Modern Masters of Miniature Art in America

John Angelini is one of the many talented artists featured in the book "Modern Masters of Miniature Art in America" by Wes Siegrist. A hardcopy of the book can be purchased or a PDF file can be downloaded from http://www.lulu.com/product/hardcover/modern-masters-of-miniature-art-in-america/12992617. The two pages contributed by John Angelini are included below.

A miniature work of art is not only a creative challenge but also reduces the world to a hand-held size. Viewing my first MASF exhibition in 1981 influenced my interest in miniature art. What I saw was inspiring. That one look stimulated my desire, although I wondered whether having spent my career up north painting 22 x 28 inch and larger watercolors would hinder my attempt. I convinced myself that I was able and capable and that the change would open new exhibiting venues. My painting philosophy is traditional and intended, hopefully, to expose the viewer to naturefs bounty and its calming effect. For me, large works and miniatures are two separate entities and each approached by different methods. My large works, as an example, are painted primarily in a wet-in-wet method without pre-drawing the subject but visualizing it mentally. I approach the miniatures in an entirely opposite way. I work either by photo reference or mentally stored images of the actual subject. Sometimes I use both methods on one miniature painting. In my opinion we, as artists, are the least capable of judging the merits of our own works, large or small. The work can only be considered successful when judged on its own merits or deficiencies by the eye of the beholder. I do not regret selling or gifting my completed paintings since I believe art should be shared rather than stored in a portfolio or in a dark closet gathering dust.