Painting Small

The challenge of painting small, is painting with detail, value and composition in such a way that it graps the viewer, still communicating your artistic vision.

It is not simply the size

Oh yes, painting small can be hard. Many artists get magnifiying glasses or even magnifiying lights, and an array of small mini brushes.

This can make it rather fun, actually.

I will let you into a little secret. People who paint miniatures do so because they enjoy it.

They enjoy the challenge. They also enjoy the awe when people see just how small and detailed they can go.

Which brings up the difference between a small painting and a true miniature.

A small painting is simply that, a painting done in a small size. It can be abstract or simply a few strokes that invoke an image.

A true Minature is much more.

To be a true miniature, it must hold onto the details even close up. It encourages people to lean forward and get lost in the image. Although the artwork is small, the image is not.

Miniatures Ready

 

 

I finally finished my miniature oil paintings for this year’s 12th Annual National Miniature Exhibition at the Renaissance Art Gallery.

 

This years Miniatures, 2x2, and 4x6

I did not think I would get them done. I am not completely happy with them, but they are not as bad as some of mine have been in the past.

 

I do think I am getting better. Not at the top yet, but no longer on the bottom.

People's Choice Awards

Last Wednsday was a busy day for me.

Fern Counting the Vote

In addition to my normal classes, Fern Christian (Renaissance Art Gallery Director) and I had to count the ballots for the People's choice awards. we do this at the conclusion of each year's Miniature Exhibition.

People attending the Miniature Exhibition are handed ballots when they came into the gallery so that they can select what they felt were the best entries in the Miniature Exhitition. There were to select works in two catagories: Most Elegant Entry and Most Creative Entry.


There arealways tons of worthy choices so it was hard to narrow it down to two.. But choices had to be made.


Counting the ballots was a much bigger job this year, due to the record number of people gracing our gallery with their visits.The stuffed to overflowing ballot box was empited a couple of times before counting, so I know there were lots of votes!


The voting was close, but choices were made.The final tally did reveal clear winners however.


Linda Rossin’s “Elegance in Motion”. The beauty of the rising flamingo captured the attention of the most guests for the Most Elegant Entry Award, while Sandi Worthington’s 1inch by 11 inch “Going To Water” won the Most Creative Entry Award.



I think congratulations  are in order for both artists, Sandi Worthington and Linda Rossin on their selection by the guest of The Renaissance Art Gallery for this year’s People’s Choice Awards.

Linda Rossin's "Elegance in Motion"



Sandi Worthington's "Go To Water"



Seeing What Good Is

Geraniums in Terra Cotta
Larry Bragg

Working in our isolation—as most artists do, it is easy for to look at your own work and think” Hey, that’s pretty good! And pat yourselves on the back. Self-satisfaction is possible. But is it justified? How do we know if it is any good?

I work on my paintings and drawings and really think how much I have improved! And those miniatures are not bad at all if I do say so myself! My friends are impressed. So what more do I want?

We tend to look at things myopically, only what is right in front of us. This show has knocked me down to earth. It is a real eye-opener. The artists who entered the 10th Annual National Miniature Exhibition shows you just what GOOD is!


Now this could have been crushing. Really. Seen next to the rest of the artwork, my work is well….midland. Not really terrible, but not so great that it warrants a second look. It would be easy to say, “Oh, I can’t do this!” and give up. The stuff in this show is really, really good! But this does not have to be your reaction when you are confronted with genius.


Let me tell you what one artist said to me at the reception for the 10th Annual National Miniature Exhibition. Larry Bragg—a first time exhibitor in miniature said the scope of work was inspiring and showed him just what was possible. Already he is anxious to start on next year’s work. Looking at the excellent work hanging in the gallery, all he could say was: "Wow! This shows me what can be done!". Far from being discourage, he is inspired! His excitement when he saw the wealth of fine art was amazing. He can't wait to try his hand at something new. To explore his new found knowledge of what is possible.



French Table
Larry Bragg



And this is a good thing. To be inspired by others, have your mental horizons expanded. Art happens in the head first, only then with the hands.

In all things, we need to have high standards to do our best,



Note: Normally I decorate my blog with my own “artwork”. Not sure right now I can even call it artwork. But this week, I would like you to see the work of another artist, the brave Larry Bragg.

PS. I promised last week to post the link to the Renaissance Gallery's 10th Annual National Miniature Exhibition so you can all see the photos of the reception.The Renaissance Art Gallery



My Miniatures

I have talked a lot about The Renaissance Art Gallery’s 10th Annual National Miniature show. What I have not talked about is my entries.

Waterfall
1:x2"
oil painting

Yes, I entered. Not that I will win any prizes. I am simply not that good with miniatures—yet.



But I am working on it.



I did 3 colored pencil drawings that I entered along with an oil painting and two mixed media works.





Conte on Acrylic



The mixed media works have coatings of acrylic as a background base, and then on the larger I drew with acrylic and conte’, and did a final glazing with oil paints.

The other one has a background of acrylics with the drawing done in conte’.

I do like the larger butterfly. That is also a mix of watercolor pencil and regular colored pencils. While the larger one is done actual size (this is allowed for things naturally small) the other is quite a bit smaller than the original butterfly.

I will be posting more photos from the miniature show on both the gallery website and the galleries facebook page.
 
Galleries website
 
Facebook Page

Nude in mixed Media

Size Matters, Working in Miniature

Size Matters



Monarch, Colored Pencil
S. Tschantz

 




Art schools tend to emphasize painting large. Large is good. Large is important. Large is impressive. For those of us who are self-taught, the tendency is for sizes we are comfortable and familiar, ea. we tend towards sizes that photos come in, 8x10, 5x7 etc. Or whatever is on sale at the local craft store.

But choosing the size is also a part of composition. So go small!

Small works can be surprisingly intimidating.



How Do I Paint So Small?



Once you try a couple, you find it really isn’t that hard. With the correct tools and lighting it can be very relaxing. After the stress of painting large, there is a certain freedom in going small.



4x6 seems to be the most popular size, both with artists and with collectors. This seems to be small enough to be intriguing, and still allows the viewer to interact with the scene. Another plus-it is a standard size and relatively easy and inexpensive to frame.

The Photographer - graphite
S. Tschantz