New paintings and regular art updates.
Some mini paintings including abstracts, I’m trying to get some work done for a small stall at Etruria Industrial museum in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire this weekend. It’s the last steaming of the princess engine this year. I haven’t done anything for months but I finally got some miniature canvases so decided to have a go.
A photo of me taken by a friend when I was trying to sell small paintings at craft fairs. I’m afraid covid really knocked the head on this, I’ve only done a few small craft fairs since this and basically just one or two in 2023. The cost of hiring a stall usually cancelled out any sales money and also the cost of buying art supplies made the idea non viable. But I tried and I made some nice friends.
I went to get some tiny canvases today. I went back to the craft shop I got them from previously and spoke to the lady that runs it. She said she hadn’t been able to get anymore of them, they don’t seem to be making them now? I asked if she had other small canvases so she directed me to the right aisle. As I looked through the canvases there were 5 packets of 2 canvases per packet! I was really glad that I’d gone and looked and not taken her word for it!
I only sell them for £2 each so it’s not much of a markup. I’m effectively only getting 90 pence for something that can take a few hours painting. But I like the idea of sharing my art.
I went and got some mini canvases today (small matchbox sized) I’m going to paint a few of them but I may do some on Saturday at the exhibition. It will help keep me occupied….
I haven’t been able to do many craft fairs this year so this is a bit of an opportunity to share my work. I haven’t decided what paintings I will be showing. I’ve got too many!
I like doing miniature paintings on small canvases. It’s hard to get small details though as I am still shaking from whatever is affecting my left arm and shoulder. There is an artist who lives near Birmingham who creates miniature sculptures in the eye of a needle and on the heads of pins. He creates them using an eyelash attached at 90° to a fine brush or rod. He works between heart beats and holds his breath. He works at night so traffic doesn’t disturb him. Now that is skill! He works through a microscope and his work has to be viewed through one.
His details are:
WILLARD WIGAN: World’s most incredible microscopic artist with new exhibition. Dr. Willard Wigan’s MBE, Latest exhibition is open now at The Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery. Born June 1957, Willard is a world renowned British sculptor who makes microscopic art.
Mallaband-Brown