Teeny Weeny
March 11, 2012
These two frames were recently given to me by my friend Shiela, and truly are the smallest I’ve ever come across. Measuring 1.5″ x 1.5″, or 3.5cm x 3.5cm, the paintings themselves had to be 1″ x 1″ or 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm in order to fit within the glass.
I used as subjects, birds based on the photographs of Cornel Apostol at http://apostolcornel.wordpress.com, who has introduced me to species we don’t have here, but ones he has at his feeders in Romania. I believe the first one is a Chaffinch or ‘fringilla coeleb’ and the one on the right is a Great Tit, or ‘parus major’.
weisserwatercolours 
It is a nice challenge to draw and paint tiny–and you take on many drawing challenges yourself, Nonoy–thank you for this support.
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You are very gracious and talented. Thank you very much for this remark, Nonoy.
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It takes a lot of skill to draw in that size. Sir you have an amazing talent. Thanks for sharing Nonoy Manga
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wunderbar!
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They are really amazing!
I just had a “Buchfink” (the left one) sitting 20cm next to me while drinking my coffee on a trip to a nice playground with my family and the “Kohlmeise” (the right one) often visits our balcony!
Greetings from Germany 😉
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Yea, I wish I could link into WordPress and use some of its friendly features! 🙂
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Thank you, Boyd! I’m having a bit of a trial connecting to your site. But I’ll make it!
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Amazing control of your medium. Beautifully done!
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hmmmm….you floral linguists always seem to have the edge. Thank you for being one of the last of the Renaissance men–and for taking a moment to drop by and offer encouraging words.
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The number of comments you’ve gotten is inversely proportional to the size of the paintings. Nicely done on both counts.
By the way, the word miniature has a surprising origin that has nothing to do with size:
http://wordconnections.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/not-originally-what-you-almost-surely-think-it-was/
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btw, Lloyd–have you heard of this $50K Cdn photography award? http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/03/16/scotiabank-photography-award.html
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Thank you again, Lloyd–I certainly do enjoy the treasures you bring me through your sharp eyes and lens.
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You must have amazingly steady hands. Once again, it amazes me what you are able to create with a media that to me seems so difficult to work with. Great work.
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You’re very charming in so many ways. Thank you for making my day, m’dear.
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These are as wonderful as everybody above said. Miniatures have captivated our imaginations for centuries. Miniatures are essentially what artisans have created on jewelry like cameos and intaglios. I always longed to take a tiny detail from a large frieze or a painting. I am afraid I’d cut out a detail if I had the whole thing! EEK.
I am fascinated by your ability to create such detail in such a small space without having it appear “small”. I love placing little jewels like these in unexpected places. I was surprised to hear you describe those places as “little worlds”. That’s precisely how I view the little worlds that I create around my home. It’s a real delight to happen upon them when I am not thinking about it.
These are beautiful, Lance.
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I’ll be in touch!
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Wonderful, all round.
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Hmmm, I think I need to commission you to do some miniatures for me Lance! My husband and I love to watch our birds (we’ve taken ownership of them – well, we feed them and provide what we can for their needs, lol) at our feeders. I’m still catching up at home and have yet to get your painting framed. I’ll send you a picture of it once it is done!
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Quite so. In life, they certainly don’t conform to being confined, so why try to put frames around them? But they are fun to paint! (smile)
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I love small pictures… sometimes they command more attention than the large ones… but there is often a modesty about them that draws us in. And they can be found in little niches, creating a world within a world. I don’t think I’d ever have a picture of a bird in one of my rooms, but I like them when I see them fling by, or sitting on a fence or on a tree… and sometimes walking along the sidewalk, leisurely…
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How very kind, DM. I was admiring your Canada Goose and accompanying poem, both heartfelt and expressive. We don’t often devote as much time to other animals, do we–as say, fish for example (smile), though koi lend themselves to watercolour quite nicely.
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Two of my favorite things regarding painting: birds and minatures! And the birds you have so painstakingly recreated are among my favorites.
Your work is so fine…and such an inspiration to a fellow artist!
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All cats love birds! (smile) Thank you very much. I’ve always enjoyed painting them. These are the smallest so far.
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Thank you very much for being so effusive! I was just enjoying your post on ‘trees’. I paint miniatures all the time but haven’t come across frames this tiny, and hope I can locate the manufacturer to get more. So–brush size is . . . . hmmm no way to tell because everything has worn off. I’ve had it forever. I guess it’s a 000. but first I do a wash of the entire area with a swipe of a large 1″.
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These are fantastic Lance. What a great idea, paint to fit the frame. So small, did you use a spotter brush for this?
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I am envious that you have such birds where you are, Lisa! How I would love to see one for real, and hear its song up close. They seem like a chickadee in their photos, but of course I have no idea what their personality is like. Thank you for commenting!
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Thanks, Lance!
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We do not have these birds at our feeders here–and you always take such interesting photos of them, Cornel. Thank you for inspiring me.
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I am thrilled you enjoy them so much–and I hope everyone visits your post on ‘Kennywood’s Open!’ and listens to some great jazz.
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Lance, I can’t even imagine how you could create such lovely images in such a small space. Miniatures amaze me – the attention to detail and scale – bravo!
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I really don’t know WHY I didn’t saw this post until now…
The paintings look great! Amazing!
You’re a pro!
After trying to do some paintings in watercolours I realized it’s not hard, but very hard to control the medium.
I have to send you more photos of birds! 😉
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lovely.
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Lance, I can keep my eye out for some tiny frames around here, as well. My mother is enamored of all kinds of birds. I’ll have to find a sneaky way to ask her to identify her most favorite (because I don’t want her to know the real reason I’m asking…) Let’s get in touch over email to talk about this project more in detail, shall we? I’m excited!
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Beautiful birds! I love miniatures!
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Thank you for supporting my efforts with your encouraging words, TB!
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I love the frames–so cute. And I love your paintings even more!
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I have never given a thought to doing tropical birds! I guess I will now, Kim. Thank you for the idea.
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oh dear–too hasty to post! Thank you for noticing Graham!
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Wonderful micro-art, Lance! (by the way, I think ‘mm’ should be ‘cm’ in your dimensions – perhaps millimetric art should be your next challenge 😉
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Your painting with a ruler is alive with colour, JoDee–and now that Spring is here, we’ll get that much more inspiration from beyond our windows. Thank you for your always-positive encouragements.
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That would be swell, Mel (smile). If you scroll down my page, you’ll see four bird miniatures which I just sent to the State of Virginia to Kim, whose blog is found on here at 3wishesstudio.wordpress.com. So it is certainly doable! These two are so tiny, I am hoping I can find the same size frames somewhere. Shiela found these at a 2nd hand place. what kind of birds does your mother enjoy the most? raptors; songbirds; water birds . . . .
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I do enjoy your coloured pencil drawings, James–the Jack Rabbit on http://deltagypsystudio.com/ is especially appealing!
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you are always so encouraging, nia. you paint with your camera!
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Lance – of course I love them and would love to add them to the collection – but I must pace myself! Truly they are lovely. Tropical birds with lots of color, next please – (think FL bird room) all about me.
I had a real aha, moment, reading a comment you made here, in response to one of the readers. Isn’t it interesting how we sometimes find the answers we are seeking in the strangest places. Have a great week.
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I really enjoy watching you work, Isabell–you have soul
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I really like their tininess and birds are a great subject for them. I love the Great Tit, it’s one of my favourite birds with its yellow breast and lilting song – good choice!
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These are so beautiful.
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Lance, these are absolutely delightful. The detail is amazing! You’ve given me a wonderful idea to perhaps explore with you for a commission in the future for a gift for my mother, who is a longtime serious birder.
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Your photos are always a surprise!
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Very impressive!
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I’m very encouraged by your words–and though I’m not much of a teacher, I’m afraid, I offer you best wishes for your ‘let their voice be heard’ efforts, Evelyn.
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I am happy to know you like them so much, Mags! Thank you.
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what a lovely story, and loving tribute
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Lance, I am always blown away at the different ways you express your creativity. Again I have to say, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Have you ever thought about developing a teaching method you could teach online?
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Hi,
Wow, you have really undone yourself this time. They are gorgeous, such beautiful detail, of course I had to click the picture for a better view, and I am really impressed. So tiny, so delicate, yet perfect paintings, did you have to use a magnifier or something similar?
The frames really look lovely, and your friend gave you a challenge, again wonderful work. 😀
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My mother was a professional artist. I took several of her pieces to be framed. I waited until I had the money to do it right. As it turns out, one of my favorite pieces was an elaborate doodle she did on typing paper with pentel markers. It is a snow scene with two cabins on a hill, with mountains in the background and a pine tree to one side. She completed it in about 3 hours. I had it framed in a triple mat under glass. The frame resembles cabinet molding with a blue grain texture in one of the layers. The blue (which is subtle) brings out the blues she used in the mountains. To look at it, you would never know what a simple work of art it really is. A frame and matting truly can define the actual work. I was so fortune to have worked with a girl that was a master at framing artwork. I was thrilled with the final results of all of the pieces she worked on with me.
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so beautiful
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Thank you and yes–often the frame is the make-it-or-break-it factor in watercolours. Other mediums like oils and acrylics are less dependent on frames, maybe because they don’t require glass? I honestly don’t know. But I do know photography often sells best when framed and matted in an attractive way.
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Isn’t it amazing how a frame can compliment a work of art? Your really are tiny little jewels. Very nice.
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Very nice. Miniatures are an art in themselves. I have tried a few 5×7″ in colored pencils. These must have been exciting to create but nerve-racking. Yes, thanks for the share.
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I am encouraged by this, Rhonda, thank you so much.
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These are so beautiful and admirable paintings. Fascinated me, dear Lance, Thank you, have a nice week, with my love, nia
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I adore both of the paintings. I love birds as subjects of art. You did a wonderful job. Thanks for sharing!
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