As part of long holiday traditions, gallery’s often offer small-scale artworks that serve as unique and affordable gifts. At Manitou Galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico, collectors will have the opportunity to shop these delightful, small masterpieces in the Annual Small Works Show. Opening December 6, the show boasts around 150 pieces, with no restrictions on materials or subject matter.
John Meister, Morning After, oil, 16 x 12 in.
“The Small Works Show is a celebration of artistic diversity and innovation, featuring new work by our beloved gallery favorites,” says gallery manager, Cyndi Hall. “At Manitou Galleries, we firmly believe that small works hold immense value and significance. They possess an inherent charm and intimacy that captivates viewers, inviting them to engage with the artwork on a more personal level. These small-scale masterpieces often carry the same level of skill, creativity and emotional depth as their larger counterparts, making them a perfect addition to any art collection.”
Participating artists at this year’s show include BC Nowlin, Arturo Chavez, Tom Perkinson, Lisa Gilley, Brad Teare, John Meister, David Jonason, Sharon Markwardt and Bryan Haynes, among many more.
Tom Perkinson, White Egrets at Dusk, pastel, 10 x 10 in.
Perkinson, for example, offers his romantic and colorful painting White Egrets at Dusk. This 10-by-10-inch scene shows the glory of the Southwest landscape, of which the artist is most known. “My work often incudes different kinds of birds,” he adds. “I use these birds in a painting as an element of life and energy, and their presence alludes to an ever-changing reality.” Perkinson is adapting to use a stronger color range and experimenting with the abstract qualities of both daytime and nighttime cloud formations.
“As summer [comes to a close] and the mornings get cooler, I start painting summer and late fall themes,” Perkinson continues. “In this small painting, White Egrets at Dusk,I see a late fall painting. This small group of nine white egrets that are en route, migrating south, are coming in by a small stream for the night. I’ve heard they will even sleep standing in the water...I have been painting great white egrets, great blue herons and sandhill cranes for a few years. I find as far as the great white egrets are concerned, their bold white shapes against a darker background are always visually exciting to me.”
Brad Teare, Riverside Path, oil, 12 x 12 in.
Teare, known for his impressionistic landscapes executed by palette knife, presents the 12-by-12-inch beauty Riverside Path. “I strive to paint not just what I see but the feeling that the landscape evokes in me—its vastness, serenity or rugged beauty,” says Teare. “Lately, I’ve been particularly intrigued by the interplay of light and form in my scenes and how it can be used to create an abstract design. This exploration is a subtle evolution, but I believe it’s opening up new and exciting avenues in my work.”
Sue Krzyston, A Few Missing Beads, oil, 16 x 12 in.
Teare explains that Riverside Path was painted from a moment of quiet reflection near a riverbank, close to his studio. “There’s something peaceful about paths—they can symbolize both a journey and a pause, a sense of direction and contemplation at the same time,” he says. “I wanted the painting to capture that duality. The textures in the trees and the way the light dances through them were essential aspects that appeared while I painted the original plein air painting. The scene is very tranquil, yet there’s a quiet movement that suggests the path could lead you somewhere profound.”
Shop the Annual Small Works Show at Manitou Galleries on Palace Avenue from December 6 through 31. —
Manitou Galleries 123 W. Palace Avenue » Santa Fe, NM 87501 » (505) 986-0440 » www.manitougalleries.com
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