Finding Comfort in the Smaller Stuff.

Stop me if you've heard this one before but, things have been a little busy lately. Working 50+ hrs a week...taking care of a house...raising two energetic and wonderful yet also sometimes horrible cats (OK that one's not that bad)...Golfing (that ones pretty acceptable too)...attempting to be healthier...spending time on relationships...not to mention trying to keep an art practice not only going, but improving, expanding, and remaining relevant. 

That last one has been a bigger struggle recently than I can ever remember. Whether its chores, responsibilities, or fun, extended time in the studio has been a bit hard to come by. While there's really no replacement for a few full days spent painting, I've been expending my artistic energy lately through shorter but energetic sessions on smaller art, mostly under 16x20"

The differences between painting large and small scale are hard to overstate. From different brushes to different media, not to mention the literal physicality of walking around a studio to see a painting from multiple angles versus holding the entire thing in your lap, painting small scale doesn't replace large-scale, but it presents an opportunity for something a little different: Accessibility, both for the artist (me) and viewers.

While I love a good large painting, in a largely digital world things can get lost in translation. Looking at something on a computer screen that, in person, would dwarf you is, simply put, different. Think about the "spectacle-type" art that dominates social media: It's fun to look at photos but you really aren't going to "get it" without being there.

Small art bridges the gap A BIT. While nothing can replace the in-person experience, seeing art at actual size (or at least not 100x smaller) allows more viewers to experience to get an accurate feel of a painting. On top of that, smaller scale means lower price, literally making the art more accessible to a wider audience.  

On the artist side of things, it's a bit of a relief; Less setup, less clean up, less pressure, less time. I love painting large but there is a dedication required to do it. You need enough space and, depending on that space, you may need to adjust your habits, which ultimately effects how the work is made. If you're cramped, you're not comfortable. If you can lounge and complete an entire piece in one (or a couple) sittings, it's much easier to set things aside for a period or power through to reach the finish line. There always seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, whereas a large painting can sometimes feel a bit monumental and overwhelming; hours or work and nothing yet to show.

There's nothing worse than getting done with a studio session and not liking where you are. With a small-scale painting, even if you're starting from scratch, its only 200 square inches versus 2,000. While my best art, IMO, is some of the larger scale paintings, it can take some stress to get there. Working small scale brings a different sense of enjoyment and freedom, sometimes the perfect cure for a busy life outside the studio.

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