Small Art
You Should Own Art, Seventh Edition
Ok, I had a completely different plan for this edition of Y.S.O.A. But then I discovered Art On A Postcard. Wowzers. It is everything I like converging in one spot: massive creativity spurred by constraint, huge variety of work, and…small art.
I’ll admit it, I like the wee works. I find Mughal miniatures amazing, and the teeny tiny European portraits of centuries past are equally fascinating.
The premise of Art On A Postcard is exactly what it sounds like: artists create works on standard-size postcards which are then auctioned off. The proceeds are donated to the The Hepatitis C Trust in Britain. According to the website it “was intended to be a one off secret postcard auction, but it went so well it has spawned a small industry”. It has featured work by big deal artists like Damian Hirst, Marina Abramoviç, Es Devlin, and Wolfgang Tillmans. In the past year I’ve bought two works at similar auctions by artists that I would never have been able to afford otherwise. It’s a great deal.
The current auction is up until March 11th. Setting up a bidding account is kind of a pain in the ass, but the works all start at only £50 GBP, and they are ah-maaaaaa-zing. Totally worth it. so, get after it.
And as always, I hope you dig into the work of the artists featured here. Go to their websites, follow them on Instagram, write them nice letters.
“Lionheart”
Jennifer McRae
Watercolor on paper
My favorite portraits are those that give you the sense that the subject is there with you. Even through the infinite twists and turns of the Internet, you can feel this person. An amazing work.
You can bid on this work here.
Jennifer’s Instagram
Jennifer’s website
“Shape Play (Triangle)”
Cecilia Charlton
Silk thread, pencil and colored pencil on paper
Come for the wee paintings, stay for the wee sculptures. This is a lovely bit of graphic art. The precision of the execution gives structure to hold to warmth of the colors.
Bid for this work here.
Cecelia’s Instagram
Cecelia’s website
“Yellow Chair In Moonlight”
Michelle Maddox
Oil on oil paper
How in the heck do you paint moonlight? This little postcard is like a window into this particular moment and this particular place.
You can bid on this work here.
Michelle’s Instagram
Michelle’s website
“Pitter Patter, Tick Tock”
Rebecca Harper
Acrylic on paper
I love how color is used to separate the figures and suggest a narrative. This has the same considered looseness you see in the best of Edvard Munch’s work.
You can bid on this work here.
Rebecca’s Instagram
Rebecca’s website
“In The Bedroom”
Diana Savostaite
Oil pastel on paper
Again with the art-is-magic. How can these globs of paint, thickly and thinly applied transport us to this bedroom with its unmade bed? And, what is it about pictures of beds that are so evocative and disturbing. Is it the sense that there is always so much more meaning lurking than what is strictly represented?
You can bid on this work here.
Diana’s Instagram
Diana’s website (she has a really nice set of works available on her site too)
“Linda”
Mercedes Helnwein
Oil pastel on paper
I’ll admit, when I first saw this I thought “cat with laser eyes”. But when it came down to making the final selection for this edition, I couldn't not include it. It’s really a very thoughtful color study and I love the quality of the draftspersonship.
You can bid on this work here.
Mercedes’s Instagram
Mercedes’s website (she wrote a book!)
“Waiting for the bus”
Tamsin Morse
Ink on paper
I am always more than a little awed by drawings in ink. They seem like pretty high stakes affairs where the artist must exert a lot of control but be prepared to extract virtue out of error. I look at this and I think of the work of Dorothea Lange who also found the depth in the everyday.
You can bid on this work here.
Tamsin’s Instagram
Tamsin’s website
“Layers 3”
Frea Buckler
Mixed media collage on paper
The bold, graphic-ness condensed into a small space of this work resonates with me. The color and the dimensionality take it into the sculptural territory that, as noted above, I really love.
You can bid on this work here.
Frea’s Instagram (like, wow)
Frea’s website
“One Afternoon”
Sin Park
Colored pencil on paper
Yes! I’m ready! For what? I don’t know, but I’m going to draft off the energy of this concentrated serving of delight for a week.
You can bid for this work here.
Sin’s Instagram
Sin’s website
“Hypatia of Alexandria”
Nikoleta Sekulovic
Acrylic and pencil on paper
This is a very measured and considered work. The precision of the design and the spareness of color make this seem like a meditation as much as a work of art.
You can bid for this work here.
Nikoleta’s Instagram
Nikoleta’s website
“Outing”
Sophie Bayntun
Oil on paper
I was only going to share ten works in this edition, but the I had to include this one. It’s just so simple, and so good. I wish I could paint like this.
You can bid for this work here.
Sophie’s Instagram (really, really great work)
Sophie’s website (more!)
Ok! That’s it. Please check out these artists, and spend time in the Art On A Postcard auction. There’s so much there. You’ll find something you love.
And, don’t forget to share this with your friends. Remember, they like art too.