Tiny Works of Art
Brandie Stonge’s miniature framed collages are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but there is an extraordinary amount going on inside each one.
A rabbit among greenery. A sailboat. A rider on horseback. A flower arrangement. A bird. A tiny figure cut from paper and set against antique ephemera. Each piece measures only about 1½ by 2 inches, yet feels complete in its own right.
That sense of detail begins with Brandie’s original collage work.
She works with hand-painted cotton papers, antique ephemera, and mixed media, layering the elements to create imagery that feels both nostalgic and entirely her own. The originals are then reproduced as high-detail giclée prints on 100% cotton paper, carefully retaining the cut-paper shadows and character of the source artwork.
Each miniature image is individually hand-framed in petite antiqued glass lockets and finished with silk ribbon for hanging.
The result is part artwork, part keepsake, part tiny object of curiosity.
Some pieces are botanical. Others are nautical, literary, whimsical, or quietly eccentric. Together they have the feeling of things collected over time rather than produced as a single matching group.
Choosing a Little Picture
Part of the pleasure is finding a subject that means something to you. A sailboat might bring back summers on the water. A rabbit might be just right for someone who loves a garden. A bird, a horse, or a flower arrangement can make a surprisingly personal gift when it reminds you of the person receiving it.
These are pieces worth looking at closely. The antique paper, the layers of imagery, and the small details within each frame are easy to miss at first glance. In the store, we like to give people time to compare them. The one that catches your attention first isn’t always the one you go home with.
A Small Place for Art
At only about 1½ by 2 inches, these miniatures fit into places where a larger picture wouldn’t. Hang one beside a desk, tuck a few into an existing wall grouping, or let one become a small detail you notice as you pass through a room.
They needn’t match. Choosing a few that share a color, a subject, or simply your affection gives them the feeling of a collection assembled over time.
They also make lovely ornaments for a holiday tree, especially for someone who enjoys collecting decorations with a little history and character. Once the holidays are over, the picture can find another place in the house.
We have a generous selection at Clever Girl, and the differences are part of the fun. Take a closer look at the individual pictures below; there may be one that brings someone immediately to mind.
That is a large part of their appeal.
They are easy to give, easy to collect, and just unusual enough to feel personal. One can hang from a cabinet knob, tuck into a small wall grouping, appear on a holiday tree, or simply live somewhere you will notice it often.
Because each one is made in limited production and assembled to order in the United States, they retain a sense of individuality that suits the work beautifully.
We are especially drawn to the fact that these are not decorative objects trying to look important.
They are simply very well considered, very charming, and very small.
Tiny treasures is probably the best description.
We are pleased to have a growing collection of Brandie Stonge’s work at Clever Girl, both in the shop and online.
And once you start looking closely at them, it becomes very easy to understand why one may not be enough.