I will discuss a general framework using Artin fans -- certain logarithmic algebraic stacks -- in which to understand the relationship between logarithmic stable maps and tropical curve counting. These objects provide a flexible tool to study correspondences between algebraic and tropical curves. In particular, we obtain new realization theorems for tropical curves in superabundant settings. After explaining some remarkably cheap consequences of this setup, I will discuss an application, joint with Yoav Len, to the enumerative geometry of elliptic curves on toric surfaces.