Why did I ever start this????

[somerset artist]

A couple of days ago a random thought popped into my head ... to paint the Mona Lisa.

BTW for those who are reading this and aren't aware of what I do, I paint miniatures for dolls houses, so I paint small.

Now for some reason I thought that I would paint the smallest ever Mona Lisa, having no idea if there is one smaller I decided on the size of 9 x 6 mm. The trouble now, is that I am on my second attempt (can't give up), I got the proprotions slighty out in the first, the face was a little too large at 3mm!! I really need to give up the idea of painting so small, so why can't I?

Could it be that I like a challenge!:mf:

I let you know how today goes.

Andrew

[colourart]

I would love to see it when you get one you're happy with. It sounds like your on a very difficult mission with that one. I would never be able to paint that small, one minute I'm reading a thread about a huge painting you want to do with a bucket of red paint and the next about a miniature Mona Lisa, sounds like you go for ying and yang when you're painting:D.

[SusieQ]

OOH! would love to see a piccy of that!!!! Sue xx:D

[swirlyarts]

I am in awe of people who can paint - and to be able to paint that small - wow!! I've seen the work of a lady on Flickr and she knits tiny items - about 5mm long and it amazes me what she can do. I think she knits on pins!

[Seahorse]

That sounds amazing and its good to give yourself a challenge!!
Can you post a pic of La Gioconda when its done pleeease!!!

[EMEvans]

Oh wow that sounds so hard. Can't wait to see what you come up with

[somerset artist]

The big painting is all ready to be done at the weekend, unless it snows!! Snow! after the day we had yesterday!

That large painting will be done and dusted in a few seconds, whereas the small one has taken around 4 hours so far, so I'm taking a break now from the Mona Lisa to give my eyes a rest, and am going to paint some miniature florals, still small, but easier to do at 50 x 40mm

If I can get the Mona Lisa finished I will post a picture up. One slightly selfish reason I posted this thread is to keep me at it. I can't let you lot down can I?

Hopefully by close of play today I will have it finished.

Andrew

[somerset artist]

Below is the first picture of my tiny Mona Lisa. It is still to be finished but it gives you an idea of the scale that I am working at.

Sorry it's a bit blurred, when the painting is finally finished I will get a clearer image.

Andrew

[Rodeo Lady]

Wow :o totally in awe of your skill. Looking forward to seeing the next picture of it.

Janice

[ilovecrafts]

That's amazing!
Painting's hard enough, but at that small scale! incredible!

[craftyjan]

i like painting small pictures but not that small good luck

[ethel&edna]

OH...
MY...
GOODNESS...

I am SOOO impressed. You are one talented guy! It is brilliant. So is it cucumber slices or cold teabags for the eyes now?!

[Chris W]

Looks very impressive, you must have a very steady hand.

[Sprinkles]

Thats unbelievable how you can paint soooo small :o

very very impressive!

[wyattbean]

That's fantastic, some dolls house somewhere is going to be very well decorated.
Sue

[craftyjan]

wow thats brilliant do you need a magnifying glass to paint that small what size paintbrush do you use

[somerset artist]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I work with an illuminated maginifier, and a 0000 brush with a few hairs missing! Even using the magnifier and tiny brushes there is a limit to just how small I can paint. I wasn't very happy with the face, so early this morning I had another 'fiddle' and I think that I have got it as good as I am going to get it. If I keep trying to get it better the whole thing will eventually be ruined. There is a point when I just have to say 'Finished!'

I am going to frame it today so will try and get a clearer picture for you all to see.

Andrew

[wendy]

Wow! can't wait to see the finished picture.

I've never painted anything so small, I think I would get frustrated by it. I admire your skill.

hope the big red one goes ok too!

[woodtattoos]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I am going to frame it today so will try and get a clearer picture for you all to see.

Andrew

Any luck framing it yet? Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

Si.

[indri]

Gosh!! What a tiny painting!!! I'm amazed it's as small as it is! Hope you manage to get it just how you want in the end!

[youyours]

Oh wow, I agree with all on this thread, that is amazing work!!!!

[somerset artist]

Bad news.
I did something that all artists (or maybe its just me) shouldn't do, I fiddled! I wasn't too happy with the face and tried to 'fix' it, but ended up messing it up and then trying to redo .....

Good news.
I repainted the Mona Lisa, same size and am a lot happier with the finished painting. Will get a picture on as soon as I can.

I am now thinking about a series of tiny scale paintings of past masterpieces .... someone talk me out of it quick!

Andrew

[Sprinkles]

Practice makes perfect as they say.

If you enjoy painting the little piccies then carry on. Don't do them too often though, you will go boss - eyed and bored of them! I know i do if i do too much of the same thing. (thats jewellery I'm on about! i know susieq would have a snigger at that :p)

Cant wait to see the finished moaning Mona!! I'm also intrigued on how the frame is going to look, being so diddy in-all.

[Sommerwood]

OH. MY. GOD!!!!!!!!!!:o Totally in awe, that is amazing!!!!! Look forward to seeing the finished item!:)

[Ballerinacaz]

You must have an extremely thin paint brush :D

[BeadsbyLili]

I am now thinking about a series of tiny scale paintings of past masterpieces .... someone talk me out of it quick!

Andrew

Go for it - what an amazing talent you have there! What are you going to do with it now its finished?

[marra]

where , i cant see ! lol :pc:

[ezzyam]

I can't find a link to the picture??????

[somerset artist]

The link is in post #8

The second painting has been done in the middle of a larger piece of paper. The choice that I am now having to decide upon is whether to frame the larger sheet of paper with the tiny painting in the middle, say an 8 x 10" frame with a mount, or to cut out the tiny painting and make a frame for it.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/mini-artman/monalisawithpenny.jpg

Above is a link to a scan of the second painting with a penny for comparison.

Sorry it is still blurred, not sure how to get around that.

Andrew

[ezzyam]

There are some very talented people here but I think Andrew that you must be in the top 5. Your work is truly incredible I don't know how you do it?? You really should be getting recognition in the art world for this kind of work.

Completely brilliant.

[Pagan]

WOW! I am totally in awe.

[somerset artist]

After trying out a number of different framing options, I decided on the one in the picture. (for now anyway) The frame size is 32 x 25 mm.

I now need to decide what to do with the painting, as far as I can find out this is the smallest original painting of the Mona Lisa in the world.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/mini-artman/monalisaframed.jpg

Thanks for all the comments, ezzyam not sure whether I should be in the top 5. Very kind of you to say so though.

Andrew

:mf:

[Sprinkles]

OMG :o that is just totally out of this world.

Its smaller then i originally thought.

That should be in an art gallery, not a dolls house!!

[somerset artist]

I do normally sell my little paintings on my eBay listing but i'm not going to list this one just yet. I just wouldn't get the price that I want for it. A friend has suggested getting in touch with a national newspaper, but i'm not sure that it warrants that sort of publicity.

Andrew

[Pagan]

get in touch with the Guinness book of records - I think you've got a good chance of getting in there. Would be nice publicity for you too.

[glowingsunsets]

That's amazing, definitely worth contacting Guinness Book of Records as Pagan suggested. :)