Quality of Workmanship

[Kim Newberg aka imagesbykim]

Quality of workmanship.

I gladly accept all artistic expression.

But!!!! And this is a very big BUT!!! I am instantly disappointed when an artist does not take the time to create finished quality art.

Whether you are swapping, trading, gifting or selling, quality of your finished art is a reflection of you and your own standards.

Flimsy card stock used to create an art card, is a big peeve for me.
I like good thick art cards, almost too thick to fit into a trading card sleeve. I personally don’t use those sleeves for my collection anyway.
My test has always been to hold an art card with my index finger and my thumb and if I can bend it easily then it has not met my personal standards.
Art cards were often created on the backs of playing cards, I didn’t like it right from the start and I would glue several pieces of chipboard to the playing card to give extra weight and stability. So then it got to the point that I just used heavy chipboard stock or matte board and covered with design papers and eliminated the playing card all together.

Glue and embellishments.
Using the right glue to glue your embellishments onto your projects is important. It’s ugly to see big globs of glue showing, as well when you receive an art card in the mail and have to re-glue someone’s parts and pieces back on is very sad.
You should be able to throw your art around like a football knowing nothing is going to fall off.

Finished edges, both on collage paper cuts and the art card itself. It’s acceptable to tear the edges for a worn and weathered look, but rough cut edges in the papers and rough edges along the outside frame of the card is not my standard. Clean edges, and/or ink staining make a very nice finish to your project.
Having said that, please do not confuse finished edges with embellishments and artistic expression. There is nothing wrong with your embellishments extending beyond the perimeters of the card. i.e. fibres, dangles, trim, lace etc. as part of the finished design. Nor is rough edging based on artistic expression an issue but that would be distinctly recognizable. whether its letters cut out roughly for the design of the card or an art card created on piece of rough edged barnboard. Those are distinct design edges.

Finishing the backside of your art cards.

Ohhh yes, another peeve for me.
I like finished backs that include artist name, title of the art and additional information as you the artist see fit.
If you can’t fit your artist info on the back of the card, at least include your business card or a secondary tag or card with your art.
I collect art world wide and I love to boast of foreign and far away places as much as I like to boast of the art I received from my nearest neighbors.
But I can’t do it if I don’t know who you are.

Mechanical parts and movement

Many artists rivet additional pieces onto their art or wire and dangle additional pieces, myself included.
Make sure that if it is supposed to move, it moves. If it dangles is it secure?
Jump rings and dangle add-ons should be secured well. Do a shake, rattle, and roll test before you mail your art away to someone. If it unfolds and unties will the recipient of your art be able to re-fold and retie the same way?

These are only some of the quality issues that are important to me but I don’t think they are extreme and I am sure many other collectors feel the same way.

Please feel free to add your comments and additional quality concerns to this topic.

[John Dyhouse]

I wholeheartedly agree. An artist should be able to freely express his or ( importantly in this media) her own ideas and personality/style but quality is something that is important for all art. You have identified many failings that arae important.

John

[Carolina Gonzalez]

You are so right!

I'd add one thing - ship your ATCs safely! I have received broken envelopes more than once. A bubble mailer is a very little expense for something you've put so much work on.

[Deluxx]

I don't always finish my edges, because it's sometimes part of the look of my work. I suppose some would see them as "sloppy" but like them that way. I do generally agree with your thinking though -- people need to take pride in their workmanship.

[Nancy Torsen]

I love it that you have these standards posted. I'm afraid I've felt very disappointed in the blind swaps I've done and I think it is because there were no rules. Thanks for setting a benchmark.
Nancy

[Nancy Torsen]

I have a pet peeve. See what you think of this one.
I sign (with a little monogram type thing) all my artwork in a lower corner. When I receive work from others, it's not enough for me that their 'info' appears on the back. I want signed artwork! My little signature is tiny. It's easy to come up with a small signature, even for an atc or moo. would love to know what others think.
Nancy

[John Dyhouse]

I sign all my "paintings and drawings" but I only tend to sign collage work on the reverse. I thought that this was the accepted norm. - john

Nancy Torsen said:

I have a pet peeve. See what you think of this one.
I sign (with a little monogram type thing) all my artwork in a lower corner. When I receive work from others, it's not enough for me that their 'info' appears on the back. I want signed artwork! My little signature is tiny. It's easy to come up with a small signature, even for an atc or moo. would love to know what others think.
Nancy

[Lydia Hildebrandt aka Kenning Stone]

hmmm...well, I've never considered signing the front of art cards.....I always sign the back. I will consider it.

[Kim Newberg aka imagesbykim]

Hi Nancy,
I do understand your peeve absolutely.

Like Lydia, I always sign the back of my art usually because there isn't much room on the front.

My signature is a huge scribble and just as much a part of my art items but just always on the back along with the year, and a serial number..

Then I include artist information with the art piece as well.

kim

[Kay Mace]

Thank you for this good information- My work is going to be much neater where it doesn't show now!