I don’t always head to the craft store with specific things in mind…but sometimes things jump out at me, and what can I do?  I have to catch ’em.

Recently, I was inspired by these tiny cameos by Mab Graves and on my next visit to the craft store, I wandered into the jewelry section–which is fairly unfamiliar territory for me–looking for something that I could maybe draw on or paint on or….oh I dunno.  I was just looking.

And then these little porcelain blanks jumped out at me, and landed right into my shopping basket.  Along with them, some little necklace chains (which is what I had REALLY gone there for in the first place), and wouldn’t it be cool if they each had a charm??  And you’d HAVE to seal them in jewelry resin, right?  And before I knew it, my little basket was full of tiny pieces of things.

Because I’m a skimpy spender, I instantly started to second-guess myself on the ride home.  Was I really going to try to paint miniatures???  I have already been a fan of Lorraine Loots’ 365 Postcards for Ants, and I knew I was nowhere near THAT skill level.  Did I just jump into yet another hobby that I’ll consume voraciously, and then eventually lose the drive for later down the road?

But I pushed those thoughts aside and gave it a try anyway, because that’s how I roll.

And OH my GOSH how much FUN they are!

I am really having a good time finding little pendants that correspond to the portraits.  And although painting tiny is a little challenging, I really have a lot of fun trying to capture an expression and a likeness in an inch-and-a-quarter diameter.

I’ve tried a magnifier lamp, but honestly, since I’m naturally nearsighted, it’s easier just to take off my glasses and get in really close.  The most important thing is light.  My mom gave me an Ott desk light, and I got another smaller one to pull out just for this closer, detailed work.

So I put them up on my Etsy shop, and I’m having fun with them for now.  I’ve got tons of ideas for more, and the raw porcelain takes paint like butta, it’s so wonderful.   And I think it’s okay if I’m super into them right now, and then maybe not so much later down the road.  That’s how it goes, I guess.

Happy painting, people!