Small Paintings

I'm a big fan of small paintings!  I like how a big idea can be recorded very quickly.  Working small can be especially helpful if I'm trying to decide which colors to use. Before I launch into a larger painting I may do several studies of the same composition but with different hues. I can set the different versions up side by side and see what works best.  Some days I will wake up to an image burning in my mind's eye and I need to put it down quickly. A small panel limits me on how much detail to put in and it makes me paint with broad brush strokes. This direct painting experience helps to get the big picture down and I can see which elements of the memory are most important.    I also like to paint outdoors with small panels because the light can change so quickly.   When I work on the painting back in the studio it's amazing how much I can recall in terms of the sights, sounds and generalized feeling of the experience.  Acquiring a small painting is a great option for the beginning fine art collector. Enjoy!