Use of images prohibited without permission from artist.
A Token of Love, Reviving the 18th c Miniature Gesture
“But do you know, Madam, that the fashion now is, not to have portraits but of an eye? -Horace Walpole to the Countess of Ossory, October 1785.
Watercolor on sized paper in wooden frame
4” W x 5” H, Frame approximately 5” W x 6” H
Watercolor on sized paper with applied quartz crystal mounted in plated frame with silk ribbon
Frame approximately .5” W x .75” H
Watercolor, Gouache on sized paper in metal frame
1.5” W x 2” H, Frame 2.5” W x 3” H
This collection of Watercolors were inspired by 18th century miniatures. Then, small portraits would be traded, and often it would be of just the eye of the subject. Some were tucked away meant only for the receiver, where others were boldly worn as items of fashion. With just a part remaining, the sitter of the portrait becomes mysterious. Its small size draws us in closer, but with a feeling of intrusion, viewing what may have been meant for one person to see. I wonder if only its intended viewer knows the meaning of its placement in the clouds, or the crystal tear it sheds. I use the color palette of the time, with some of the paints I recreate using 18th c techniques on paper set with gelatin. I create new images reminiscent of these mysterious small portraits. I find the process and size challenging, but creating these portraits I imagine a story that draws the viewer in to wonder if they are allowed to discover.
Imagine a Landscape: The Free Land
As a new country is born to the east, the freedom to tame the land expands westward. In imagining the beauty from a time past, the artist hopes to inspire others to return freedom to nature, encouraging beneficial native plants in yards and cityscapes.
Watercolor and Gouache on Watercolor Paper
10″ W x 14″ H
10″ W x 14″ H
With this project I hope to inspire others learn about plants and insects that flourished during this early time period, and perhaps their benefits and relationship to people, animals and another. Some common plant life may still exist and some may be extinct. Perhaps it will remind us that there are consequences to taming the land for our modern uses. In imagining the beauty from a time past, we can encourage small spaces to grow freely in the city today.