Show Preview | Trailside Galleries: Masters in Miniature Invitational

Jackson, WY, July 16-31

Matt Smith, Marble Canyon, oil, 8 x 12.

Matt Smith, Marble Canyon, oil, 8 x 12.

This story was featured in the July 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art magazine July 2012 print edition here, or purchase the Southwest Art magazine July 2012 digital download here. Or simply click here to subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!

“Small is beautiful,” as the saying goes. So this month Trailside Galleries presents a miniatures show featuring works by more than 100 gallery and guest artists. “After the tremendous success of our inaugural Masters in Miniature show in 2011, we are very pleased to host this show again,” says Joan Griffith, the gallery’s director. “Small works are always in demand, and the price points make them all the more appealing for buyers. Many collectors find themselves in a position where they just don’t have any more room for large artwork, but you can bet they will always find a spot for a small painting or sculpture.” The gallery hosts a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 19.

For some of the participating artists, such as Arizona-based landscape painter Matt Smith, miniatures are an essential part of their work. Smith enjoys the spontaneity and satisfaction of seeing a piece completed by the end of the day. “I favor small paintings because I like going out into the field and playing around,” Smith says. “Sometimes I’m planning for a larger piece to see if it’s an idea worth pursuing.”

Smith’s piece in this show is titled MARBLE CANYON. The painting depicts a northern Arizona canyon that is one of his favorite places to paint. “There are no trees, just sage, rock formations, and cliffs,” he says. “It’s like looking at the backbone of the earth.”

Southern California artist JoAnn Peralta is also participating in the miniatures show. While attending a rodeo recently, Peralta says she was struck by the image of a young performer as he waited to enter the ring. The scene inspired her miniature RODEO SUNSET. “The sun was low and I was inspired by the rich, warm colors that bathed him. His roping skills received high applause from the crowd,” Peralta says.

Sueellen Ross, Picks of the Litter, mixed media, 12 x 13.

Sueellen Ross, Picks of the Litter, mixed media, 12 x 13.

For her painting STUDY FOR THE DEN MOTHER, Michigan artist Bonnie Marris captures a moment in the life of a red fox. Marris explains that it was late April when she was taking a hike near her studio and spotted a mother fox lying by the den that housed her new babies. The scene caught her eye, and Marris says she decided to do this small study first before tackling a larger piece.

Finally, for lovers of felines, Washington artist Sueellen Ross pays tribute to one of her favorite breeds. In PICKS OF THE LITTER she portrays three small Ragdoll cats, so named because of their tendency to go limp when picked up. Ross says recently she had to give up her two new Ragdolls for adoption because one of the older cats in her household kept attacking them. A kind breeder in Seattle found the duo a perfect home but refused to accept a fee. In return, Ross painted the breeder’s favorite felines. “These kittens represent the three main colors Ragdolls come in,” Ross says. “I purposely left the background dark so all attention is on the large, limp kittens with their squeezed tops and dangling bodies, legs, feet, and tails.” —Bonnie Gangelhoff

contact information
307.733.3186
www.trailsidegalleries.com

Featured in the July 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art magazine July 2012 digital download
Southwest Art magazine July 2012 print edition
Or click here to subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!


 

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