Daily Mini Interview: Mackenzie McAlpin Miniatures

Mackenzie McAlpin Miniatures

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What are some of your earliest memories that involve miniatures? 

-untitled-+2 (5)My mother made miniatures, so I remember watching her make all kinds of things. One of the coolest things she did was buy cheap Santa Claus figures and then she’d make a new face and sometimes even change their clothes, and then fill Santa’s bag with miniatures themed around a family’s hobbies. I always thought that was such a great way to make money and get to do what she loved. Mini making was just something she did on the side.

What kind of miniatures did your mom make? 

Besides the Santa dudes, I remember her having a friend make a wooden Noah’s Ark and she made all the animals, two of everything she could think of. She made a lot of holiday-themed things, it was a way for her to earn extra money. -untitled-+2 (1)She was a single mother with 5 kids so, she really needed the extra. Heart necklaces for Valentine’s Day, mini Santas and snowmen or snowwomen for Christmas, pumpkins with willow tree branches as the stems, Fourth of July flags with glitter… you name it. I still have some of the little guys she made, I have a Santa, an alligator, a bird, and a few others. She was so fun to watch. She worked with polymer clay and acrylic paints. That’s what I use too, I didn’t stray far from what I knew.

How did your mom’s work in miniatures inspire you to create your own?

-untitled-+2 (2)Making miniatures was something that I just happened upon. I wanted to be a part of a group art show and decided I would make a miniature orange tabby cat. That was the first mini I made, as an adult. While I was making it I felt like my Mom was there helping me. It made me laugh… as if she was sooo happy that I picked her medium to work with. That felt really amazing. Doing something my Mother did. I feel a huge connection to her when I work. Also, I should mention that my Mother passed away 6 years ago… so it feels extra special to feel a connection with her through something she did, it makes the work even more important to me.

How long have you been creating works of art and photography?

-untitled-+3I have been making art for so long. I feel like we are all artists starting out. Some of us choose different paths, but creativity is so strong in us as children. I was lucky to have a mother that nurtured that part of me. She loved every little thing we made, even if it was leaves and sticks in a paper bag, she loved it.

I started to get more serious about art in high school, because my art teacher, Tryon, ruled. She let me get into photography, but we didn’t have a photo department. We had to work with what we had, so I did a lot of collages with my photos (developed at CVS) and magazine cut-outs (National Geographic mostly). I loved them. I ended up going to college for Fine Art Photography and I still loooove making collages.

As for miniatures, I’ve been creating them for 2 years now. It’s still really new for me.

-untitled-+2Describe the pieces from your most recent collection.

The mini boob pots that I make are a collaboration with my friend Isaac Nichols, he makes life-sized boob pots for actual plants. I always wanted some of his pots, but I couldn’t afford them, so I decided to make mini versions of them. Turns out, the minis were a big hit. I also make lots of food and handfuls of jewelry, little mugs, plants, beauty supplies, naked ladies dancing, animals, pretzels, and… and… and, well… I like to make lots of things. I’ve also just started a series of shadow boxes, so hopefully I’ll have a gallery show at some point.

Daily Mini recently visited Mackenzie’s Studio — see the photos here!

Why miniatures?

Without feedback from friends and family, I probably wouldn’t be making miniatures right now at all. They are who makes this a “thing” for me. I can talk myself out of everything pretty quickly, so having support from them keeps me going.

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Do you create miniatures on a full-time basis?

I do not. I am a full-time odd job kinda gal. I babysit, I am a bookkeeper for a couple different companies, I work as a Production Assistant sometimes, I help teach little kids art… oh man, I have a long list of things that I’ve been doing for the past 10 years in Philadelphia. This is a rad place to make art and make a living. The community here is so supportive and I am lucky to have the friends that I have and be surrounded by people who understand my lifestyle. I am so very lucky.

IMG_7397Tools, techniques or materials you can’t live without?

Cheap acrylic matte finish paint, tweezers, music (I consider this to be a tool, without it, I get nothing done), sarcasm, my cat, and this weird little pencil that helps me shape each mini and at this point is coated with old clay and paint… it’s the best.

Advice for beginner artists?

Make what you want, how you want it, and keep at it. DO NOT try to be perfect. Let your personality shine through; that’s what people are drawn to in art, or at least that’s what I’m drawn to. Oh, and always work with good light.

What’s your most beloved miniature?

I don’t just have one. That’s the best part of miniatures! You can have a million beloved teeny things and they don’t take up that much space. BUT, I would say all the minis my Momma made, they are very dear to my heart.IMG_0239 It’s cool to look at the way she made them and compare it to how I would make the same thing. I also have these really weird little pieces my boyfriend made me. One is a little mouse-like thing made out of clay and feathers. I call her Face Veil. And the other is a peanut on a piece of wood… I absolutely love them. They are the first gifts he gave me, and they make me smile.

What’s the most difficult mini you’ve ever attempted to create?

Custom miniatures are rough for me. I feel a lot of pressure and anxiety because I want the animals to look right, I want the person to be happy with their mini. Somehow they always turn out well, and I end up loving them, but it’s a hard thing to get started. red+bikini+1I’m sure I overthink it. I have to take my own advice here and stop trying to make it perfect, because that’s impossible. Also, I’m sure my most difficult miniature is still to come.

What’s to come from Mackenzie McAlpin?

I’ll be working on updating my website off and on, as well as working on custom mini orders and OH! I’ll be selling minis at Art Star Pop Up Market at Spruce Street Harbor Park on July 25 (I will update my Instagram and my website accordingly). I also have a piece in the Fleisher Art Memorial Faculty Show right now.

What inspires you? -untitled-+2 (3)

I can’t think of any one thing in particular as a source of inspiration… but I am definitely influenced by Miranda July, my family, Amy Sedaris, Billy Dufala, Isaac Nichols, LIFES HAPPENINGS, Gabriel Orozco, dollar stores, childhood, animals, boobs, women’s bodies, flowers, the sky, my cat, the moon, the sun, nature in general, people who work their butts off, Nan Goldin, routines in life, food, relationships, mistakes, children’s encyclopedias, sustainability, Mexico, Africa, music, rocks, Outsider Art, Folk Art, love, laughter, and that list could go on and on and on…

IMG_2531What are some of the most memorable miniatures you’ve seen?

Dalton Ghetti’s carvings are so perfectly wonderful. Also, Anatoly Konenko’s smallest aquarium in the world is crazy. I went to the Philadelphia Miniaturia in New Jersey last year and those people are no joke. They blow my mind.

Other activities you enjoy?

One of my favorite hobbies is Windowkitty on Tumblr and @windowkitty on Instagram. I get soooooooo much joy out of this. I started doing it probably 8 years ago and still love it.

Anything else you’d like to add? 

Everyone should know that I like to laugh, love and have fun ’cause life is so short.

To see many mini more Mackenzie McAlpin Miniatures, visit Mackenzie’s website or check out #mackenzieminis and @kenzaloolee on Instagram! To see photos from a recent Daily Mini Studio Visit, click here!

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Iulia Chin Lee

Miniature Woodwork and Micro Woodturning by Iulia Chin Lee

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How did you get started in miniatures and micro woodturning?

fromLog029_LI met Johannes Michelsen at my first Northeastern Woodworkers Association annual showcase in 2001. He was the judge and demonstrator. In that show, I won first place in the miniature category. He also gave me the inspiration for miniature turning.

In 2010, I won ‘Best of Show’ along with one first place in ‘Case Furniture,’ one first place in ‘Table’, one second place in ‘Spindle Turning,’ and one first place in ‘Miniature.’ Those first three pieces competed and were judged against full-size work.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

I use lots and lots of different kinds of wood. It all depends on the piece I’m making. I’ve used acrylic, rosewood, ebony, brass for candlesticks and so much more. I prefer wood because every piece is different. The wood speaks to me and determines what the shape should be. Sometimes a nice pattern might be visible on the surface of the wood, but you might need to cut out that beautiful pattern to make your piece. I prefer to keep that pattern and figure out what shape will go with that particular pattern of wood.

Were you formally trained in the arts?pagePhoto_01d

I have a double masters degree in oil painting and ceramics. As for woodworking, to cut the wood is one process, but to finish it is a whole other process. It can take me up to 2 days or more to finish a miniature woodturning. I’m most known my furniture. I started making miniatures in 1992. I prefer to spend time making miniatures rather than naming them. And so, I don’t name my pieces. I finish them on the lathe. Once I’ve removed a piece from the lathe, you can’t put it back on again.

What types of miniatures do you make?

As for the scale I work in, the scale of a miniature truly depends on the person’s perspective. I’ve been working in artistic woodturning for 20 years now. You simply cannot make two identical pieces because you can never find two identical pieces of wood. I use dried wood that’s been treated.

Favorite memories in your miniature woodturning career thus far?

There was a young boy who was fascinated with my work at a show. One of the pieces of furniture had a spinning top inside the drawer. I took tweezers and placed it in his hand. Turns out, years later he became a woodworker himself.

NewWork_001_LWhen I worked with cupboards, I made real joints, all dovetail joints. I won first place for my miniatures in a full-size woodworking competition.

One of my earliest miniatures was a Chippendale chest of drawers and a Queen Anne stool for my son.

What’s been especially challenging thus far?

Sometimes it’s very hard for people to get over the miniature scale of my pieces and those of other artists working in miniature. For the Northeastern Woodworkers Association, I always entered the miniature category and always won first place. However my works were becoming lost in the exhibition space. People didn’t even go to see my works. So I entered to be judged along with the full scale wood pieces.

Woodworking is a very competitive industry. It’s important for me to see my work and not think it’s a toy. I think that’s been the biggest challenge. When I show my work at a miniature show, they think it’s a toy or dollhouse. But my work is not just that. I’ve made brass turned drawer handles and so much more.

As I mentioned, I love to challenge myself. In addition to entering my work in the category of Miniature, I enter my miniatures to be judged against full‐size work. Below are some prizes I have won:

  • 1st place in Spindle‐turning, 2007 (spiral candlesticks)
  • 1st in Case Furniture (blanket chest)
  • 1st in Table (colonial walnut table)
  • 1st in Marquetry, 2011 (room box)
  • 2nd place in Chair (ladle‐back chair)
  • 2nd in Vase‐Hollowing (lidded vase)
  • 2nd in Bowl‐Hollowing (nestled bowls)

NewWork_004_LWhat inspires you?

I have an interest in arts and cultural history. This interest comes together when I make furniture. I make only historically accurate pieces. I came across a Dutch Kas cupboard from 1730 at a local shop in Kingston, NY. It was a full size piece, so I made some drawings of the work, found the appropriate wood, then made a replica myself.

In 2012, there was a special exhibit in the Museum of the Connecticut Historical Society. The title was ‘A Craft of Tradition ‐ Current Work by The Society of American Furniture Makers.’ My miniature Dutch Kas was chosen among the 34 national, full‐size finalists.

What’s your favorite piece?

Whenever we as artists create a piece our mood (physical, mental, emotional) is always different. Sometimes everything simply comes together to break a record, as athletes in the Olympics might do. specialty-turning009_LEverything is combined together in that one moment to create greatness.

Wood is like a jewel. When the wood speaks to me, I have to decide how to cut the wood.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?

I have a few favorite pieces that have taken me months or more than a year to create. Sometimes when I encounter a roadblock in my work, I have to breakthrough somehow. I know that if I created three beautifully jointed doors of a dresser one night, I should not go to sleep and work on the 4th door in the morning. It’s a true challenge, but when I’m on a roll and in a creative state of mind, I do not sleep. I know that by going to bed I would lose whatever magic I had that day. I have good days and bad days. When I have a good day, I don’t want to stop. And that’s why artists have very irregular hours.

To see more of Iulia Chin Lee’s miniature woodwork and micro woodturning, visit the Chin Lee Miniature website.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Hernán Buljevich

Miniatures by Hernán Buljevich

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How did you first get into miniatures?

Angel sierraI started working on miniatures at university as I became interested in scale models as a way of representation. It was then when I realized what my future would be. I began to work with constructive details, and created replicas of existing places that I liked. Over time, I acquired experience and thought that my greatest accomplishment was the way I could pass down the essence of a place and its charmwhether a house, a restaurant, a bar, a historic building, or any kind of space, front door or interior roominto a miniature.

What inspires you?

The inspiration for my work stems from a lifelong love of classic Spanish culture, cuisine and bars. I started with Restaurante Botín in Madrid. Founded in 1725, Botín is one of the world’s oldest restaurants.

Every detail of my replicas is carefully carried out, not only to bring photographic accuracy but to represent the attractiveness of each place.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I am inspired by everyday life. I like to always be open to learning new things and new techniques, and I often apply other methods or techniques from another profession into what I do.

What materials do you use for your miniatures?

In order to perform said replicas I seek each material resembles the original: wood, cardboard, recycled materials. All materials I use are legitimate to carry out each of the works. It’s a matter of creativity. That’s how the miniatures get the different places owners’ attention. The owners are eventually attracted to the replicas and would like to have one of their own place.

Bodega de la Ardosa (3)Describe your process for making miniatures.

Having photographs of anywhere allows me to make a miniature. I get photos to paper, converting them into blueprints. I calculate the scale observing the photos. I think of each line, relief and measure of each part of the site. And then, I select the materials and all parts prepared to be later assembled, resulting in the final work.

Alma de España by Hernán is on view now at D. Thomas Fine Miniatures in New York!

Through photos or videos that can be sent by mail or email, one can start preparing miniatures. Many different materials can be used, enriching in detail the work to be accomplished. You desire one, you have it! Everyone wants his or her place in the world to be represented in a miniature.

Advice you would give to beginner artists?

What matters is the essence of the place or object we want to do, not accuracy. The important thing is to give the work life.

Tool you can’t live without?

I use many improvised and homemade tools. I can not live without my tweezers and nail files. These are what I use most.

What appeals to you most about what you do?

The creativity to find the materials to make things from real life in miniature, is a very fun challenge. The best we can recycle and transform any object.

Other activities and hobbies you enjoy?

I began with this as my hobby, really I am an architect. What I enjoy the most is traveling.

Argentinian artist Hernán Buljevich recreates well-known bars and restaurants in miniature. To see more of his work, visit his website or follow along on two Facebook accounts: here and here.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by MiniArtHouse

Miniatures by MiniArtHouse

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How did you get started working with miniatures? 

Once, turning over the pages of a magazine dedicated to design and decor, I saw a small dollhouse. IMG_4151It had every thing inside: furniture and tableware. It made me so excited. Later, I wanted to make the same house for myself. My husband helped me and we made our first dollhouse. It was a Dutch house from the 16th and 17th centuries.We were interested in recreating some of the details of the interior, typical of that time and country. Upstairs in the bedroom, we did a wood-beamed ceiling, and in the dining room we created hand-painted tiles. Then we created an Italian house. IMG_3184 (1)At that time in Russia, miniatures were not so popular, so we had to do a lot by ourselves. In the process, we gained invaluable experience. Soon after, we set up a small family shop dedicated to miniature. Our store is filled with various miniatures.

Our main focus is handmade miniature. My daughter, Ksenia is an artist who produces miniature paintings and paints furniture. We create posters. My husband, Georgiy is interested in porcelain and ceramics. My husband and I pay great attention to porcelain. IMG_2143He makes the form of vases, pitchers, plates, and more. Then we paint and glaze the works. We try to find historical patterns of majolica and transfer them to miniature porcelain. I paint porcelain. I also create food from miniature polymer clay, and I love to sew and embroider cushions, rugs, tapestries, and paintings.

For the holidays, we make themed dioramas and roomboxes. For Christmas and New Year, I decorate little Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths, and garlands. IMG_2322We also create compositions, including shelves with plates, tables with fruit and vegetables, and still life works with food and flowers.

How many years have you been making minis?

We’ve been in the miniature business for about 5 years. We are always in search of creativity and the mastering of new techniques.

IMG_4173What different types of materials do you use to make miniatures?

In our works, we use polymer clay, clay, porcelain, wood, MDF, fabric, paint, pastel, plaster, paper, cardboard, floss, and more.

Advice for beginner artists?

For starters, we recommend you pay great attention to detail.

Material or technique you can’t live without?MAH-PZ-2c

Embroidery, modeling, ceramics, and drawing.

Why miniatures? 

It’s a wonderful hobby. Miniature is the reflection of the world in which we live. Through miniature, we want to transfer all the forms, colors, and patterns that fill our lives.

MAH-PIL-41zWhat’s to come from MiniArtHouse?

In the near future we would like to try creating miniatures in the scale of 1:24.

Words you live by?

Beauty and creativity make our lives more interesting.

Miniarthouse is a family affair based in Moscow, Russia. Evgenia creates miniatures with help from her husband Georgiy and daughter Ksenia. To view more of their handmade minis, visit their website, shop on Etsy, or follow along on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest

Top Miniatures on View at 2015 Guild Show

The International Guild of Miniature Artisans Presents Guild Show 2015

Three-drawer chest by Smaller Than Life (Pete and Pam Boorum, IGMA Artisan members), small carry box with handle by Bubba’s Country Cupboards (Barbara Vajnar, IGMA Artisan member)
Three-drawer chest by Smaller Than Life (Pete and Pam Boorum, IGMA Artisan members), small carry box with handle by Bubba’s Country Cupboards (Barbara Vajnar, IGMA Artisan member)

The International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) was incorporated in the late 1970s with the aim of promoting miniatures as fine art. To that end, the Guild Show was established to provide a venue for talented IGMA Artisan and Fellow members to show and sell their work.

Open to the public, the Guild Show 2015 will take place this summer on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck, NJ. The show is open to all and is conveniently located just across the river from New York City, easily accessible by bus and car. Admittance details for this year’s Guild Show are as follows:

Saturday, August 8 from 9 – 10 AM: Show Preview for Guild members only
Saturday, August 8 from 10 AM – 4:30 PM
Sunday, August 9 from 10 AM- 3:30 PM

General admission, open to the public: $10 one day, $15 two day pass
Children under 14: free
IGMA Members admitted free

Last year, the Guild Show celebrated its 35th Anniversary and is still going strong, featuring some of the best work in miniatures today. Guild Show events include extensive exhibits, classes, tours, auctions, and other festivities noted below:

  • Dealers
  • Broadway Night
  • Thursday & Friday Classes
  • Tour to Historic Hudson Valley
  • Gathering: Desserts & Demonstrations
  • Annual Meeting
  • Small Beginnings
  • Exhibits
  • Gallery of the Guild
  • Live and Silent Auctions
  • Area Events: NYC & New Jersey

Pre-show events commence on Wednesday, August 5. Visit the IGMA website for more information and directions. For details on becoming an IGMA Member, please click here.

Violets by Peter Gabel, IGMA Artisan member
Violets by Peter Gabel, IGMA Artisan member
Three-tiered wicker stand by Uncle Ciggie’s (Vicky Sanfield, IGMA Artisan member)
Three-tiered wicker stand by Uncle Ciggie’s (Vicky Sanfield, IGMA Artisan member)
Urchin lamp by Studebaker Miniatures (Bill Studebaker, IGMA Artisan member), Queen Anne side chair by Mark Murphy, IGMA Fellow member
Urchin lamp by Studebaker Miniatures (Bill Studebaker, IGMA Artisan member), Queen Anne side chair by Mark Murphy, IGMA Fellow member

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Ryan McAmis

Miniature Cathedral by Ryan McAmis

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downloadDescribe your background in the arts.

I studied Communications Design at Pratt Institute, with a focus on Illustration. I also took a lot of painting classes there. I often spend time working on design projects, paintings, drawings, miniatures, music, and more. As far as picking a favorite, it really depends on what I’m into at the moment. For example, I’ll be really focused on illustration, then I’ll burn out and I’ll switch over to piano for week or so. When I’m hitting a wall there, I’ll work on the miniature cathedral. I have to say though, that the cathedral is the most relaxing and enjoyable. Drawing and piano tend to stress me out more.

What’s your process when creating works of art?1471365_10201077227282037_1384527851_n

I wish I had a set process—I’d probably be more productive. As far as the miniature cathedral, I start with a lot of research, followed by some sketches until I get a rough idea. Then I’ll do some scale vector drawings on the computer and get the proportions and measurements right. Once my plans are all set, I’ll start building the final pieces.

Where did the idea for your cathedral project stem from?

When I was a child I was obsessed with architecture and especially old cathedrals. I would spend all of my free time drawing from books on art history and architecture. I eventually started building models of cathedrals out of sugar cubes. Sometime around the 7th grade, I discovered foamcore. I would spend several months on these models. This went on through high school, until I went away to college. Now 20 years later, I decided to pick it up again as an adult and apply what I know now as far as techniques, materials and new technology available.

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What different types of materials have contributed to the construction of your cathedral project?

For example, let’s take one of the Gothic windows. In order to make this window, I use various materials to get the right textures. It can range from wood to clay and acrylic, even treated paper. Some pieces look best hand cut, some are better laser cut, whatever it takes to get the most perfect and realistic detail. 1502731_10201077219641846_1024527952_oThen I glue all these elements together and make a master Gothic window. The next step is to make a silicon mold of it, which I then use to cast multiple pieces in white plastic. Once the cast plastic windows are ready, I hand paint them. This is pretty much the same process for all the pieces for my cathedral, everything is eventually cast in white plastic and hand painted in the end.

Do you have plans to exhibit the work upon completion? 

I haven’t thought about it yet. The cathedral project is probably going to take about 5 years to complete. Unfortunately, I only get to work on it in my spare time. I work crazy long hours as an illustrator and graphic designer, so I can only squeeze in time early in the morning before work or late at night when I get home.floor+tomb

Does the cathedral piece have any secret chambers or hidden gems within it?

Recently my cat Leo passed away at the age of 22. I kept one of his fangs that fell out a couple months before he died as well as a bundle of his whiskers and lock of his hair, all of which I interred into one of the funerary wall monuments in the cathedral. So kitty has a little resting place in there. I do plan to add more secret things. I would love to figure out how to make a functioning gargoyle system so that if I pour a glass of water on the roof it runs off and drains out of the mouths of tiny gargoyles.rose+windows

What’s your favorite period of art history?

I’m really attracted to the austerity and simplicity of the early Renaissance, before it got it really extravagant. I love Fra Angelico, in fact the backgrounds of his paintings, the architectural elements and interiors that his subjects inhabit are big influences on the design of my cathedral. Giotto as well. His architectural backgrounds are really influential.

slides+TALL+frameOn the other hand, I’m also a huge fan of 20th century to present day art. Clyfford Still, Helen Frankenthaler, Louise Bourgeois as well as illustrators such as Saul Steinberg and Jan Lenica.

Advice for beginner artists?

Stay relaxed and don’t take yourself too seriously. Play around with the materials. The best breakthroughs usually come by accident.

Tool or material you can’t live without?

Smooth-On mold making and casting materials. 10339494_10202176916973592_2610120923667191120_o-1I also can’t live without my computer. I do all my designs on the computer first. Rounds and rounds of designs until I get it right, then I build the real thing.

Why miniatures? 

I’m able to build something I would never be able to build in real life.

To follow along on Ryan’s many mini adventures (and to see how the miniature cathedral turns out!), visit his website or check him out on Instagram.

Daily Mini Interview: Double N Minis

Double N Minis by Nadia and Nora

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by miniatures. There is a certain magic in seeing and touching real things that have been reduced to such tiny sizes!dailyminidoublen4

I am a graphic designer and I have also always been very crafty. I love working with my hands and with various media. Also, because I’m a graphic designer, I think that my attention to detail has helped me a lot with making miniatures. I like to refinish furniture, sew, paint, and more. Making miniatures is the perfect means to combine all my interests. Plus my creations don’t take that much space!

I always thought that “someday” I would build a dollhouse but never really got into it although it was always in the back of my mind. Three and a half years ago, our family life was terribly changed when my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer, and then again when he died two years ago. This, among many other things, changed my outlook in life, and I learned that the best time to do the things you want to do is “now” because we never know when our lives are going to be turned upside down.

At that time, my daughter and I had been working a little bit making mini food charms out of polymer clay and some other clay crafts like pens just for fun. After doing some research to make more charms, the world of realistic miniature food opened up to me. I couldn’t believe the things that people were doing! The Internet is an endless source of information and I started looking at all sorts of miniatures, collecting images on Pinterest, and more. It was at that time that I decided to start our first dollhouse in November 2014. dailyminidoublen3We started with a small kit because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be “into it,” so It was better to start small. (Ha! And now I’m hooked for life!)  We decided it was going to be a bakery with an apartment upstairs. My goal was to make as many things as I could instead of just buying items. If I bought something, I was going to transform it. Everything would have to have our own special touch.

Honestly, I had no idea that I was going to get so immersed in this world! My daughter and I made all the desserts and pastries, and then I started working on furniture, accessories, and other pieces. I love to challenge myself, experiment, and try new techniques. I didn’t know I was going to be able to make so many things! My daughter has a lot of talent in manipulating tiny things, and it’s been great to see how her abilities are changing and the things she can make at her age! I love that she loves miniatures and enjoy spending time working.

dailyminidoublen2What inspires you?

I am very inspired by the work of so many artists and many different styles. When I first discovered the work of Tomo Tanaka of NuNu’s House, it blew my mind. There are also a lot of other Japanese artists that I admire, including Rosy, N Original, and Studio Soo among others. Martiza Moran and Christine-Léa Frisoni make beautiful furniture and spaces. Hyper-realistic artists like Alan Wolfson, Ronan-Jim Sevellec, Charles Matton, Dan Ohlmann and Marc Giai-Miniet inspire me.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

Right now, as a beginner, I’m experimenting with everything! I want to really try out many media options, so I can eventually find my niche. So far, polymer clay, wood and paper are my favorite materials.

Advice for beginner artists and miniaturists?dailyminidoublen

Keep working and practicing! Don’t get disappointed if your work doesn’t look like the photos you see on the Internet—it takes time and patience to get there. Find your inspiration from the real world, and observe, observe, observe! I think what makes a miniature stand out is the details: all the perfect imperfections! Find your own style.

Favorite mini you own by another artist?

Well, since we just started and we’ve been trying to make as much as we can, we don’t own many pieces by other artists. A few months ago Angelina (elArtedeAngelina) contacted me because she wanted to trade minis, and I felt so honored. We got a beautiful book from her. At the Seattle Miniature Show, we met Julia Stewart. She makes the most beautiful clothes, and my daughter fell in love with a tutu (she’s a ballerina herself). She loved it so much, she volunteered her allowances for a whole year so she could buy that tutu!

What quote do you live by?

Don’t wait to do the things you want to do. Now is the time.

dailyminidoublen5What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?

Making miniatures has been a blessing for me. After the huge loss I had, being able to just lose myself in my work has been tremendous.

Even though it took me such a long time to finally start working on this, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to learn as much (I am self-taught) if I had started earlier. The Internet is a source of unlimited information and I am so grateful for all the artists that are generous in sharing their knowledge, tutorials, photos, resources, and much more.

Nora Mazonson of Mexico City now lives in Mount Vernon, Washington. Nora and her daughter Nadia are the team behind Double N Minis. Bring home your own miniature by shopping along on Etsy. To see more of their work, head on over to Facebook and Instagram!

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Mary Grady O’Brien

Miniatures by Mary Grady O’Brien

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How did you first get into miniatures?

I grew up with a dollhouse and a mother who loved little things. I started out collecting from an early age and soon amassed a nice collection. One of the best miniature sources at the time was Marshall Field’s in Chicago. 177Now, I grew up in Dallas, but my parents went to Chicago and bought dollhouse things for me and lead soldiers for my brother. From an early age we learned to appreciate these toys and not to play too hard with them. And so, I’ve always been fascinated with little things.

Years went by and when I had a family of my own, I worked on a train layout for my sons. The following year I thought, “why don’t I refurbish the dollhouse?” At that time, Chestnut Hill miniatures were available and at Marshall Field’s, they had Harry Smith’s Barnstable collection which was great quality. I was always attracted to handmade antiques. I began refurbishing my old dollhouse for my 2 daughters (I have 6 kids) and came across a miniatures shop in South Bend, Indiana. The items for sale were quite expensive so I started making a few things that could be sold at the shop – ranging from books, paintings and more. At that very same time, I was collecting American pewter.

In 1973, I began buying more and more stuff for the family dollhouse. I wanted to support my habit as it was becoming increasingly costly. On the way back from a show to look at American pewter, we were in my husband Dan’s Corvette which didn’t allow for big purchases. I said aloud to Dan, “If I ever did anything in miniature, I’d like to replicate American tinware in authentic pattern.”

How has your work evolved?29

The first piece I made after that trip was a document box made out of cardboard. I painted it so it appeared to be tin. I picked out a simple, authentic pattern and one thing led to another, which led to another. I was pretty hooked. It became my pastime, my hobby, my escape, my passion.

As time went on, I wondered if I could make some grocery money making miniatures. So, I put my nose to the grindstone and started to make a little production. I met other furniture makers, artisans who focused on tools and dyes. People were always so nice about helping me.

The woman at the local miniature shop told me about a show coming up in Sandusky, Ohio. It was a great way to get my feet wet. So that was my first show. There was a little circuit at the time, so people would always ask, “would you be interested in participating in the next show?”

For a long time, Dan and I traveled to shows within driving range from our Midwest home. Later on, I was invited by the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (NAME) to do house parties. So I went to Denver to attend that show. It was there that I met IGMA Guild School Director Barbara Davis for the first time. She was living in California and she made miniatures. Our interests align and we felt an instant connection with one another’s work. For many years, she would make miniatures and I would decorate them. Both Barbara and Mark O’Grady are both known for their beautifully painted, distressed antique furniture. They would create a piece and finish it off with paint, then I would add a decorated pattern after which they’d make the piece look worn and antique. Their finishes were smooth as satin. Barbara and I made work for more than 30 years together. After that first show, Barbara connected with Carol Hardy. That particular Denver NAME event opened up a lot of doors.

mother_daughter_Y97VgdpSkAsyXAs a home economics major, I had previously taken some art classes. I never considered myself clever or talented. I never thought of myself as an artist. However, when I started the tinware patterns, these styles really resonated with what I liked. I was painting in acrylic at the time. After meeting a woman who taught country painting, she encouraged me to try the medium of oil painting. I enrolled in her class in the 1970s and when I started painting these patterns, I felt they were familiar to me. As if I had done them before.

I’m convinced that in another life, I was one of those flower painters that did those patterns. It all came so naturally. It was never necessarily easy, but it came naturally.

What types of antiques and miniatures are you most interested in?

I absolutely love New England antiques and history. For a long time, I wanted to more east. I was studying the tinware patterns of Connecticut, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. There were so many different tinware facilities at the time. I learned about the women who decorated tinware and the men who made the objects through assembly line.194_4pROb8GqgaNtC

For about 15 years, I did nothing but tinware. Soon enough, I could tell right away whether a pattern’s origin was from Connecticut or Pennsylvania. I grew to have an eye for these things and eventually found patterns on other objects. One in particular was a wooden bride’s box in the American style. Those these boxes are probably European in origin, the only one I recognized was painted in the United States. So I painted those bride boxes (similar to the concept of dowager’s chests). I remember being very excited by the prospect of a new bride box pattern to try, and it soon became my favorite style.

How did you become involved with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans?

I was involved with the Guild at the very beginning. When I attended my first Guild Show, the other artisans encouraged me to become a member of the Guild.

The Guild always made artisans feel very accomplished by the work they were doing. It’s so nice to feel that this work in miniature is a serious art form. It’s not just cute stuff. It’s serious and we’re serious about it. My membership with the Guild led to so many avenues of opportunity. And tons of friendships came out of it. We share mutual interests and it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to collaborate with other artists and designers.

Technique you cannot live without?

My “Jenny Craig stroke.” Whenever I am painting, I take another brush, one that is clean and slightly damp. With that second brush, you can take a crooked line and thin it out. You can edit your work without disturbing the rest of your design. It’s easy with this technique to reduce, refine and erase. It will save you frustration!

213When I teach, I say “you’re going to make mistakes. Don’t get frustrated, learn from them. There’s often an opportunity to remedy it.” This logic helps any artist feel more in control of their work.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?

I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s always felt good. And it continues to feel that way today. I love the challenge of doing something hard, and ending up really pleased with it. Every time I will do a series, I am always thinking, “how can I make this a little better?” I am always trying. And I’m very competitive within myself.

I don’t spend a lot of time looking at other’s artist’s work. I don’t want to feel as if I copied someone.

I just love what I do. And I won’t live long enough to do all my projects. There are just so many things I get excited about – I am never bored!

What advice would you give to a new artist?

Take advantage of where you are in your career. Take advantage of the area of study you’re in. There is a wealth to learn on the Internet, so explore what’s out there. And take a class. Pursue a study program. And join the Guild!

Mary Grady O’Brien is a 27th year instructor at the IGMA Guild School. She has lived in Dallas, Indiana, New Jersey, Illinois and Wisconsin. Her highly-detailed work in miniatures continues to mesmerize many a generation of miniature enthusiasts. To see many more minis by Mary, visit her website. Check out what her students had to say:

“I enjoy Mary’s class quite a bit. She’s very nice and patient.”
—Gisele Hanson, 12th year IGMA Guild School student

“I’ve taken classes with Mary before, but this is my first time with tinware. This class is great!”
—Peggy Meyers, 8th year IGMA Guild School student

“I’ve not worked much with oils before. I’ve enjoyed Mary’s class because it’s relaxing, and at the end of the day you need something that’s going to bring you down instead of staying stressed. Mary’s so easy going and a pleasure to be around. I’ve known her for a long time.”
—Ann Miller, 12th year IGMA Guild School student

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Daily Mini Interview: Studebaker Miniatures by Bill Studebaker

Studebaker Miniatures by Bill Studebaker

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What’s your earlier memory with miniatures?

Barbara and I had just gotten married. I overheard a conversation she had with her sister about the toys they used to play with when they were little. She never had a dollhouse. I thought, “that’s something I could do!” So I started building. I had no idea you could buy anything for a dollhouse, so I made everything from scratch. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe more I worked on it, the more I fell in love with it. For Christmas, I presented my wife Barb with a box full of parts since the dollhouse would not be done in time. A time later, she bought a house kit while she was waiting for me to finish the dollhouse. In 2 years time, she had finished the kit and refurbished another one!

In the fall of 1990, I created my first 1:12 scale piece. It was a copy of a Victorian era schoolhouse clock that Barb’s father had built. I made it as a Christmas ornament.

How did you transition from making miniatures for your family to a career in this field?

At the 2-3 year mark of creating miniatures, the volume of things that Barb and I were making got out of hand. We looked around the house and thought, “maybe we can start selling these things.” I was a furniture maker in real life so the transition came fairly naturally.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWhat’s your favorite miniature you’ve ever made?

The next one. It’s always the one I’m working on next. Or the previous one.

What will you work on next?

I have an outstanding list of commissions and my customers have been very patient with me. I do of course have a bucket list of miniatures I would like to create in due time.

What’s the most challenging miniature you’ve made?

There was a piece I started about a year and a half ago. I have 700 hours into it, and have about 100 hours to go. It’s a copy of a table that was built by the Herter Brothers in the 1890s for William Vanderbilt‘s New York mansion.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERATool you cannot live without?

Tweezers. I have a pair I don’t let anyone else use. I use needle files for everything – I absolutely consume those.

Advice for new miniaturists?

Make the pieces you love. Don’t make pieces to sell. Don’t make the piece you’d think someone else would want. Do what has always made you just stand in open mouth admiration. Don’t worry about making it perfect, because you will love it, and others will love your work, too.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?

I love fixing things. If I come across other work that’s broken, I take it and learn how they made it and repair it so that it appears as if it was never broken. So it looks just like their work. That’s very rewarding. And I learn a lot from it too.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI love antiques. And I love old houses. We’re serial collectors and hobbyists. Barb and I have learned craft after craft after craft our whole lives. Essentially, this whole time we’ve just been preparing ourselves to make miniatures.

I will never make 100 of anything. To me, the fun is in the challenge of discovering how to make that piece, and once I have made that piece, I don’t need to make it again. Pretty much everything I make is one of a kind.

How did you first get involved with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans?

It was nearly 20 years ago. We were members before ever attending the IGMA Guild School. Barb couldn’t get away as a school teacher until after she retired, so she came 9 years ago, when I had other commitments. She called me every night, and she was just so excited every day about what she was doing. So the next year I was able to come. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI had received my Artisan recognition from IGMA that same year. I just wanted to learn what other people were doing. What tools and what materials were they using? How were other people making their miniatures?

Do you ever collaborate with your wife, Barb?

We have on very few occasions. One of the few miniatures we have made together was auctioned off in Castine, Maine at the Guild School in 2015. She received Artisan status this year. A collaboration with her is definitely one of the things I want to do more of. Our working styles are very different; we work best together when we work separately.

Bill Studebaker is an Artisan in furniture with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA). You can shop his work on the Studebaker Miniatures website.