PERFECT MINIATURES -on my mind

Street market

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:43:13 GMT

This is my last one for time being.
Tomorrow... back to school again and my miniatures have to wait...

Usually, I face the last day of holidays
with enthusiasm, but this time I feel I needed another week! I have a lot ofmini work in mind!!!

I promise to be back as soon as I can.

fishing dock

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:21:28 GMT

And another landscape, this time a fishing dock. Is still pastel pencil and has 5,5 cm x 4,6cm without frame.

Two landscapes

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:30:55 GMT

This weekend the weather was cloudy. Finally the rain arrives after a long dry winter. I love the light through the clouds. I wish I was able to show it in my paintings.

Tomorrow I'll start the frames.

Lady with tulips

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:19:44 GMT

The frame is ready! I made it in walnut, natural finished with a thin coat of beewax.

Cofee time - pastel paitings

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:58:59 GMT

The painted area has 3,7 cm x 5,0 cm. The frame measures are 5,7 cm x 7,0 cm. This is the smalest I ever painted. The biggest problem is to keep pastel pencils thin enough to draw hands and face details. But even with these dificulties I'm enjoying this work. After finishing some frames (it's not easy tu cut the glass because 0,1 mm becomes a great error and the glass is only 2mm thick and breaks easily) I'll share with you a few more pastel paintings I'm doing now.

Happy Easter and a vase full of tulips

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:56:04 GMT

I keep on trying pastel work! Slowly!!! I don't have the time I need to develope tecnics and adapt my skills as a full scale painter to a miniature work.

This weekend I had a few hours. I decided to try Derwent and Faber pastels together. After, a very thin brush with watercolour pencils... all together...

The frame is still virtual. May be next week I can show a finished work. Meanwhile I wish you all a very Happy Easter.

Trying again...

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:32:02 GMT

It's not so easy to paint this scale but here is my last work.

It's a pastel with 4,5cmx5,5cm

After cutting the glass and building the frame

I was pleased with the result.

May be it's destiny is my granddaughter's new dollshouse wich I intend to start building soon... we'll see...

GUILD ARTISAN MEMBERS 2011 - IGMA

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:58:34 GMT

If you follow the link below you can find the selected IGMA Artisans 2011.

http://www.igma.org/recognition/artisan.html

IGMA submission

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:09:30 GMT

Now, in holidays from school I got a little time to take a few photos of the pieces I submit last April to the IGMA Committee.

They took a long time to be back at home. After being presented to the jury they were taken to the Guild School exhibit in Castine where public and students can see every year the work of new IGMA Artisans and Fellows. It was a big honour for me to see my work elevated to this level.

The exhibit lasted till middles of June and only in 1^st August I had my pieces in hand again. Why? Well, the Portuguese custom services wanted me to pay duties as if I was buying the pieces!!! It was my fault, of course, not to take all cares when I send them to USA. I should have post them as “Temporary Export”. Well, after a long odyssey , hours of phone calls and lots of mails, I solve the problem but I could not avoid lots of travels of the package between my town and Lisbon. But thanks God everything arrived well without any damage. Only a small pinnacle of one of the pieces was unglued!

Misty Barth who kindly sent it to me took the photo below with a cell phone during the exhibit.

And now, I’ll post the individual photos.

Piece nr. 1

Birdcage dome topped

Basswood, wire, brass sheet, dye old pine, brass hinges and nails, watered wax

emulsion, acrylic hand painted flowers "popular" style.

The wood is so thin and delicate that I don't use in any case power tools.

I start with pre-calibrated wood. I work with files, sandpaper and a handcrsafter's

knife. Jeweller's saw is also a constant tool in my workbench.

It takes me longer but in the end the piece is more realistic once the artisans in their

times did not used power tools to do birdcages.

Sometimes, when I see that the structure needs reinforcement, I made simple straight joints. If not, a little drop of glue is enough.

Piece nr. 2

Romantic Birdcage (Victorian style)

To give a more realistic look the sliding tray is intentionally aged.

The original piece was natural finished. I thought that, nowadays, in an actual,

modern house, according to the fashion of the moment, a shabby chic look

fitted better.

As I described in the first piece, the same wood and wire. Hand made carved

and a washable paint in a country blue colour.

Piece nr. 3

Church style Birdcage

To build this model I used basswood mahogany tainted, wire and to finish a thin coat of watered wax emulsion buffed with a brush.

Just for curiosity, I must say that I made exactly 278 tinny holes to introduce the bars.

The top finials were once more "sculped" with files and sand paper.

Piece nr. 4

Pseudo Oriental Birdcage

I used walnut for the structure. To finish I gave it a very aged look.

The shape of double roof with the outside supporting crossbars shows a

Japanese influence. This may situate this piece at Belle Époque period.

Décapée painted, intentionally ruined as if it came directly from

grandmother's attic with no more care than brushing off the cobwebs.

To build the roof I used a spare struture to hold the parts in place wich

was removed in the end.

Piece nr. 5

"Chinese" Birdcage

Note that Chinese is inside brackets. Really this is an original of mine.

Having in mind the characteristics of chinese buildings I sketched two or

three ideas.

The structure is basswood. Very thin bars of wood instead of wires once

the original chinese used bamboo.

The birdcage has a kind of tray and to support this tray four tinny feet

dragon shaped, covered with gold leaf. Some decorative details partially

covered with gold leaf as well as the contrasting colours red and green

are according to the common taste of Chinese art.

INTERNATIONAL GUILD OF MINIATURE ARTISANS

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:40:26 GMT

The Artisan Selection Committee met on April 30, 2011 to evaluate Artisans submissions and I proudly inform all my readers that my membership in the Guild has been elevated to that of Artisan member in the category of Accessories/Birdcages. On May 2, 2011, the Committee's evaluation was reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees of IGMA.

My Artisan Certificate arrived today and here I display it with the promise to continue the pursuit of perfection in my work.

I'll be back soon with the photos of the pieces I submitted

Only for fun and pleasure!

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:58:33 GMT

The idea is not original but I wanted to do it my way. From the structure to the tinniest detail I enjoyed the pleasure of hand making all of them, engaging myself in a kind of game. At same time I tried new materials I had the experience of adapting some technologies to 1/12 scale. The result was an intensive 8 days of work without stress, full of fun and pleasure. Of course this is not what I can call a “professional” work but it was worth while the effort. In the end I like the final view of this “cosy” corner as Ana Maria Morgado called it in her Blog http://ajourneythrougharts-and-miniatures.blogspot.com/

She is now the owner of this piece.

I offered it to her with the same pleasure as I did it!

Easter Greetings

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:09:06 GMT

These are not miniatures but I had to share this amazing work with you!

Click the link below. It will open a Word file with lots of photos from a Russian,

an American and some other unknown artists who carve egg shells.

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23064005/1222250862/name/Rezqba_po_qiihnoj_skorlupe.doc

Enjoy it and have a Happy Easter!

Mission-style lamp

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:31:34 GMT

Finally I decide to try a very simple electric work. When I build “Villa Joana” (my grand daughter’s dollhouse), I had the first contact with electrical materials. In the beginning I was a little nervous… my knowledge in electricity field is not enough and I fear everything could explode… but, nothing happened so I started being more confident. When I was installing the lamps in the house I thought it would be great if I succeed building some lamps. So, I decide to start with this simple design. I saw it in an issue from February 2006 of “Dollhouse MINIATURES” (page 38). I didn’t follow the instructions but I copied the general idea.

The author is Fran Casselman. I couldn’t find any site or Blog but if you search with Google or any other browser there are lots of references as well as a page on Facebook.

I also decide to introduce something different from the presented model so, I asked a friend to cut a decoration for the lampshade. I draw it and he did the laser cut.

It was not so easy to improvise materials for making the electrical connections. I used a small 9v bulb we generally have in car’s instruments like miles counter. Those bulbs have outside wires so I had to solder them to the electrical wire. Amazingly I didn’t melt the tinny wires!!! Beginner’s luck? May be… But it works till now! Problem: the bulb is not replaceable!

In the middle of the four wood pillars there is a thin brass tube. The electrical wire goes inside. I had to carve the top of the four pillars in a half aspheric shape to fit a brass piece that serves as support. Inside this brass piece I introduced a hard plastic tube to isolate and prevent heating. Well, this description may seem a bit complicated but if you look at the photos I’m sure you’ll see it clearly.

I had to create a standard model to cut the four brass wires that sustain the lampshade (all with the same size and plied exactly equal). It was a little difficult to fix them once I didn’t want to use glue but I like the result.

The four pillars around the brass tube are kept in place by brass bands fixed with tinny brass nails.

There are still a lot of building challenges I must solve before I try my own designs but I intend to do it soon.

I have a lot of new pieces in mind.

To a special friend

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:02:18 GMT

As you have noticed my last posts are months out of date. But this one I couldn't miss.

It's not the first time I refer my friend Ana Maria Morgado. She is an amazing miniaturist as well as very good artist with photos. Last summer to celebrate her birthday I offer her one piece I made express for her. A birdcage. She deserves this and more. She is one of the most important persons for my miniature work. Always encouraging me to go further, always looking for something that can helps me (books, materials, ideas, general information).

For the last two years she was my companion in the miniature shows adventure. We shared the tables and we build together a few pieces. Her hand paintings are simply magnificent!

Her last Blog is wonderful!

http://ajourneythrougharts-and-miniatures.blogspot.com/

Great work, Ana Maria! Congratulations!

But, going back to her birthday and the birdcage I offer her, here is the photo I took

And now, look the "poem" she did with the same piece!!!

I never had a so beautiful photo in my blog! Thank you my friend!

Tutorial for a "Chinese" birdcage

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:29:15 GMT

Published by MINIATURAS - Construcción & Coleccionismo, nr 151 (July/August 2010) you can follow the building procedure of this birdcage called by the editor " La Jaula de la Felicidad" what means The Happiness Birdcage. Happiness for the bird, probably a nightingale who flew away and sings now in a beautiful garden full of roses. :) At least, this was the idea I tried to write in the tinny Chinese characters over the gold leaf in both front columns. A friend of mine, Chinese, taught me how to write it, but I doubt I have succeeded... it's too difficult to write in this scale!!!

You can click on the photo or increase the zoom to read. I'm sorry I have no time to translate it now. May be later, but I can't promise...

MINIATURAS - Construcción & Coleccionismo July/August 2010

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:55:27 GMT

Another article published by this revue last Summer -issue nr. 151

Click on the photo or increase the zoom to read. I'm sorry, it's written in Spanish and I suppose the automatic translator doesn't work in those cases...

In my next post you'll find a tutorial for the chinese birdcage you see in the first photo of this page.

Tom Bishop Show - Madrid, November 2010

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:29:27 GMT

This is the only photo I have of the show. I shared a table with my friend Ana Maria Morgado. Take a look at her Blog.

http://www.am-ambientes-em-miniatura.blogs.sapo.pt/

She has an exceptional work!

Arts & Crafts - New pieces

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:54:36 GMT

Well, "new" is a funny way to call them!!! They were new last November!!! Those pieces were made to present at Tom Bishop Show in Madrid.

This time I decide to choose Arts & Crafts style. The exception is the Victorian birdcage and an ebonised table, topped with a very thin leaf of wallnut roots.

The Show was not good (business speaking). Everybody was complaining in the end. The economic crisis is spread along all Europe.

Madrid is very near from Portugal and the expenses are not too much but for those who came from more distant countries were very disappointed. Let’s hope better times arrive soon.

Thanks God I have a very good customer in USA! All those pieces were sold as soon as I arrived from the Show.

Mr. Greg Madl from Swan House Miniatures told me that some of them were sold immediately! Sometimes he has no time to take photos to put on his WebPage! It happened with the Colonial armchairs I show in my last post as well as with many other pieces before.

I love miniatures, I love my work but it’s a great incentive that other people likes them too and are so interested till the point to pay for them! Is the best recognition we can have. Everybody knows its not impossible but very difficult to live on this kind of work, but when we sell we can go on, developing our skills, buying new materials, new tools (which are expensive), and dedicate more time to study and research.

Arts & Crafts style table with some accessories - books, inkpot and penstand

Actual ebonised table

Victorian birdcage with a wood sculpted bird (detail)

Arts & Crafts - Aesthetic Movement style desk and chair. Both are finished with real leather. I made the handles for the drawers. I couldn't find appropriate models in the market.

I don't like to present those pieces without accessories, so I did these. A table lamp, an ikpot, a pen and a tinny greetings card.

An Aesthetic Movement style flower stand and, below a photo to see detailed carved work

(Detail)

Arts & Crafts side table

A pair of Aesthetic Movement style armchairs with real leather seats

Aesthetic Movement style flowerpot. Built of walnut, hand embossed brass on four sides and handcarved feet

Spanish Colonial Armchairs

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:10:21 GMT

It’s impossible!!! My professional life doesn’t allow me time for Blogs! Everyday I must choose between making miniatures or actualise this Blog! Miniatures win always, of course!

Last time I promised to show more photos from this pair of Spanish Colonial armchairs.

Here they are. But I’ll show too, a different way I found for the canned seat. I won’t explain it by words. Photos show it better. I used the “classical” gauze as everybody but I decided to improve it with a diagonal crossed thread (the same thickness as the gauze) as you can see on the photos bellow. It’s easy and the result is much more real! Try it.

After cutting to fit the right size, a little paint: ochre, white and a touch of burnt sienna and it's ready!

Promise accomplished, I'll be back as soon as possible.

I'm back!

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 19:01:05 GMT

After so many months without posting I found all different!!! The interface is not the same and I had to check everything before I was sure that it works. But here are the news.

Once my granddaughter's dollhouse was finished, I started new pieces.

A pair of caned colonial chairs.

As soon as I can I'll show different views from them.

Villa JOANA

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:16:01 GMT

A Dolls House for my grand daughter Joana. She is now 7 years old and we live far from each other - about 300km between us. I think she is in a good age to get the "virus" of miniatures.

Two years ago I started collecting a dolls house. A weekly publication from Planeta de Agostinni - "Casa de Praia" (What means Beach House). The collection finished last December.

Since last two months I've been building and decorating it. All the miniatures inside belong to the collection and were sold with an instalment (fascicule). Of course I added a few details. Nothing special, only to compose the scenes here and there or to substitute some pieces I didn't like.

It was the first time I did such a work and I was very curious to know the sensation. It's funny!

Not so easy to build, (some parts of the structure had not the exact cut) but now it's almost ready. Only the curtains are missing. (The ones of the collection are really bad!!!) I'll try to change them a little, and next week, I hope, it's finished.

The front pannel is too big and heavy and for openning without problems I have to reinforce the hinges. And that's all.

I need to start preparing my next show. Definitivly building dolls houses is not my favourite hobby! Within two years we'll speak about it again because I already started another collection from the same editor - The rustic house. It's for my other grand daughter Sofia. She is now 5 years old and is Joana's sister.

and some details of the interior

The living

The kitchen

The baby's room

The parent's room

The bathroom

The yard

I hope she likes...

A classical Portuguese carpet - Arraiolos style

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:50:08 GMT

Another team work!

This time, Gisela Silvestre and I, we adapted the design from a traditional Portuguese carpet. It's from Arraiolos a small and very beautiful village in the center-south of Portugal, internationally known by its famous tapestries.

Embroidered in a simple "petit point" once the typical Arraiolos stich is not valorised in a miniature work, the main field is deep green with tinny buttons surrounded by a frieze of delicate pink roses on a light cream background, following a classical design.

The result is "super". The work of Gisela is preciously perfect! I would love to have one, real scale, for my home.

Bellow, some pictures of details

Out of date but always in time

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:48:05 GMT

As I've told before I'm a teacher in a regular school in Algarve (south of Portugal). I teach all kinds of visual arts and artistic technologies. My pupils are children from 10 to 14 years old, usually grouped in about 16/20 each class.

It's a very hard job!!! Nowadays children know very well that money can buy almost everything so, convince them that handwork can be fun as well as a good mind developer (besides the natural utility) is really something... but I started teaching in 1972 and I never gave up making them learn that and many other principles.

By accident I found the word of miniatures and also by accident I discovered that those children like miniatures too. Every year I introduce them to the small world of miniatures with simple projects. The difficulty of the tinny scales is compensated by the great variety of techniques I can teach in a short time. Dividing the class in smaller groups, every group works with a different technique and after they teach the other colleges.

Last year, with one class, I could go further. We took 6 months working in a special project. Three times a week, 90 minutes each time, they learned the way of living in a small village from the North of Portugal during the beginnings of the 19^th century. They research books and Web. With the help of my partner, teacher Orlando Lopes, they could show their work.

And I’m very proud to show it to you too.

I must say that we didn’t follow any rigorous scale. Their work flew according to the measures and proportions of the human body as they started by doing the inhabitants and their clothes. Lots of different materials were used but mainly natural materials, paper, modelling paste and of course lots of glue!…

And please, remember this was made by children! Enjoy it.

Global view

And some details

I wish a...

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:39:36 GMT

and that all your dreams come true!

Merry Christmas

perfectminiatures-onmymind-mbryton — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:53:27 GMT

with love, money, health and... miniatures!!!

Thanks to CRAZY.FRANKENSTEIN.COM for the lovely image