The Big Book of Tiny Painting
The Big Book of Tiny Painting: An Artist's Guide to Tiny Painting Outside in Ink and Watercolour
An Artist’s Guide to Tiny Painting Outside in Ink and Watercolour
Leslie Stroz
David & Charles
Painting is an unending subject, unlike a crochet blanket or similar suit, there is very little ending strategy. This instead of making the craft freeing, can make for anxiety. Where to begin, end…..This author will direct readers through the easier methods the has crafted her practice upon - making ‘tiny’ the ‘big’.
Leslie Stroz
Having checked her website, she works as a practicing artist, teaching online through Patreon and welcomes contact for specific tuition. Her method has become so popular online - why ? Because it makes what seems to be the too hard - possible. Simply by bringing things down a size or two….in quite a large sense.
The book contains
Step-by-step guidance to answer all the questions to build your picture.
Why tiny?
I myself teach classes with mixed experience participants. Some are too scared to start. I know well that my sizing down, they feel more able to cope. Less paper to fill, to worry about. Other reasons are that this tiny working size can be taken anywhere, no matter your bag size. It is also easier to finish.
Why I got enthusiastic about this book
Because it gives the less able to start the boldness to try. It teaches confidence without being obvious. Here are a few key ways:
The author walks us through building a toolkit. So we are prepped ready to begin.
The beginner stages are all centred in one section, (pages 18-24) learn line, shape, form….all the skills needed to be put together to sketch and paint your scene.
The pages 62-72 document making mistakes…and how to fix them. Relief!
As this book is really centred on drawing from the outside world and not your own home bound setting, a whole part is taught on traveling…how to, what you need…etc. I especially appreciated the two chapters on drawing from your car (or as she calls it ‘your cosy art nook’) (I love her version, see the images on this chapters pages 86/67) and overcoming social anxiety. Maybe the author has more insight than we know. She has certainly done her time in teaching, so maybe this is based on that lived value.
The writing is not too ‘much’ or patronising. It is just about quiet direction, no fuss - just how I like it. I don’t want drama….I just want to paint and get on - are you the same?
There are some ideas of what to paint - i.e. a print scene, lambs….but I did not feel like the book was making me do a certain view that would come out just like the artists had already. She allows for interpretation and personal style.
Find your confidence
