Small Stuff continues....and some samples
Friday, October 30, 2026
I gush over small paintings.....I remember going to Richard Diebenkorn / Matisse Exhibit at SFMOMA. Wonderful, gobsmacking artwork. Huge canvases on the wall one had to step back from to take in...... but just behind on the opposite wall were gouache works, small works, intimate works, and these bowled me over. They, by contrast, invited you in to look more deeply, whereas the huge canvases made you backup and enjoy in a more expanded view. Both were magic.
There's plenty of creativity, inspiration and fun to go around.
→ MORE INFO on my classes here.
If you wish to join us for a month or more of classes,
GET IN TOUCH and see if you don't get inspired, too! 🎨
Blessings, Joanie
But i found myself going back constantly to the small gouaches...and watercolors. I just found my Rest there.
All that said, I have always enjoyed the many virtues of painting small....they are done quickly, small goals per painting, no stress of painting a masterpiece, and it is an extraordinary way to develop ideas about series.
Here's an apple....small, sewn by machine to a 6 x 6" scrapbook paper. Ready to frame.
And here are a few more of this stack of over 24.....but still in their cellophane wrappers.
I will never tire of painting apples and pears!
all mixed media, acrylic, pencil, colored pencil, oil pastel...you name it.
And here were a few shells I painted in gouache on acrylic and wax varnished.
And last but not least we spent this past week doing a really fun "small stuff" project called Etegami. Lovely loose awkward irregular and imperfect lines of black permanent ink on various types of paper. Add a message and a chop (red signature) and there you have it. A lovely stack of Japanese lettered postcards to slip in the mail or a friends hand, and heart.
We have 4 more weeks of Small Stuff, care to join us?
Ready to join us?
There's plenty of creativity, inspiration and fun to go around.
→ MORE INFO on my classes here.
If you wish to join us for a month or more of classes,
GET IN TOUCH and see if you don't get inspired, too! 🎨
Blessings, Joanie