Jewel Box Paintings.

“Summer Sounds” Acrylic on 6x6” claybord panel.

Jump to:

• Intro.
• The case for small.
• The joy of small.
• Is small a failure, though?
• Large is cool, too.
• Related newsletters.

One of the most striking paintings I’ve seen

hangs in a friend’s house. From first glance, I thought it was photo. It lives nestled in a little space on a thin wall between door and window. Getting closer, I realized it was an ink painting. Very loosely and economically handled, but so perfectly conveying a scene of a boat on water.

It lives in my head rent free. It isn’t but the size of a postcard.

“Not Only in Fair Weather” & “Time Well Spent” from my Summer 2023 series.
Both of these paintings measure 6x6 inches.

I’m one of those exhaustingly curious people -

& I often wonder about why painters choose certain canvas sizes. I gather ‘impact’ is the main aim, and while oversized paintings seem to be the default to that thought, I find smaller pieces can equally knock you back.

My choice for painting small has to do with a variety of reasons -

A central one right now being lack of space. That and I’m a fan of all things cozy, alluring, and easily transportable. But the initial outer constraint has become an internal preference. I’ve come to favor works at, or under, a square foot (ish).

I consider these “jewel box” paintings. Pint-sized yet no less striking.

“Mossy Path” Acrylic on 6x6” claybord panel.

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It’s electrifying -

being able to hold in your hand a piece of art that affects you. To have it on your lap as you drive home from collecting it. Smaller works inhabit intimate places in our lives and psyches.

Over my career I’ve worked in a range of sizes,

from murals to large canvases to my wee sketchbook (so smol).

& at one point I thought of working small as a sort of failure. Where this thought came from I have no idea. Perhaps galleries lining their walls with massive works geared towards raking in the highest prices possible has a bit to do with it. I find small is, generally, undervalued - in more ways than one.

Moving on from this thinking I’ve come to realize - small has its own significant merits. Nor is it less complex to work small than to sort out a larger piece.

Click here to read all about my sketchbook practice.

Don’t get me wrong -

This isn’t a case against larger works. A number of my favorite paintings are massive, and I have a few sizable, much adored pieces in my own home. But the delights of small works on overlooked walls or in private corners can’t be exaggerated.

Like invitations to a daydream, I can’t imagine my walls without these little gems.

& back to that curiosity of mine - how do you adorn your space with art? Do you go for larger than life statement pieces, little works tucked away in private rooms, or salon style without an inch between the frames? From one collector to another, I’d love to know!

x Lauren

“At Night” Oil on 5x7” claybord panel.

Post script - I’ve shifted to a once monthly rather than bi-weekly format for my free newsletter. (In order to give myself more time to paint. Because, painter who loves writing too much and, priorities.)

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Looking for more? Here are few newsletters that might interest you:

• Read about how I set up my palette.

• Here’s a little insight to my compositional choices and the artists that inspire them.

• A favorite: this newsletter discusses what I adore about painting as well as a list of some beloved artists and their works that knock me sideways.

• The best advice I can give to any artist, and how I manage my own sketchbook practice.

If you like what you read here, invite friends! Let’s all chat art forever and ever.

Welcome to my Third Thursday newsletter! Where I share my latest artworks, highlighted works from my archive, the process of how I create, announcements for the sale of original pieces, and print releases.

If you’d like to support my career by becoming a paid subscriber, I have a monthly Monday newsletter with discussion topics covering in-depth knowledge of a working artist, background stories to go along with my pieces, detailed material suggestions, first refusal for original pieces and limited edition prints, and talk of art heroes who shape my ideas about painting - to name a few. On these newsletters I’ll also take topic suggestions for future Monday newsletters.

©Lauren Elyse S., 2023. All rights reserved.
This newsletter is not to be reproduced in whole without specific written permission. Sharing of small excerpts permitted with credit and links back. Thank you.