Daily Mini Interview: Astolat Dollhouse Castle Curator Dorothy Twining Globus

Dorothy Twining Globus: Curator of Astolat Dollhouse Castle

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FD4Yy1ds2xq6HPEqrnM_0oUqr0psxaKJo4pD1KO0OW4Dorothy Twining Globus has been well-respected in the museum world for over four decades. Most recently as the Curator of Exhibtions at the Museum of Arts and Design for nine years, she previously served as Director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Formerly, she spent twenty years as Curator of Exhibitions at the Cooper-Hewitt MuseumDorothy’s particular interests in design, the decorative arts and craftsmanship are all met in the presentation of the Astolat Dollhouse Castle, a most remarkable milestone in the world of fine scale miniatures. Furthermore, Dorothy made dollhouses for herself and her daughter under the watchful eye of her mother, another aficionado in the miniature field.

What are your earliest memories with miniatures?

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Inventory shot of dollhouse furniture from Dorothy Twining Globus’ collection.

I had a very serious dollhouse growing up. It wasn’t so much a free standing dollhouse as much as shelves. It was designed in the Ginny Doll scale. I worked on it for ages, and only this spring (2015) did I pack it up. It had 1960s padded living room furniture. I was cracking up as I lined up all the works together to see them again.

When I was even younger than that, I had a canopy bed, with matching bureau and wardrobe, that must have been made for 8” dolls like Ginny and Madame Alexander. The canopy bed had sheets, pillows, and pillow cases.

My mother loved dollhouses. She used to teach me how to make things. I used to save my grandmother’s matchboxes from the bridge table to make miniature stamps and letter writing kits out of them.

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Matchbox scenes by Dorothy Twining Globus, curator of Astolat Dollhouse Castle.

In time, I worked on a dollhouse for my daughter. I used to make clothing for her American Girl dolls. I would give these as Christmas gifts for her and her friends. I still have a lot of this stuff. I still have some of the matchboxes in which I used to make little scenes. In fact, I am still making very small collages in matchboxes! Finding old ones from my dollhouse days was quite a surprise. I had not seen them for decades!

Coincidentally, my maiden name is Twining, and I recently found out that Twining Models was one of the companies involved in the construction of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.

How did you become involved with the curatorial field?

Before college, I had a summer job at the Smithsonian. I worked for three summers as an intern. Then I joined the team at Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and lent my expertise there for 20 years. I absolutely loved the idea of learning about new subject matter, and how to show it. I studied Western Art History at Swarthmore, and never focused much on design in school. In retrospect, I probably would have gone to RISD.

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Horn settee and table by miniature artisan Susanne Russo (dated 1991 and 1988 respectively).

How do your interests inform your work as a curator?

I’m interested in arranging things. As an exhibitions curator, I always tried to understand the subject matter in order to assure the most comprehensible presentation of the ideas. I would work with each of the curators to realize their concepts and themes in the actual gallery spaces. How you present spaces to the general public is so important. I help these curators, who spend all their time thinking about a narrow subject when in fact the average person is not into such detail. aaaaaaaaaaa1I think about ways to present the work so it becomes inherently more accessible to people less experienced with the subject matter.

How did you become involved as Project Curator of the Astolat Dollhouse Castle?

I’ve been enjoying my time retired from the museum world. The Astolat team contacted me to talk about the dollhouse castle. It’s seven stories tall, and was created by Elaine Diehl. Not much is known about Elaine, I’d love to hear what a historian of miniature dollhouses has to say about her. She’s said to be from Colorado and she had a store in Sedona, Arizona. fV9zTodPEripPuxsR2PExGiRu_g9joX0mKZWqgZ0g2EWhen she retired, the current Astolat owners purchased the dollhouse from Elaine. These current owners are now touring the structure to raise funds and awareness for children’s charities. Astolat is currently on view at the Shops at Columbus Circle, in Manhattan’s Time Warner Center, now through December 8. People go gaga for the dollhouse. Women and children are predictable, but the men coming in… they’re equally involved.

The dollhouse is inspired by Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem: “The Lady of Shalott” from 1832. Her name was Elaine of Astolat. She lived under a curse and never left her castle until she saw Sir Lancelot riding by. When she realized he would never love her, she killed herself. That was the curse. I imagine that Astolat’s miniaturist, Elaine Diehl, connected her name and the idea of making a castle dollhouse.

There’s no specific style to the dollhouse. It’s up there in size with some of the other famed dollhouses that have gone on tour to raise money for charities: Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle. As with all dollhouses, Astolat creates a sense of wonder in the viewer. People marvel over the miniatures and how it’s possible for artisans to craft works smaller and smaller.

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Can you tell us a bit about the dollhouse’s functionality?

From the Astolat site: “It features 29 rooms filled with 10,000 miniature pieces, including elaborate furniture, oil paintings, mirrors, fireplaces, gold miniature jewelry, rare-mini books more than 100 years old, fine rugs, fabrics, and pieces made of and silver and gold. It has seven levels, stairways, hallways, a basement, a wine cellar, a kitchen and an armory. There are formal rooms, a library, a music room, a grand ballroom and a bar, and that’s before you get to the Wizard’s tower on the top level.”

Astolat was made between 1974 and 1987. It comes apart into about 66 pieces. The whole façade is sculpted to look like stone. Maybe Elaine did this herself, but it is such a huge building that I suspect she may have had an assistant! And she most likely had help from an electrician when it came to the wiring of the dollhouse rooms. I don’t believe there is an assembly manual, but the various sections are well-marked. And when the castle goes on tour, there will be a manual.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAstolat’s owners are focused on the current life of the dollhouse. When they bought the work, it contained about 10,000 miniatures. They’ve since added approximately 20,000 works of miniature to the dollhouse’s collection. The rooms are the same as they were.

How does the Astolat team determine which of the 30,000 objects will be displayed in the Castle?

In a house like this, the curation of objects is never done. All the miniatures can be maneuvered and moved. They’re affixed to surfaces with museum wax, so any exhibition venue has to be careful that the dollhouse castle does not get too warm. There are sconces and wiring, functional dollhouse lighting and a working elevator. The furniture can all be rearranged. The floors are made of different parquet and stone. The shells of each room are set, and I believe the paintings and hanging works of art stay the same. But the present owners determine the arrangement of all the miniatures.

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Canary in brass bird cage by miniature artisan Laurel Coulon (dated 1979).

There’s a vitrine in the back of the house. A selection of miniature works were placed on this shelf for viewing by the public at Time Warner. There are a number of featured objects on the Astolat Dollhouse Castle website.

And there will be a few objects auctioned off in the near future to benefit children’s charities. This is an opportunity for miniature enthusiasts to own a piece of the dollhouse castle, and to help children. More auction information will be updated on the Astolat site soon.

Do you have a favorite space within the castle?

There’s much to see in each of the 29 rooms in the dollhouse castle. There’s a wonderful exotic room. Inside of it is a carved Chinese wedding bed. There’s a little Taj Mahal in the front window, a tiny Chinese birdcage made of bamboo. There is a polar bear rug on the floor. The room leads into a luxurious bathroom.

Do you have a favorite miniature from the Astolat collection of 30,000 works?

I really love the geode table.

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Table with geode collection featuring genuine miniature geodes and crystals. Table made by miniature artisan George Becker, one of his earliest works. Marked Gryphon (dated 1976).

Do you consider yourself a collector of miniatures?

I have a lot of small things, but I’m not a miniature collector. I collect New York City skylines in miniature. I like Britain’s Ltd garden sets and train sets. I have a collection of birdhouses, beehives, benches, and more from the company. I like the utility poles from train sets. I enjoy them from a design standpoint. But I don’t put these miniatures into anything.

How would you explain the universal fascination with miniatures?

The obsession with small scale things is innate in our souls. If you think back to Chinese and Egyptian tombs, the deceased were buried with their miniature barnyards or bakeries. It’s not just about the dollhouse, or an association with children. There’s more to it than that.

c1GlzWHPBqLkbltmTfhm3iRD9eZcEm4D6FHZGaT8fGc,wUzPLegY_GnZAWi-IIcf--mV560tvejLnFfFqBOB6eIJoie de faire, which translates to “joy of making,” is a term used by scholar Ellen Dissanayake, who approaches philosophical aesthetics from an anthropological standpoint. In her work, “The Pleasure and Meaning of Making,” and American Craft Magazine article “What Ancient Marks Reveal About Modern Makers,” she discusses the importance of making things, and how the process of making is in fact more important than what is finally made.

Why do people garden? Why do they cook? You have to do things with your hands. You need to do something with your hands. And I think that’s really important. I, for one, always need to be making things.

Advice to those starting out in the field of museum studies?

The most important thing is to get an internship at a museum to see if you really like the experience. I’ve had dozens of interns over the years, and a lot of them had to get into the field to see whether or not it’s something they really care about. It’s so important to respect the objects. Everyone is into technology these days. That’s fine, but don’t forget about the objects. Take time to look at the work on display. Appreciate what you can do in real space, not online. Don’t forget the objects.

English Oak Kitchen Work Table
English Oak Kitchen Work Table by miniature artisan Warren Dick (dated 1983). Miniature food and accessories: Silver carving setin case by Al Archer (dated 1980). Contemporary miniature artisan food: turkey, cornbread stuffing, and cranberry sauce by Crown Jewel Miniatures; plated food, rolls, mashed and sweet potatoes by Janet Uyetake; pumpkin pie by Fairchildart; salt and pepper shakers by Weston Miniatures.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know Astolat Dollhouse Castle?

There’s always something more to learn, which is very exciting. I love to see people walking around the castle at Time Warner, being seduced by the experience. There’s a wonderment about it. I love watching guests take virtual trips through the expansive space. Astolat asks people to be involved with it. It’s inviting, and it’s a happy little world that you can control. It provides an escape to viewers—a sense of voyeurism—that allows them to watch what’s going on with great intent.

Dorothy Twining Globus served on the boards of The International Design Conference at Aspen; The Annette Green Museum at the Fragrance Foundation in New York City; and on the Trustees Council of the Preservation League of New York State. She was also on the faculty of the Masters Program in Design at the School of Visual Arts. Globus served as Curator of Exhibitions at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City from 2004-2013. She played an integral role in the planning and presentation of MAD’s exhibition program. From 1993 through 2000, Globus was Director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, where she was responsible for a collection of over 50,000 costume pieces, and some 30,000 textiles. Prior to being the Director of the Museum at the FIT, Globus was Curator of Exhibitions at the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian National Museum of Design in New York City for 20 years, where she presented nearly 200 exhibitions on all aspects of design. Additionally, Globus has also organized numerous exhibitions as an independent curator.

Astolat Dollhouse Castle is the world’s most valuable dollhouse in the world, officially appraised at $8.5 million. The dollhouse castle is now on display at the Shops at Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center, through Tuesday, December 8. Miniatures from the Astolat Dollhouse Castle collection will be auctioned off in the near future to benefit children’s charities; this is an opportunity for miniature collectors and enthusiasts to own a piece of the dollhouse castle and to help children. Auction information will soon be posted at www.dollhousecastle.com. To learn more about the famous dollhouse, and to see many more photos, visit the Astolat Dollhouse Castle website. You can also follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #dollhousecastle.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Mini Mago Inc.

Miniatures by Mini Mago Inc.

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

10846505_836911216372252_7584785910837137171_nI have always loved mini little things. Even though I had no idea what they were called or that the miniature world was so big, I loved them.  I used to collect minis whenever I traveled and good miniatures don’t come cheap, so tried my hand at making my own minis. It turns out I have the flair for it and I enjoy the creative challenge. That was roughly ten years ago. And so, I gave up my then profession of being a fashion designer and became a full-time miniaturist. I’ve been making minis professionally for about eight years. As for my skills and techniques, I have learnt much over the years and keep educating myself everyday through books and the Internet.

1012913_708100555919986_6564445444956183571_nWhat materials do you use to make your miniatures?

It all depends on what I am creating. I use mainly polymer clay for food items and most accessories. But it could be any number of materials depending on what I am creating. For example, if it’s drapes then it will be out of soft cotton fabric, or balsa wood for furniture, to name a few.

Advice for beginner artists?

Keep at it. Educate yourself. Ask question. Study objects you want to create. Have an open mind and a gigantic imagination.

11013260_925301094199930_8385644376690045818_nTool you can’t live without?

Tweezers, cutters, punchers, clay, and the Internet.

Favorite mini you have made yourself?

There are so many. Since I only make one of each, it’s hard to just pick one. They are like my children and mama loves them all!

What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?

Mr. Haga makes some really wonderful miniatures. 1471121_643195889077120_409852439_nAlso Henry Kupjack‘s miniatures always make my heart skip a beat. There are so many amazing artists out there who inspire me to be better at what I love everyday, and I’m very thankful for it!

Why miniatures? What appeals to you most about what you do?

It’s always been a fascination of mine. Ever since I was a child, I remember loving small spaces and little things. Miniatures take you to a whole new world, and when you get to create those worlds for yourself, it’s even more amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Upcoming projects planned? 10930169_869011699828870_8932717193930819507_n

Loads of plans and projects in mind, but finding the time can be a challenge.

Other hobbies you enjoy?

Nature and travel photography is another passion of mine. Gardening and animal rescue are as well.

Trudee Mago of Mini Mago Inc. hails from Colombo, Sri Lanka. View more of her miniature creations on her website, Facebook, or Instagram.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Emi’s Bakery

Miniatures by Emi’s Bakery

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

dMy love and interest for miniatures started when I was around 6 years old. My parents bought me a lot of PLAYMOBIL sets and my dad made me a dollhouse for my PLAYMOBIL family. That was also the time I got in touch with polymer clay, as I used to make little snacks and accessories to go along with my sets. The love slowly faded away, and after a few years, my dollhouse and miniatures were relocated to the attic.

I rediscovered the world of polymer clay miniatures in 2013. One day, while watching videos on YouTube, I found a few channels with all sorts of polymer clay food tutorials. I immediately became enthusiastic again, and decided that I wanted to give it another try. I got hooked ever since.

What materials and tools do you use to make miniatures?

sThe main material I use is polymer clay. I use the brand FIMO as this is the only brand that is available in craft stores in my area (The Netherlands). Besides clay, I also like to make miniatures from paper, wood, or plastic.

My tools range from store-bought items like ball tools, needles, X-ACTO knives and brushes, to random items I have lying around (such as toothpicks, bottle caps, drinking straws, and more). For shading, I use chalk pastels.

Advice for new miniaturists?

  • Have a look around on YouTube and Pinterest, there are loads of free and easy tutorials to get you started with polymer clay and making miniatures.
  • Your work doesn’t have to be perfect at once. Making miniatures is a learning process, and you learn by trial and error.
  • Look around you, you can make miniatures from the most random items. The question “what can I use this material for?” pops up often in my mind.
  • Do not compare yourself with others. You are you and you have your own unique style, be proud of your work.

Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

PetitPlat, Toni Ellison, and Bon AppetEats. Toni Ellison was the first to reintroduce me to the miniature food world with her tutorial videos on YouTube. I really enjoyed all her tutorials as it helped me when I just started making miniatures. Not long after that, I got in touch with the amazing work of PetitPlat and Bon AppetEats, they have been an inspiration ever since.

aWhat is the most memorable miniature you have seen by another artist?

The miniature brand Nunu’s House made by artist Tomo Tanaka are all very unique and memorable to me.

Why miniatures? 

One of the reasons I love miniatures so much is because you can make whatever you want. One of my childhood dreams was to have my own bakery or tea room with my own pastries, cakes, pies and treats. Even though I will not be able to realize this, I am able to realize it in miniature by making my own bakery roombox.

Upcoming projects planned? New minis in the works?

I have not done any shows or exhibitions yet and I’m not planning on doing so in the near future. As for my planned and ongoing projects: I’m currently working on my own miniature ice cream parlour roombox and have some more ideas for other roomboxes (bakery, garden, etc.). Besides roombox ideas, I plan on making more little set-ups and just random food miniatures. I would also love to make more non-food related miniatures (i.e. the garden roombox and anime-themed miniatures).ffff

Next to my personal work, I take commissions. I have not had many sales yet, but the miniatures I did make for commissions are all around the world now. I’m also a contributor of tutorials for the miniature and dollhouse magazine of The Netherlands.

Other hobbies you enjoy? 

I’m currently working at a primary school where I help children who fall behind a bit with reading and math. Next year, I will continue my student life as I’m enrolled for my master’s degree in Educational Science. Hobbies I enjoy are: being creative, cooking, baking, reading, watching manga and anime, and gaming.

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

I’m always up for a chat about miniatures!

Emily Leenes lives in The Netherlands. You can enjoy her Emi’s Bakery miniatures on DeviantArt and Facebook.

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Ludwina Mini Carpet

Miniatures by Ludwina Mini Carpet

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How did you first get started in miniatures? 

ludwina silk carpet petit point pillows chair made in Kari bloom workshopI am originally from Belgium and studied textile art in Antwerp and Ghent. From a very young age, I loved to paint and craft. I wanted to try all kind of crafts. It was so bad that my mom used to say my hobby was changing hobbies. Until I discovered weaving. There are so many different techniques and possibilities that it never becomes boring for me.

After marrying my Turkish husband, we moved to Turkey, and I left my looms in Belgium. Once in Turkey, we opened a real size carpet shop, and I started knotting carpets in the shop, because that was the only loom I had. A carpet loom is different from the weaving looms I had before, but in my textile art training I had used a very similar loom.

I started with a medium size carpet but after working on it for several weeks, I decided to make it a square—to finish a bit faster—and after doing this, I learned to make the carpets smaller because it takes so long to finish a piece that it started to be boring. And also because customers asked for smaller sizes and nobody made these small sizes at the time. One of the first real small carpets I finished was sold to a Dutch customer for his dollhouse. And here the idea was born to make dollhouse carpets. It must have been around 1997.ludwina smaller scale silk carpes

It was a long way to make smaller, better and finer carpets, not only small carpets but real miniature sized works. In the beginning, I made wool carpets for 1:12 scale, but when I wanted to make finer and finer pieces I began also to use silk. Some of those smaller fine silk carpets work well in smaller scales.

After some time, when I started selling on eBay, I began making miniature crochet. And when I saw the possibilities with petit point embroidery when I was at the Chicago International Show, I wanted to try this. I really love to make pillows and now and then a carpet. The designs I make for my knotted carpets are perfect for petit point carpets in smaller scales.

What can’t you live without?

My crochet needle, a box of silk sewing threads, and needles is always close by. Often times, I will take a project in my bag if I go somewhere. It is easy to take with me, and here in Turkey, it is not strange to sit somewhere and do some handcrafting… although the younger generations are not as interested in crafts anymore.ludwina wol carpet crochet and  pillow

What inspires you?

When I was working in our carpet shop, I was surrounded by carpets and had inspiration all day. Now that I am retired from the shop, I still have my books and I can find a lot of information and inspiration on the Internet. I am not weaving as much anymore but I’m creating more and more embroidery and crochet. I’m enjoying life, my cats and my garden.

Here in Turkey we do not have much dollhouse miniatures and surely not in the days I started. So I am happy I found miniature friends online. I am member of the Yahoo! group The CAMP where we share ideas, show our miniatures, and have a lot of miniature-related fun.

Ludwina knotting carpetsUpcoming projects planned?

At the moment, I am not doing any shows. Making my carpets takes so much time that it is not possible to have new work every year. Maybe in some time, I will be back at a show again, because it is so nice to see all the beautiful work I can see there…. and to meet new friends!

Ludwina Akbulut lives in Turkey. For more handmade work from her ludwinaminicarpet brand, visit her website, check out eBay, Facebook, Etsy or take a peek at miniature carpet designs on her blog.  

Ludwina my loom

Daily Mini Interview: Hungarian Miniatures

Hungarian Miniatures by Erzsébet Bodzás

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

I wanted to give my daughters a dollhouse for Christmas but the available ones on the market were so impersonal and way too expensive. I decided to make a dollhouse by myself. apple peelingI had no clue how to start, so I started to search on the Internet and I accidentally found some very impressing miniature works. I had never heard about miniatures before. It was love at first sight.

I’ve been making miniatures for five years, and I’m self-trained although I capitalized on everything I could find online. Any time I have aside from caring for my family and my garden, I use working in my workroom.

How has your work in miniatures evolved over the years?

Through the years, I meddled in almost every territory of the miniature world. I made foods, furniture, roomboxes, scenes, and more. Although I enjoy creating all of them, after a serious inner debate, I opted for miniature food making as my specialty. I prefer the traditional homemade foods, rustic breads and pies, heirloom vegetables, and fruits. I also love arranging my foods into little scenes where I can set together the elements like in a three dimensional still life painting.country kitchen

What materials do you use to make miniatures?

I use polymer clay, paper, wood, fabric—practically everything except glass and precious metals. Nowadays my personal favorite is paper. You can’t believe how many things you can do if you have proper templates and apply some layers of acrylic paint.

Advice for new miniaturists?

It’s never the perfection that makes a miniature real, but the natural flaws. I like to show the little imperfections, the brown spots on the apples, the scratches on the fresh pear skin, the pale places of the cucumber where the sun couldn’t reach it. So use your eyes to find the unique features in everything to make it alive.

Tool you can’t live without?roast chicken on rice bed

My X-ACTO knife is my best friend in the workroom, I use more toothpicks than a restaurant, and I am emotionally attached to my lathe tool.

Most treasured miniature you’ve made?

I made an old cottage kitchen with a furnace just like my great grandparents had. I filled it with all the things I remembered from my childhood. It was great to make, and this is the only miniature work I could never part with. It’s in my living room now and I look at it every time I go past it.

What’s been the most difficult miniature to create?

My kryptonite was making early cherries. Half yellow, half red with the slight groove on one side and the thin light green stem. My first attempts were terrible. I tried to get the coloring by applying chalk powder with a brush on the tiny cherry balls. I used polymer clay and wire for stems. cherries on a scaleBut my cherries were just fake polymer clay cherries, nothing more. It took me three years to figure out my own method to copy nature. Now I brush my palm over with red, orange and yellow chalk powder and I rolled the tiny light yellow balls on it, then press a groove and a hole into them with a pin. The result is a bunch of perfect, various shades of yellow-red cherries. For the stems I use painted sisal fibers. Many times I wanted to give up, but I couldn’t get over it. I had to find a way to make realistic cherries because I had a miniature still life with them in my head and I desperately wanted to make it real.

Artists you look to for inspiration?

I admire some Russian photographers, Elana Tatulyan (Елена Татульян) and Карачкова Татьяна. Their still life photos are wonderful, just in the same country style I love to try to show in my miniature scenes. Another favorite artist is a Russian painter, Николаев Юрий Викторович, who I like also for his still life paintings.

Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

My first shock was when I found Kiva Atkinson’s works. I couldn’t believe my own eyes. I didn’t know it’s possible to make such realistic foods in miniature. The quality of her miniatures was a real goal to reach in my own works.

eggplantsAnd I think everyone just loves Tomo Tanaka’s Nunu’s House and his miniature foods. I still think there is a magic wand involved.

What is the most memorable miniature you’ve seen?

Lori Nix‘s miniature scenes are a fantastic mix of art and precise engineering. Choosing the post-apocalyptic world as a theme is very interesting. Her dioramas could be sad, but they are oddly invigorating and sometimes humorous for me.

Why miniatures?

I feel like a genie in a bottle or a wizard with a wand. I’ve always been a creative person. If I had time and money in limitless amount, I would try every craft in the world. I would make furniture, pottery baskets, and more. Since I’m not that lucky, I had to find a close enough substitute. In miniature, I could do anything I couldn’t do in real size.

Upcoming news you’d like to share?peppers

I’m one of the five new IGMA Fellow members that the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) elevated this year. That means a lot to me. I worked hard on my miniatures application, and fortunately it paid off.

There’s an exhibition in October in Budapest where some miniaturists including myself show their works. This will be my first exhibition, so I’m very excited about it.

Other hobbies you enjoy?

My other love is my garden. Actually I’m a landscape architect, but after the births of my daughters, I couldn’t work as an engineer in an office anymore. The necessary overtime, the travelling and the stress of imminent deadlines couldn’t work for me as a mother. But my green thumb still exists and I spend long hours in my garden almost every day.

IGMA Fellow Erzsébet Bodzás lives in Hungary. You can shop her work in miniature on Etsy and eBay. Check out her latest work on her “My Tiny World from Hungary” blog or Pinterest.

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Fanni Sándor

FannimiNiATURE: Miniatures by Fanni Sándor

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

I have always loved miniature things since my childhood. I made my first dollhouse out of a shoe box when I was 7 years old. I first saw professional 1:12 scale miniatures 10 years ago on the Internet, and it was love at the first sight. In my country, this art form is totally unknown. il_fullxfull.762749966_8r2iSo after that, I started to try to make my own miniatures, and after a few years I became a professional miniaturist. I have been making miniature things since my childhood, but professional 1:12 scale miniatures now for around 5 years.

Were you trained in the arts?

I learned drawing and painting through 7 years of art school. But I learned how to make miniature animals by myself, no one taught me. I have two miniaturist idols: Beth Freeman-Kane and Kerri Pajutee. I think they are the best wildlife and animal miniaturists ever, in all the world. Their art gave me lots of inspiration to become a professional miniaturist. Thank you to them both.

IMG_7074Do you create & sell miniatures full-time?

I have a three years old son and a one year old daughter. So now I’m a full time mother at home, and making miniatures part time for hobby, and for sell. Any free time what I have (it’s not too much because of my children), I try to do my craft, because it’s relaxing me totally. But I plan in the future I become a full time miniaturist.

How has your miniature work evolved over the years?

Nowadays, I mostly make birds, insects, and small mammals, but I used to make accessories and dolls. Thrice my dolls won the second price in an international doll exhibition and doll making competition in Hungary. My first exhibited 1:12 scale miniature work was a shadowbox, called Queen Elisabeth’s Kitchen. It was the beginning of my professional miniaturist life. In the kitchen there were foods, vegetables, fruits, pheasants and mounted deer trophies. Making the pheasants and the trophies were most enjoyable, so after this creation, I wanted to make more and more animals. It’s not a surprise, because I’m a biologist, so nature inspires me principally.

What materials do you use to make miniatures?

I don’t need too many supplies. I just need polymer clay, acrylic paint, feather and cotton thread in a various color, paper wire, and glue. IMG_7235All of my sculptures are made out of polymer clay. I love this material very much, because I can make really fine, detailed and lifelike figures with it. All of my works are hand sculpted, without the use of any mold.

Advice for new artists?

You have to do it with your heart and soul, and then any piece of your work will be unique.

What can’t you live without?

My hand, eyes, brain and polymer clay.

Favorite miniature you own by another artist?

I have a framed diorama by Beth Freeman-Kane, called The Racketeer, which includes a hummingbird and orchids. I love it and cherish it so much.IMG_6623

Most treasured miniature you’ve made? 

I have a lot. All of my miniature sculptures contain a little part of my heart. I love all of my creations, I can’t choose a favorite.

Upcoming projects you’d like to share?

In Hungary, dollhouse miniature making is an unknown art form. Almost no one knew about it. In this country, there are just 12 of us making miniatures. This year, we established the Hungarian Miniature Guild. We started to organize the first miniature exhibition of Hungary, which will be held in September 2015. We would like to promote and popularize the professional miniatures as an art form in Hungary.

IMG_6526Other activities you enjoy?

I love to take trips in nature. I love cooking, reading a book, painting, drawing, and sculpting.

Anything else you would like to add? 

In 2014, I received the IGMA Artisan title in Animal Figures category. It was the greatest honor for me. I’m 34 years old. I married the most fantastic man in the world four years ago. We have a 3-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter. I’m a microbiologist, but now I stay at home with my children. Beside making miniatures, I love to paint, draw, and sculpt.

Fanni Sándor currently lives in Hungary. Shop her FannimiNiATURE miniatures on Etsy, or check out new creations on her “Parányi valóság” blog.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Drew Leshko

Miniatures by Paper Sculptor Drew Leshko

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What’s your very first memory with miniatures?

My first memory of miniatures would have to be from attending an annual church auction. There was this woodworker who built the most amazing custom dollhouses. They were unfinished, but the detailing and precision was on point.

studio working watermarkedHow did you first start working in miniatures? 

I always think back to building dioramas for middle school English class as a component to a book report… but I think the first real experience working this way was in 10th grade. I had a serious surgery to correct pectus excavatum, a chest deformity. After having my ribs spread apart, xyphoid process shifted, and sternum moved around, I was stuck in a bed for a while. My father had purchased a kit for me to build a miniature half pipe. The half pipe was for fingerboards, those mini skateboards that were popular for a minute. I never found any interest in fingerboarding, but have really vivid memories of building ramps, then covering them with pencil drawings of skate brands and punk music imagery. A technique not too far off from the way I’m working now when applying street marketing and graffiti to my miniature dumpsters.

Not Grim watermarkedWere you formally trained in the arts?

I studied fine art in college and feel that I developed some strong composition and design skills, but honestly the way I work isn’t taught in schools. My 3-D design class really opened my eyes and focused my attention on making dimensional objects. However, now I make my sculptures mainly out of archival papers and paper sculpture, which just doesn’t fall into any of the class programs.

How long have you been creating minis?

I’ve been creating small sculptures for the past 10 years, but I feel like I’ve really focused my work and found a strong rhythm in the past 5 years. Now, I predominantly work at 1:12 scale with a variety of acid-free materials.

What types of miniatures do you make? How has your work evolved?

I started making architecturally based miniatures to be displayed on a tabletop or pedestal. I realized that I was running out of storage space in my studio and that any potential collector would need to devote so much space to show the works in a domestic setting, so I needed to make a revision. Eventually I came up with the idea of creating the works as only facades so that they could be wall mounted. My thought was that people are able to clear wall space much easier than floor space. At this point, it’s not much different from the way a painting or photograph is hung.

new orleans watermarkedThe buildings are huge undertakings and take a lot of time and patience. Additionally, they can be brutal to ship around the country. So I began to think about some smaller sculptures I could make, but most importantly, what type of objects can be constructed of paper? Thinking about some of the detailing on the buildings, I realized that recreating sheet metal with paper is great. I started to think about tractor-trailers, vans, food trucks, and similar vehicles when I landed on camper trailers. My work has always included commentary on the temporal nature of things, so the transient nature of “RV culture” fits right in to that idea.

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You’ve created a number of documentary studies of architecture from your Philadelphia neighborhood. Do you foresee creating building replicas of other cities?

It’s hard to say. Right now, I’m very happy to be done with the buildings and to be working on a new series. I spent a portion of my life designing and creating the 17 buildings and I’m a bit burned out on them.

What materials do you use to make miniatures?

I love using paper. It’s extremely versatile. It can be easily manipulated, folded, cut, sanded. Illustration board, mixed archival paper, wire, plaster, varieties of wood, and inkjet prints are the main materials for most of my projects. I then finish them with enamels, acrylics, airbrush, oil pigments, and charcoal.

Tool you can’t live without?

X-ACTO knife, without a doubt.

Unexpected material you’ve used in your work? 

I learned of a rusting technique from an amazing artist, Alex Lukas. Mixing hydrogen peroxide, iodized salt, and white vinegar results in a solution that will rapidly rust steel. It can be sprayed on surfaces, or applied with a paintbrush. Sometimes I’ll add pieces of metal to the works. This is a great solution for weathering.

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If you could only describe your work in one of these words, which would it be? Art. Miniature. Design. Architecture. 

Art. This isn’t a hobby, this is my job and I am a sculptor. They aren’t models for something to be designed or constructed either. Actually they are the opposite. A recreation of what was. With that mindset, they are documentary studies similar to a painter rendering a scene or a photographer capturing an image.

What’s a day in the studio look like?

A day in my studio is an exercise in patience! Everything is a slow process, so patience is a virtue. Typically it’s me cutting, gluing, and folding paper to create individual components that become integral parts of the overall sculpture. I try to break down the objects into manageable pieces and then apply them like a collage to the panel I’m working on. All of this typically happens to a soundtrack of hip-hop and punk rock, though I listen to a wide variety of music.

Favorite miniature or work of art you own?

Oddly enough, I don’t collect miniatures, but I have a pretty nice art collection. I own two hand-woven tapestries from one of my favorite young artists, Erin M. Riley. If you don’t know her work, you need to.

Most treasured miniature you’ve made?

I think Ampere Electric is my most treasured artwork, though I didn’t treasure it enough to keep it, haha! This piece was collected by Kasseem Dean (Swizz Beatz), and is now installed in his home; part of an amazing contemporary art collection, The Dean Collection. I love the balance of beauty and decay in the piece.

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Non-miniature artists, designers, books you look to for inspiration?

Thomas Demand, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Walker Evans, Roxy Paine, Alex Lukas, and William Christenberry.

Miniaturists or mini makers that inspire you?

EVOL, Tracey Snelling, Lori Nix, Lois Renner, Kim Keever, Thomas Doyle, and Patrick Jacobs.

Most memorable moment in your miniature making career thus far?

Last December in Miami was amazing. Art Basel, Miami, is always a great time but last year was wild. Philadelphia’s Paradigm Gallery + Studio sold Ampere Electric to the Dean Collection and I was able to meet the legend, Swizz Beatz. He was the most genuine, nicest, collector ever. At a party Swizz was DJ’ing, I then got to hang out with 2 Chainz. 2 Chainz and I had a nice conversation about one of my sculptures Caring Pharmacy and the impact of pharmaceutical dependency and addiction in urban areas. I think that trip will stick with me for a long, long time.

me and 2chainz

Advice for beginner artists?

You only get out of it what you put into it. Making a go at an art career is difficult at best. If you’re not willing to 100% of your focus into the work, then you should find something else to do with your time. Don’t get frustrated, it took me years before I was starting to get included and invited into good exhibitions.

What is the most memorable miniature you’ve ever seen?

Lee Stoetzel created miniature McMansions entirely from McDonald’s food products. The finished work is a photograph, but definitely a weird one.

Why miniature studies of your neighborhood? Why miniatures? 

I’ve always been interested in documentary studies in art, capturing moments in time regardless of media. My project with the buildings in my neighborhood is just that, a documentary project or archiving project.

“Why miniatures?” is a great question, one that I really can’t answer. It just feels right. There is something inside of me that pushes me to take on these works, but I can’t identify what that is.

News about upcoming exhibitions and shows?

Yes! I have a solo exhibition, Relics, with 11 building sculptures at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, that will be up through mid-August. Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles has curated my work into upcoming exhibitions in Detroit, Fort Wayne, Indiana, London, Miami, Honolulu, and Los Angeles. In June, I have a summer group show at Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco. Paradigm Gallery + Studio will be taking my work to Art Basel, Miami, in December and also hosting a solo show in Philadelphia in March of 2016. Beyond that, I will have a small solo show in Portland, Oregon at Antler Gallery in the fall of 2016.

What’s the best way to purchase your work?

My work can be purchased online through Paradigm Gallery + Studio. Additional works are currently available through Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles and Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco and the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington. For works at these galleries, inquire for a price-list as they’re not listed on their web shops.

Other activities you enjoy?

When I’m not in the studio, I like to enjoy family time with my wife, dogs, and cats. Cycling, camping, and fishing are some of my hobbies.

Motto that keeps you creating?

“They don’t finish themselves.”

Want to dive into more of Philadelphia-based Drew Leshko’s miniature worlds? Check out his website, latest blog posts, and follow along on Instagram, which Drew uses to show daily process images as well as a vehicle to promote work to a new audience.

Daily Mini Interview: Fairchildart Miniatures

Fairchildart Miniatures

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

mc4I credit my mom as she’s always been an avid collector of miniatures. There’s something inherently magical about tiny replicas so real you’d think there was a shrink ray gun lying around.

How many years have you been making minis?

Since the summer of 2008.

What materials do you use to make your miniature food?

Sculpey and Fimo brands of polymer clay. Since I stick to mostly food, my collection of pastel squares has come incredibly handing for blushing fruit and “toasting” pastries.

Advice for beginner artists?

Don’t stress about your first miniatures being perfect! As Adventure Time’s Jake the Dog wisely said, “Dude, sucking at something is the first step to becoming sorta good at something.” The Internet has a wealth of information when it comes to miniature making.mc7

Tool you can’t live without?

My trusted needle.

Favorite mini you own?

A pink tinted hand-blown glass bowl (a gift from my mom).

Where do you look for inspiration?

Lately, I’ve been studying Casey Baugh‘s charcoal portraits. The light captured in his subject’s eyes is incredible.

fv13Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

From the beginning, I’ve admired Stéphanie Kilgast of PetitPlat, Betsy Niederer and Tomo Tanaka of Nunu’s House. There are so many more but they were my welcome into the mini world.

What is the most memorable miniature you have ever come across by another artist?

Paris café fare by Nunu’s House: a tiny suitcase fashioned to hold sweets, jars of candy and cup of tea. His eye for detail is uncanny.

Why miniatures? Why miniature food?sw18

I love being able to complete a sculpture in one sitting (the instant gratification is a big pull). I’ve gotten amazing feedback from the miniaturist community and being able to send my miniatures all over the world is completely surreal. Food is always appealing from the sheer variety of textures and shapes involved (and the references are delicious).

Kim of Fairchildart Miniatures hails from Minnesota. Is your interest piqued? View many more miniatures on Kim’s website, Etsy shop, Instagram, and DeviantArt accounts.

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Daily Mini Interview: Ella-Rose Miniatures

Ella-Rose Miniatures

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Where does your interest in miniatures stem from?

I have always had an interest in dollhouses and miniatures. In 2004, a new shop opened up on our local High Street that sold dollhouses. il_570xN.747890578_565gI saved up funds and was soon able to purchase my first “grown-up” dollhouse.

How has your work in miniature evolved?

I began making my own miniatures in 2004, immediately after purchasing my first dollhouse. I found that I enjoyed creating these minis immensely: it was very rewarding and also something that I discovered I had a talent for. Soon after, I opened up an eBay shop and began selling my handcrafted miniatures. Then I opened up my Etsy shop, launched a blog, Facebook fan page and Twitter account. The rest, as they say, is history.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

I mainly use Fimo, liquid Fimo, acrylic paints and genesis heat paints.il_570xN.736047038_71oy

Advice for beginner artists?

Find your niche. Have patience and persevere. Your work will improve over time as you begin to use new and interesting techniques. Buy a few good books on making miniatures (I recommend any miniature food books by Angie Scarr) and simply add your own unique touches.

Material you can’t live without?

I cannot live without Fimo, white in particular. I use a lot. Liquid fimo is also a must for me.

il_570xN.693124706_1a65Favorite mini you own by another artisan?

I have a small pumpkin with a rat on it from the wonderful Mags-nificent Miniatures that I simply adore.

Artists, designers, books you look to for inspiration?

I take most of my inspiration from real-life bakers and cake makers, in particular Miss Lola’s Bakehouse and her amazing creations. I also created a Marie Antoinette collection after watching the film of the same name. Inspiration can come to you in many forms, maybe a color combination that you have seen or a certain design of furniture. Inspiration is all around us if you keep your eyes open and have a creative imagination.

What is the most miniature you have ever seen?

I think it would have to be anything by Ron’s Dollhouse’s. He creates the most beautiful, unique and interesting abodes for dolls.

Why miniatures?11147009_811997145522102_1128196356130336959_n

I am fascinated with creating real-life items and food in miniature form.

What’s to come from Ella-Rose Miniatures?

I am exhibiting at the Dolls House & Miniatures Fair in York next month. I exhibit twice a year at York. I am always creating new minis and strive for perfection.

Other activities you enjoy?

I enjoy watching films, horror films in particular. I also enjoy reading, training my two dogs, cooking, baking, oil and watercolor painting, as well as spending quality time with my loved ones.

il_570xN.768787740_t84mWords you live by?

“Being creative is not a hobby, it’s a way of life.” I love that saying.

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

When I bought my first dollhouse as an adult many of my friends and family didn’t understand the interest and would ask, “what on earth do you want that for?” However, now that they have seen the end results of my work with miniatures, many of my family members have more dollhouses than I do and are just as enthusiastic about the hobby as I am! My biggest fan (and critic) has always been, and will always be my son.

Kerry of Ella-Rose Miniatures hails from Great Britain. If you’d like to view more of her marvelous miniature creations, head on over to her shop, blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Genziana Bellè

Miniatures by Genziana Bellè

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

swan and flowersI discovered miniatures in the late eighties when I was traveling in the States. Miniatures were fairly unknown in Italy at that time. When I came back home, I tried to make something on my own.

How has your work evolved over the years?

I have been making miniatures for over 25 years. I began making petit point works on silk gauze, as well as wicker baskets and miniature flowers. Now, I have almost completely given up embroidery, but I keep on creating baskets and flowers in 1:12 and 1:48 scale.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

I use silk gauze, silk or cotton thread for the petit point; linen thread and paper-covered wire to make my miniature baskets; different kinds of paper and paper-covered wire to make flowers.Lavender

Advice for beginner miniaturists?

My advice is to take inspiration from the real world, not from miniatures already made by other artists. You will need patience, the desire to learn techniques used in 1:1 scale in order to adapt these skills for miniature making. You’ll also need the courage to throw away and remake your miniatures until you have achieved your desired level of proficiency.

wicker basket quarter scaleTool you can’t live without?

I can’t live without very good lighting, a magnifying glass, my fine tweezers for watchmakers, and only the best quality materials.

Favorite miniature you own by another artist?

My favorite  works are 1:12 furniture miniatures that my father made for me.

What inspires you?

I love books about embroidery, baskets, antiquing, and furnishing. I also take inspiration from the real world in order to achieve miniatures that reflect my personality.

wicker basket with hydrangeaWhat is the most memorable miniature you have seen by another artist?

The most memorable to me is not a single miniature but the exhibition of Mrs. Ingeborg Riesser‘s miniature collection that I saw in Paris in 1994.

Why miniatures? 

I like miniatures because making smaller items is a challenge, and also because the smaller size allows me to collect items that I couldn’t keep at home… they don’t take up much space!

Upcoming  miniatures in the works?

At the moment, I’m working on new baskets inspired from real ones, as always, and some new flowers. I’ll also be attending the Simp Miniature Show in Paris to check out work by other artisans.wicker bottles

Other activities you enjoy?

I love to travel and observe the world around me. I also enjoy 1:1 scale embroidery very much.

Genziana Bellè lives in Italy. To see more of her lovely work in miniature, head on over to Facebook.

 

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