Tiny Painting Demo: Urban Abstraction

In contemporary painting, a miniature is defined by size, though just what size depends on which society or organization is defining it. (This wasn't the case historically, see Art Glossary: Miniature.) Typically a miniature painting is defined as a painting that's no larger than 5x7" or 10x10cm, or that the subject of the painting must be no more than one sixth of its true size (which would make an adult's head about 9"/23cm.

If you're thinking this is impossibly small to paint any level of detail in, well you'd be surprised what some artists can do on such a tiny canvas with some very thin brushes. A brush might have only a few hairs you can count individually. You can buy such brushes or make your own by trimming an old one with a pair of scissors. But, like any canvas, you're free to paint a miniature one in whatever style of art you choose.

For my tiny canvasI used acrylic paint and a painting knife with a very sharp point and long straight edge. Let's start painting...

• Buy Direct:
• Buy Direct: Miniature Canvas
• Buy Direct: Miniature Brushes
• Buy Direct: Painting Knife

• What Makes it a Miniature Painting?
• How to Start a Miniature Painting
• Blocking in the Main Shapes
• Adding More Color to the Skyscrapers
• Adding Some 'Sky' Color
• The Final Miniature Painting