Diverse and dynamic
11th annual miniature show
For the past 10 years, Coeur d’alene Galleries has hosted its annual Miniatures by the Lake exhibition to much fanfare. This year’s event will take place September 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. with approximately 130 pieces by around 75 artists. Gallery owner Buddy Le says, “We couldn’t be more excited for our 11th annual Miniatures by the Lake show. We always talk about diversity when it comes to our miniature show, but it’s usually diversity in styles. This year, we have excellent diversity in the artists. We have a plethora of first-time participants in our Miniatures by the Lake show and the quality of works are as fine as ever.”
Artists such as C. Michael Dudash, Chad Poppleton, Brent Cotton, Randy Van Beek, Colt Idol, Luke Frazier, Scott Tallman Powers, Jeremy Winborg, Ken Yarus, Abigail Gutting, Mark Maggiori and Richie Carter are among those who will present new pieces. The works span from cowboys and Native Americans to wildlife and landscapes, allowing for the varied subjects of the West to shine through.
Market day in Panajachel, Guatemala, was the inspiration behind Powers’ painting Guatemalan Fragrances. He explains, “This is a day where people come from miles around to sell their wares in this small town on Lake Atitlán. The woman in my painting was the matriarch of this small section of flower vendors. She had a wise and calm air about her, a grace that has come from years of selling her goods countless times in many markets throughout her life. I admired her.”
In Gutting’s horse painting Vacancy, her goal was to “emphasize the musculature of the horse and give a sense of movement with diagonal elements in the composition… and
leave you with a hint of humor.”
Summer Drive, by Carter, depicts a long expanse of roadway in the West that was inspired by the beauty seen during the drive as well as the motion as the land passes by the moving car. “In this painting, I was struck by the beautiful shapes of the cloud shadows cast on the distant hill,” he says. “I love to include the road in the painting as it situates the viewer in that fleeting moment of time, while commenting on our contemporary landscape.”
Winborg’s painting Prized Possessions of a young Native American girl shows her playing with one of her most treasured belongings. Of the work, he says, “Everyone has a favorite toy from their childhood. Most Native American girls’ favorite toy was a doll. They were usually made by a relative, their grandmother or mother. They were made using scraps of rawhide and fabric, nothing went to waste. The hair of the doll was made of horse’s hair, buffalo fur or fur from other animals they had on hand. Eyes and embellishments were made of beads either found or traded. Children learned dollmaking skills by watching their relatives make them, and those talents were passed on to each generation. Some dolls were simple, some were more elaborate but, either way, it would have been her prized possession.”
According to Le, “Our Miniatures by the Lake show has always been one of our most popular because collectors can always find room on the walls for miniature paintings, and there’s always good value in small works. The absolute best part of Miniatures by the Lake is our reception. There are always tons of terrific artists in attendance, and it’s always an excellent party.”