I have mixed feelings about ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions, and Originals).
On one hand, I absolutely love them. Most of my ACEOs take me between 30 minutes and an hour to complete, which fits perfectly into my schedule. As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, I work full time at The Arc of Delaware County. I truly love what I do, but like many people, I’m always looking for ways to earn a little extra income with my artistic abilities. I am looking for ways to make money for our long list of home projects we’d like to tackle, including finishing our basement, replacing our roof, adding new insulation and siding, and updating the flashing around our windows. Every little bit helps.
That leads me to the question I’ve been asking myself lately: Are ACEOs really worth the time?
The answer is yes and no.
From a creative perspective, I think ACEOs are fantastic. They allow me to experiment with compositions without committing to a large canvas. They’re a great place to test color palettes, practice painting loosely, and explore ideas that can eventually become larger works. Instead of staring at a blank 16″ × 20″ canvas wondering where to begin, I can quickly paint a miniature version first and see if the idea works.
“Table Torch” above ACEO.
I’ve also discovered how much I enjoy collecting ACEOs from other artists. Recently I received a beautiful watercolor landscape by ArtbyLynzi, and I absolutely love it. I reached out to her with a million questions about creating ACEOs, shipping them safely, and navigating eBay. She was incredibly kind, generous with her knowledge, and encouraging. As a small thank you, I’m sending her a couple of my art prints. I think supporting fellow artists is one of the best parts of being in the art community.
Financially, though, ACEOs have made me stop and think.
I originally set a goal of painting four or five ACEOs every week. On paper, that sounded achievable. But when I only have about an hour each day to paint, and I’m starting my auctions at $5.99, I have to ask whether that’s the best use of my limited studio time. Even if one sells, there’s still the cost of supplies, fees, and shipping. More importantly, there’s the opportunity cost of not spending that same hour working on a larger painting.
I’ve realized that I don’t want to become an ACEO production line.
Instead, I want ACEOs to serve a purpose in my creative process.
Going forward, I think my plan is to paint ACEOs when I’m between larger pieces or when I want to experiment with a new idea. They’ll become my sketchbook in paint rather than my primary focus. That way, I can still enjoy everything I love about them without feeling pressured to produce a certain number every week.
Sometimes the best goals aren’t the ones we set at the beginning. They’re the ones we adjust after we’ve learned something.
For now, I’ll keep painting tiny works when inspiration strikes, keep learning from other artists, and keep working toward the larger body of work that’s been growing in my mind.
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