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Painting Small

5/12/2015 5:24:13 PM by Brie Dodson
4 Comments

Red Globes and Green Gold, by Brie Dodson, 4" x 6"
Red Globes and Green Gold, by Brie Dodson, 4" x 6"

Since I routinely "paint small," my attention was definitely piqued when I came across the below blog post, from the really terrific artist Rita Kirkman, of reasons to do so. Here's hoping that you enjoy the list as much as I did.

 

http://ritakirkmanjournal.blogspot.com/2014/06/why-paint-small.html

 

 

So, why do I paint small? Mainly because of this concept: "Elegance within limitations." I like simplicity. I like elegance. I like focusing on just a few visual elements, and making the most of them that I possibly can. A small painting, well executed, is like a jewel that one can hold in one's hands. And I enjoy that.

 

Thank you for reading. Do you paint small, too? Do you collect or enjoy small paintings? I will look forward to your comments.

Comments

4 Responses to Painting Small

I Love your reasoning for small painting, Brie! It's so poetic! Now I realize my entire list is centered around marketing, money, and artistic improvement (but that is kind of "me", lol) But yours really catches on emotions and the pleasure of beauty, and that's wonderful!

Btw, I do collect others art, and most of it is small, and my rational reasoning is that my wall space is limited and I just love their work and want to own a piece of it but don't want to spend too much. But really, I've seen some of the "jewels" you speak of, and I own at least 20, 18 of them in the 2 rooms nearest me right now. It's true that a small work can hold as much power as a large work, and can also showcase an artist's genius just as well (sometimes better!) than a large work.
I'm familiar with most of the artists who's small works I own, and I can look at each painting and see their entire body of work, in the strokes, the colors, the technique. It's really like owning a piece of that artist!

Posted by Rita Kirkman · via briedodson.fineartstudioonline.com · 137 months ago

Rita, I enjoyed your comment very much. Thank you! My husband and I look forward to beginning to acquire small pieces ourselves, one of these days. I can imagine the pleasure that you must derive from your own collection, and the delight of being able to examine each and every brushstroke any time you like!

"The pleasure of beauty" - what an evocative phrase. Thanks again.

Posted by Brie Dodson · via briedodson.fineartstudioonline.com · 137 months ago

I love your thought "Elegance within limitations." It made me smile to see your love of simplicity and elegance. I can't tell you how often I've used those two words to describe my favorite art pieces... elegance through simplicity... simplicity in elegance...

Posted by Helen · via briedodson.fineartstudioonline.com · 117 months ago

Thank you, Helen! I guess simplicity isn't always elegant and elegance isn't always simple, but there's something about the two together ... :)

Posted by Brie Dodson · via briedodson.fineartstudioonline.com · 117 months ago

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