Making the mini paintings in my collection requires of me a settling down, a concentration and an attention to detail that appeals to my natural inclinations.

This is the story of how one set of these mini paintings were made.

A younger version of me may have been really annoyed that I didn’t get what I ordered and would have complained and probably would have returned them. But the current, older and wiser version of me decided to keep them and figure out how I could work with them. So what if they don’t match the rest?

Making art is messy.

When I paint on deep wood panels I usually dribble paint or other media down the sides when I’m working. This is part of the artmaking process, I know, but when a painting is completed, I like the sides to be dribble free, preferring instead a tidy and uniform finish.

I started making mini paintings by chance when I was participating in my first art market. Each artist was asked to donate something reflective of their practice to be used as a draw item.  I had some older work on paper that I cut down and mounted on cards, and along with their envelopes, I wrapped up five of these one of a kind greeting cards into a little bundle as my donation.

I love the finishing stages of making an acrylic painting, preparing it for a life outside of the studio. There are so many decisions to be made while in the midst of making art. That’s why I enjoy the finishing process so much. It’s a pleasure to switch from decision making to task mode where few decisions are required.

I had an art teacher once that disdained painted edges on a painting. I’m not exactly sure why but I suspect it had something to do with the idea that whatever incidental paint or other material was left on the side of the panel or canvas was evidence of the process of making the painting.

While this is true, it just doesn’t work for me.