Art Doesn’t Have To Be Grand To Be Noticed, And Loved.

Early Moonrise. Sketch in oil, 3 by 6 inches.  

I wish I could remember the name of the artist who expressed bewilderment of the hugeness of some works for the sake of hugeness. I think this was sort of in the same thought as: “There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.” (Ansel Adams?), and “If you can’t make it good, make it red.” (Ansel Adams?) Perhaps Adams was referring to some colour photography in the latter, but I’m not certain if those were his words. Whatever, I think we all have been conditioned to believe that the grander something is, then the better it is than anything lesser than grand.

After coming across Crista Pisano’s works, I realised that I have been trying too hard to make my paintings fit into the mainstream’s “large” canvas sizes. Art doesn't have to be grand to be noticed and loved. This realisation was liberating.

House under the Trees. Sketch in oil, 4 by 8 inches.

When I was a teenager, I enjoyed making tiny paintings on pebbles. I mean really tiny paintings. I thought nothing of what I did because making little paintings came naturally. I discarded them. Oops. I guess I must have unconsciously thought that if I could paint it once, then I could paint it again. It was an unconscious mantra that has eventually manifested itself in my everyday thoughts.

Anyway, it was quite liberating knowing that I can continue feeling comfortable, and happy making mostly tiny to small paintings. If appropriate, I will occasionally make “large” paintings, but this time I won't feel left out of any art groups if I don’t. I am my own, and my love and joy will be in every tiny to small, and “large” paintings that I make.

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