The Collage Miniaturist

“The dealings with artists, for instance, require great prudence; they are acquainted with all classes of society, and for that very reason dangerous.”
— King Leopold II of Belgium
 

As many artists have found through the ages, there is something uniquely satisfying about creating a small work of art as an expression of fondness for an individual person. Part of the appeal is that one knows it will be accepted unconditionally and without judgment. It can serve as an exercise in unfettered intuition, free from the kinds of meddlesome thoughts and feelings that can accompany the formation of a work for exhibit or sale. This is a good habit to internalize. It keeps one in touch with the heart of creativity, a necessary balance to the practical concerns that come with being an art professional.

I usually begin by deciding whether the miniature will also function as a card, and if it will lean toward the verbal (series alpha), the visual (series omega), or a hybrid of both. Once the basic composition is blocked out with key shapes and color quantities, I allow total spontaneity to overwhelm the process. Ingredients that allude to the world of the recipient merge with conspicuous or camouflaged non-sequitur elements. The outcome is intended to be a close-up viewing experience. The collage miniature can be a perfect format for this sort of intimate rapport.
 

Coast Starlight
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R W Breidenbach

Nurse Kari
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of K Oldham

Give Me a Facelift
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R K Hower

Flowers for Mombo
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of V E Dixon

Bob’s Orb
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R D Dixon

Presidential Mule Team
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of J D Wood