the pearls). The light and luminosity he creates are stunning!

OK, that was almost the end. I will also share that I love a good museum gift shop. I love perusing the books and gifts and what-nots. And the NGA has several particularly enticing gift shops! I ended up buying two books: Art Unpacked and Sargent & Spain. I haven't really dove (dove? dived?) into them yet, but will soon. I mentioned that Sargent is one of my favorite artists and Spain is one of my favorite places. Stay tuned for a deeper dive into that...

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The Art of Noticing

As the weather starts warming up, you may begin noticing them everywhere. The person sketching quietly on a park bench. The painter set up near the water with a travel easel. The small cluster gathered on folding stools outside a café, looking back and forth between the street in front of them and the pages in their sketchbooks. They may all be creating art outdoors, but they may not all be doing the same thing.

At first glance, urban sketching and plein air painting can seem like close cousins. Both involve creating art on location rather than from a photograph back in the studio. Both ask artists to slow down and really see what’s in front of them. But the experience, and often the intention, behind each one is surprisingly different.

Plein air painting, popularized by the Impressionists, is often about chasing light and atmosphere outdoors. The landscape itself becomes the subject and artists work quickly as shadows shift and colors change by the minute. Urban sketching feels a little more like visual storytelling. Sketchers capture the rhythm of a place…crowded sidewalks, café tables, train stations, architecture or the person reading alone near the window. The goal is often less about perfection and more about feeling and presence.

What I love about urban sketching is how approachable it feels. A sketchbook and a pen are enough to begin. There’s less pressure to create a “finished masterpiece” and more permission to simply notice things. In many ways, it feels like the perfect intersection of art and travel…part observation, part memory, part visual journal.

One of the other things I’ve discovered is that urban sketching is far more than a solo hobby, it’s a remarkably welcoming global community. Organizations like Urban Sketchers have local chapters popping up all over the world, bringing people together to sketch their cities, neighborhoods, parks, cafés and everyday moments. I belong to the Urban Sketchers West Michigan group and they organize constantly…typically multiple free sketching events every single week.

If you’re even the slightest bit curious, I’d genuinely encourage you to see whether there’s an urban sketching group near you. You may be surprised by both the creativity and the community you find!

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