My Personal Introduction to ACEO's
I was browsing around in the art categories on Ebay and kept seeing reference to ACEO. I had to find out what it was. It is actually an art format, sized the same as the ubiquitous Trading Cards so beloved by kids of all ages. that is 2.5 X 3.5 inches. It could be in any media at all and had been started on Ebay around 1996. Anyway, I had always prepared for my painting by doing several small sketches to get right the composition / colour / etc and found that this size format was a natural for me. I tentatively put the first listing of an ACEO painting on Ebay and WOW it sold!!! Fantastic!!! I had soon sold around 50 of these little miniatures and felt great.
That first aceo painting was a scene from Portmeirion in Wales where the exterior scenes for the TV programme The Prisoner was filmed. Remember Patrick McGoohan, Prisoner Number 6. This was the rear of his circular house in the village. (see picture above).
You can see more of my art on my web-site which also contains a personal blog about my work, the trials and tribulations of an artist selling on-line and the life of an artist in general.
I hope to give an account of the history and potential of these wonderful little works of art, they are a great way for anybody to start their very own art collection. They are fun, affordable and a real insight into the work of any artist that you like. Further to this I will talk about the making, collecting and selling of ACEO's.
My own personal collection of works by other artists is about 100, but I hope this will grow substantially in the near future. Why not try it out?
please note the copyright of all images is the property of the original artist
MY ACEO series of lenses
this is the first in a series of four (only three available at present)
I am also now contemplating a fifth lens on the history of ACEO's and ATC's - I am researching the subject and looking for articles, etc, which I hope will make an interesting read - watch this space!
- 3. collecting ACEO miniatures
- This lens gives a brief rundown of how to collect and display ACEO cards and also a few notes on what and why you should collect.
- 2. Making ACEO's
- This lens attempts to detail the many and varied techniques used in making ACEO's. The bulk of the material, is simply links to examples and demos to be found elsewhere on the web. Bringing the knowledge to one easy starting place.
- ....additionally, making collaged atc's
- The only difference between atc's and aceo's is that the former are traded rather than sold. Either can be creataed by following these simple rules. This lens is aimed at beginners but any artist may be able to benefit. Why not take a peek?
What is an ACEO?
The ACEO format

Collectors often come up with their own devices or simply use a favourite box ( of the right size of course) and I have even heard of them being used as dolls' house art.
It is a format that started back in 1996, and soon grew into a very popular collectible area. A search on Ebay.com for ACEO can bring up 3-4000 items (rather less in the UK as you might imagine being a much smaller market, but we are getting there) with aceo's available in so many different media it soon becomes confusing. Watercolor, oil, acrylic, pencil, collage, photographic images, computer generated images..... the list goes on.
ACEO's are a really inexpensive and fun way of starting your own original art collection.
My ACEO's on You Tube
A Portfolio of ACEO paintings by myself on YouTube
More ACEO's on You Tube
A further selection of some of my ACEO waterclours
My art work on Ebay
ACEO's and other paintings
(Not listing on ebay at present)
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byReader Feedback
I look forward to hearing any feedback!
An artist always craves attention, we prefer to be told how great or original we are BUT I am a realist, let me know what you think and if you don't like it ... well I will just use the input to improve on my next piece - thanks
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Reply
- Geekness_FortWorth Geekness_FortWorth Oct 26, 2009 @ 5:12 pm
- One really important thing about ACEOs, for those of us with many collections to house, is the size. I always liked smaller art anyway, so these fit right in with my taste and crowded living conditions. Keep on keeping on.
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- artyfax artyfax Jun 12, 2009 @ 5:29 pm | in reply to MeMeBev
- Thanks Bev, seen your site, early days (?) but you have made a good start
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- MeMeBev MeMeBev Jun 12, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
- Hi John...I am working on a little site of ACEO's have added your site link to my links page. :O) gave you a five. http://memebevs.googlepages.com/aceoart
Bev
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- imagesbykim imagesbykim Nov 5, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
- Hi John,
Please come and join my group art and craft tutorials and add this lense to it!
http://www.squidoo.com/groups/artcrafttutorials
kim
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Apr 11, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
- Hi John,
I like your lens, your youtube instruction video's are wonderful! Great Work!
5 stars and a lensroll to you, from a fellow ACEO artist! :-)
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- The_Lone_Beader The_Lone_Beader Feb 18, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
- Great lens! I have made a few beaded ACEO's.
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- nekoneko nekoneko Oct 10, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
- wow.. next time i'll promote you painting in my lens :D .. http://www.squidoo.com/aceo-on-ebay
- Load More
Some of my favourite artists' sites on Ebay
I have at least one work by most of these guys in my own collection of ACEO's
- Artyfax on Ebay
- Hope you don't mind me putting my own Ebay shop on here.
- ARENA-CREATIONS
- Immortalising Dreams, Moments and Memories........... Artist, Gaynor Lewis shows her endless inspiration and expression through her artwork. Bringing extra to your life through art - Original artwork, prints, greeting cards, gift tags and commissions.
- Aartless ACEO Gallery
- ACEO Originals, Limited Edition ACEO Prints, Postcard and other Small Format Art by JAN VALLANCE. Direct from the artist. Cats, Portraits, Landscapes, all in Jan's instantly recognisable and individual style.
- Naj - My Depictions
- Internationally selling UK based artist. Sells promotional samples of small format art, undertakes commissions for art work such as portraits, pet portraits and other custom art commissions, including canal art.
- Round the Cauldron
- I was raised in California but I now call Scotland my home. My two biggest inspirations are my children and my love of nature. I have been an artist for as long as I've been able to hold a pencil, working mainly in Graphite and Watercolour.
- Mareens Art Gallery
- *Contemporary Art* This Gallery is all about the art created by Mareen Haschke. Purchase ACEOs (Art Trading Cards), Fine Art Prints, and Originals such as pastel drawings and acrylic paintings directly from the artist.
ACEO Links On The Web
just a small selection to wet your apetite...
- A painting a day
- From Shanti's world of watercolour, A painting a day seems like a wonderful target. A great way of building up a real expertise. Why don't I do it?
- all you need to know
- Probably the first and last link about ACEO's you should need.
- Entry in Wiki
- A highly debated offshoot of artist trading cards are the "art card, editions and originals" (ACEO). ACEOs originated when some artists began to create cards to sell on eBay, in addition to trading among themselves. The selling of these cards is a sore point with some ATC purists; however the practice is not unprecedented: trading cards in other areas such as sports have also been traded and sold.
- Art in your pocket
- Basics of ATC's ( Art Trading Cards)which are the equivalent of ACEO's but are traded rather than sold. And importantly, many different ways of making them. Materials and techniques.
More ACEO Artists on the web
another list of links to fantastic artists
- Affordable art - Ken Gillam
- Ken Gillam is a Marine and Landscape Artist based in the South of England working in Watercolour and Acrylic. This site features some of his Miniature Paintings.
- Original ACEO art for sale
- About the artist, Jim Read
As a scholar I was taken to The British Museum and there saw my first nude, a sculpture.
I was entranced by the perfection of the form and the ever changing lines as I moved around it. I never lost the sense of awe I felt then and it is only now in later life that I feel able to commit my fascination to paper.
ACEO's from the ACEO UK, Ebay group
a small selection from some fine artists
ACEO UK - Ebay Artist Showreel - May 2007
Collection of works from the Ebay.co.uk artist's group: ACEO UK. Artist's include: ArenA Creations John Dyhouse Jan Vallance Leah Rutherford Naj Angie Hogan Mareen Haschke Search 'ACEO' on Ebay.co.uk for more Original Miniature Art by amazing artists!
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curated content from YouTube
Related Books on Amazon for making ACEO's
Any art or craft skills can be utilised for ACEO's
Blog Posts from Google
Artists are creative people and like to keep up with new ideas.
History of ACEO's
What and Why
Artists first began using these cards centuries ago in Europe. Some wealthy patrons would pay artists to paint miniature pocket-sized paintings that they could carry on their person. It was not uncommon for men to carry these miniatures of their mistresses. Artists also would trade these miniature paintings with other artists to share their techniques and also as barter for goods that they might need from various merchants who could not afford to buy their larger paintings.
In 1999, some fellow introduced this art form on the internet and it became a movement known as ATC or Artist Trading Cards. Artists from all over the world began swapping artwork. ATCs also became very popular in art books and magazines, and contests and meets were set up around the globe. ATCs were also quite popular on eBay.
In 2004, an eBay artist known as Bone Diva (Lisa Luree) decided that she wanted to sell her ATCs, but since ATCs were designed for trading this idea was not well-received by earlier ATC artists. Bone Diva began a separate group of artists and they came up with the ACEO moniker. Today you can find over 3,000 artists on eBay registered in the various groups dealing with ACEOs.
These miniatures do not require large amounts of wall space as they can be kept in trading card albums. Thus, they do not have to match your couch. They can be matted and framed, however, and hung on the walls. You will find abstracts, realism, impressionism, surrealism, collages, fabric cards, oils, watercolors, pastels, acrylics....all the same ingredients that you will find in larger works.
The popularity of the ACEO/ATC movement today is continuing to grow rapidly. This art is generally more affordable than larger formats, although some ACEOs have sold for $400 & $500.
Collecting ACEO's
and trading ATC's
ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". These cards are a spin off of ATC which stands for 'Artist Trading Cards'. Both ACEO and ATC have the same size requirements. Each are 2 and one half by 3 and one half inches (64 x 89 mm).
ATC: Artist Trading Cards
ATC is a new art form which began formally in September of 1996. Swiss artist M. Vanci Stirnemann is credited with the creation of the ATC art form concept. This art is not limited by medium, you can use pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil, collage, scratch board, mixed combination, pretty much anything a creative mind can think up! These can also be produced as original, limited editions, or as a series.
The ideal behind ATCs was to exchange art without involving either the art world or money. Artists trade their cards via email as well as face-to-face trading sessions. These cards are to be traded, never bought or sold.
ACEO: Art Cards, Editions and Originals
ACEOs were founded when some artists began to create cards specifically to sell on eBay as well as to trade among themselves. ACEO having been founded on eBay continues to supplement many of eBay artists by drawing new buyers to their work.
ACEO share the same size requirements as ATC as well as the same "anything goes" attitude when it comes to creativity and mediums. ACEO differs from ATC in that they are produced especially to sell and attract new people to the artists work. This selling of the cards in ACEO is a bit of a sore spot for ATC purists.
work in progress
my apologies
The last two paragraphs have been lifted from work on the web. I have not included references as yet due to time constraints. I will replace this text with my own original work asap... please bear with me and my apologies to the writers








