Silas Thompson, Broad on the Starboard Quarter, oil on canvas, 16 x 16 in.

“Our annual small works show…is a carefully curated collection of new works created by our roster of artists inspired by or recreating the strongest pieces in their oeuvre,” says gallery director Kimberly Duncan. “These incredibly special artworks explore our artists’ key themes in smaller packages.”

Nealy Riley, Desert Dweller, mixed media, 20 x 20 in.

Participating artist Nealy Riley creates contemporary wildlife art using acrylic paints, resin and gold or silver leaf, resulting in a beautiful blend of realism and abstraction. “In general I’m inspired by the feeling we experience when we spend time in communion with nature. I aim to capture the fascination and enchantment that comes when we encounter creatures from the wild and spend time with their environments,” she says. “Small-scale works are important because they draw us in and hold us captive in an intimate way. Whether it is just one little world or a statement hung on the wall or a bunch of small pieces that hang like a collection of ideas, there is a special joy that we get from interacting with small work.”

Patricia A. Griffin, When We Were Birds Study, oil on linen, 20 x 20 in.

Silas Thompson adds that small works are part of the growth of a well-rounded artist. “Moving things from small to large or large to small is a critical skill, and large paintings have a distinctly different effect on viewers and artists alike,” he says. “Small paintings can be a bit more accessible and are a great asset to bringing beauty through storytelling into our lives and homes.” Thompson’s painterly landscapes capture a menagerie of North American nature scenes, from yellow aspens in the fall, to frigid snowscapes, to green meadows and alpine lakes. “I think it is namely the vast rawness of nature that still exists around us that chiefly inspires me to paint,” he says. “In a world that seems to have been softened by distractions and concrete, it doesn’t take much more than an hour’s drive in any direction to find adventure, beauty, danger, risk and reward in creation.”

Jenna Von Benedikt, Gathering, oil on panel, 24 x 18 in.

Miniature works allow for experimentation on the artist’s side as well. “Pushing the boundaries in a safe and timely place,” says artist Patricia A. Griffin. “Working on a small scale often takes as many strokes as large [paintings] and a considerable amount of time…The reward of the small piece is similar to that of a gem—its beauty is intimate, [and] you have to be in close proximity to experience its energy.  Like a polished stone, the quality of the image shines when admired, can fit in a small space, and is experienced one on one.”