Miniaturism may seem like a solitary hobby, since it requires precision and focus best achieved when working alone. I am sure I am not the only person who waits for the peacefulness of late hours to dive into a project. Yet, cooperating with another miniature artist has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had on this creative path. Making miniatures offers too many venues of exploration for one person alone. For example, I have never really learned to paint but I was too busy with other aspects of miniatures anyway. Well, once I made all the furniture and carpets and pillows and vases and plants and what-not, I looked at my miniature domicile and realized something was missing: artwork on the walls. Although my real home is filled with framed artwork, I took it for granted and realized its importance only when I was left without it in my miniatures.
There are solutions, of course: many miniature artists provide excellent artwork on miniature scale, in array of prices and styles. One of them is my artist friend Nada M., who had her life-sized work exhibited and sold in galleries, and I wanted her art.
My first thought was to ask her permission to print a smaller version of her life-sized artwork to which she wasn’t opposed. Emboldened by her acceptance, I pushed a bit and asked if she would paint something for me on such a small scale. It is from this request that came one of the most satisfying artistic collaborations I have had so far.
Not being equipped with all the tools for miniature painting, Nada started with toothpicks instead of brushes and recreated in miniature the portions of her 30’ long cityscape wall mural. Talking about going to extremes: from a major wall mural to a miniature, all within months from each other. Once the proper supplies arrived, she was very intrigued with this new approach and went in full-mode miniature watercolour originals and oil replicas of modernist’s era paintings, something that is not necessarily the first choice of most miniature artists. “Modern art is not even that new”, says Nada,” it was created about 100 years ago, in the 1920s, but it has timeless modernity.” With the rising popularity of contemporary miniature interiors, the popularity of modern art in miniaturism followed naturally. She introduces this modernity in her original watercolour landscapes, a topic that is usually presented realistically. “Watercolours don’t have to be done in the style of realism to be captivating. A certain level of abstraction gives them an edge suitable to modern interiors.” says Nada.
It is under her influence that I shifted my miniature style from traditional to more contemporary. In the very beginning our cooperation included Nada painting various pictures while I provided framing for them, but that quickly grew into assembling miniature rooms for taking photos of her artwork, something I enjoy immensely. While initially we tried to match paintings to the rooms, eventually we started matching rooms to her paintings, something I suspect happens on occasion in real life too. Since all these displays are temporary, being able to constantly change elements provided both learning and fun. It’s a form of child’s play that we adults mask as a hobby. Nada and I exchange ideas on colours, details, set-up, and best angles for making photos and videos, all of which then become their own form of artistic expression. Doing all this by myself was fun enough, but having a hobby partner to provide constructive feedback, new ideas, and new possibilities has brought great joy to both of us.
This exciting experience of working with like-minded miniature artist with a different set of skills has become one of the highlights of my work. While I continue to enjoy my quiet solitary evenings, I can’t wait for the next morning to see what Nada came up with, and to show her the work I did the previous night.
Interestingly enough, our names in our native language mean hope (Nada) and peace (Mira), two words that go so well together as it is. I hope we continue to find peace in our work for years to come.
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