There aren't too many people that can say that artwork isn't an aesthetically pleasing addition to a new home or apartment. Some like it more than others, but its difficult to deny its importance in making a home feel like home. Art is both creative and expressive. By just seeing it, our minds immediately seek to understand it, to interpet it, and maybe even find a bit of wisdom to kickstart a thought or feeling. For instance, I when I look at the painting of the woods in my living room, I see the sunlight coming through the trees and the shadows on the ground. I think to myself, "Thats beautiful, and I had so much fun camping, I should get the hell out of the city and go enjoy that like I use to do" This is a simplistic example because its different for everybody, but general concensus I assume is that artwork is highly appreciated and sought after.

I’m sure each of us could name at least one cool artist we know of right in our own community. These artists don't need to be famous, and they certainly don't need to have a fancy career as one. Anyone can give into creative impulse to paint, sketch, mold or bring something beautiful into the world. Many more should recognize their ability to share a bit of themselves in this way and must look past the reality that doing so might not always be financially lucrative. Art exists for other reasons than this. I had a landlady that was an artist and an antiques dealer. I have a friend thats a rather cool artist and a business professional. Being an artist isn't really a job but a part of who we are as people. It allows us to share who we are, how we perceive and understand the world around us.

Museums are filled with paintings whos creators were never recognized for their work until after they died. Recognition isn’t what art is about. Its about the creation of something that can inspire others and allow the soul to shine forth for people to see. Its about proving to ourselves what we can accomplish and taking pride in that ability.

I have stumbled upon a kind of art to adorn my home that I love for its simplicity, its ability to be shared, and strangely enough the message it sends. This kind of art is called ACEO or Artist Cards. ACEOs are relatively new and were only invented recently but as art cards they were traded privately among artists to promote their work and weren’t for resale. As far as I know they were not available to the public in any fashion.

As you can probably see right now, this practice of not sharing art was ridiculous. Art is to be admired, promoted, loved, and put out in plain view to inspire. Finally, one rather cool artist decided to rebel and threw hers up on ebay to share for everyone to enjoy and to show everyone what she could do. Why not? She made it, it was hers share how she wanted. This practice allows up and coming artists to promote themselves, people with a passion to express and share, makes expensive art expenditures less necessary and can bring life to an otherwise boring house.

As great as all this sounds, I have purposely saved the best part for last. Ready? Its not just for artists to participate in, anyone can do it. What I mean is, that there is a growing art community on ebay that is constantly making these artist cards and putting them up for the public eye. Participation by anyone is encouraged and the only rule is that the cards must be 2.5 to 3.5 inches in size. They can be made out of anything you want, wood, clay, metal, paper, canvas, glass, sketches, paints, whatever. Where else could you use those art class skills you've been dying to use to good use? Why not rub elbows with some of the future greats, maybe even get a bit of notoriety yourself? There are plenty of people I personally know that are phenomenal artists and they hide their best work away, afraid to share for fear that it is no good!! I'd pay them for it if they'd give it up. The point is that this type of community brings people together to share and inspire. It creates a melting pot of talent and an opportunity to participate in something great. I used to be able to draw fairly well and haven't had occasion due to various cubicle (cells) I've been locked in over the years. Maybe its time to have some fun and participate in a growing movement. Hey, if your going to use your talent for your own recreation, why not take it a step further right?