I had just a few minutes to paint and decided to try painting mini’s. I had read they are a good way to practice marking and composition, and that they were a lot of fun.

They are a lot of fun, and I do agree they help with composition, but they are so small – or the ones I did anyway –  that practicing marking (at least on the sunset image) backfired. When looking at it from a distance – the other side of the room – it was a realistic depiction of a sunset. When standing in front of it it was a mess of ugly strokes and strong colors. I knew I needed to try it again with nice color and strokes that are appealing from up close and across the room.

Mini paintings

Close up of sunset mini painting

A Kansas Sunset