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Miniature Art
Miniature art has a long history dated back many centuries to the times of illuminated manuscripts. Over the years, the demand for and interest in miniature art grew and then peaked in the 1700's when Miniature artists were commissioned to paint small portraits of people. These portraits were generally painted in either oils or watercolours on vellum, and later ivory and sometimes paper. They could be framed and were small enough to be carried around in the pocket like a passport photo.
With the advancements in technology, the invention of the camera and the printing press, there was no longer a demand for miniature artists to paint small portraits and so there was a decline in interest in miniature art. In the late 1800's, however, the first Miniature Art Society was formed and since that time many Miniature art societies have formed throughout the world sparking a revival in the interest in miniature art.
Different Miniature Art Societies all have different specifications about the exact sizing and scaling of miniature art. All agree that the art must be of the highest quality, preferably very detailed and should hold up well under magnification. Many societies have a 1/6th rule which means that the artwork should be less than 1/6th of the size of the actual subject in real life.
Here in Australia, there are three miniature art societies - ASMA (NSW), ASMA (VIC) and ASMA (TAS). There was a fourth one in QLD, but sadly this one folded. The Australian Societies of Miniature Art specify that artwork should not exceed 100sq cm in size, which means no larger than 10cm x 10cm or any variations of this such as 8cm x 11cm. They do not require the 1/6th rule to be adhered to, but the artwork must abide to the spirit of miniaturisation.
Traditional Miniature art is painted in oil or watercolours on ivorine (a synthetic support with properties very similar to ivory), polymin, vellum or board. More contemporary miniature art can include a wide range of mediums and bases and also includes sculpture and 3D work
ACEO's
ACEO's (Artist Cards Editions and Originals) are an offshoot of ATC's (Artist Trading Cards), which originated in 1996, when artist M. Vanci Stirnemann started trading art the size of trading cards with other artists. These art trading cards were not designed to be sold to the public, only traded with other artists.
In around 2003 some artists began selling their art cards to the public and these then became known as ACEO's. The only rule for ACEO's is that they must be 2.5inches x 3.5inches (64mm x 89mm), but they can be in any medium you like and may even be 3D. At any given time, you can find thousands of these artcards available for sale on ebay and specialty on line stores. The price will vary depending on the artwork and the popularity of the artist. These ACEO's are an affordable way for the public to start an art collection and, depending on the demand for that artist's work, are possibly a viable investment. ACEO's are generally sold in trading card sleeves, but they can be framed, stored in albums, or boxes which have been specially designed for storing art cards.
Related Sites
Miniature Art Societies:
Artists:
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Other Sites:
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