Pochade Power: Big Tiny Art

The idea of working small

The true method of knowledge is experiement. William Blake 

  Paintings in a small size, such as the popular 6" x 6"; 8" x 10" , 7" x 14"  or the like are called pochades. There are advantages to consider in painting in the small sizes and it's worth giving it a try.

    

In the Shade- "8" x 10" - oil on mylar

Garden Shed - 6"x6" - oil on paper

Some considerations for Smallies:

  It takes a shorter amount of time just to civer a samll canvas, giving you a chance to do several studies in one trip, capturing rapidly moving lightneffects, or trying several compositions out for further work in a larger size.

  Small scale painting will propel your attistic growth more quickly, as you are still working out all sorts of visual problems in a small work but can finish many more pieces in the same amount of time as doing fewer larger pieces. It's experience working through the solutions on an artwork that allows for artistic change.

  A small work represents much less investment of time and materials, allowing an artist to freely embrace painting challenges without concern for costs or time investment in the painting. It takes less time to rework a small work if that's the choice you make.

  You are forced in a small work to eliminate detail and concentrate on the guts of the painting, thereby gaining the glory.

  If you only have a tiny window of time to work on any given day, you are likely to be able to make a small work and keep your art mojo moving.

  It's just fun to do tiny paintings.

Sunset - 6" x  8" - oil on paper

Some things to remember for your small paintings:

  Use a big brush anyway.

  Use a limited pallette. Here's your chance to try a bunch of different limited pallettes without loing a beat. 

  Try out some different surfaces to work on. I am experimenting with commercially prepared 8" square gessoed boards right now. Jury's still out on those......

  Take an assorted group of sizes with you on a plein air trip.

  Don't underestimate the quality of you finished piece. Tiny art can have an enormous effect.