1.75" x 2.125" by Barbara Stanton

 ·   The image or painted area is limited to 25 square inches or smaller.

·    Subject matter must be rendered in 1/6 life size or smaller.

·    The art work should hold up under magnification.

·    As in any good painting, perspective, values, color, composition, lost and found edges, etc. are important.

 These standards are especially challenging when creating such tiny treasures.  While there are some exceptions, realism and exquisite detail are the most desired qualities in miniatures.  Miniature art goes back to the illustrated manuscripts of scribes before the 15th century. Contemporary miniature art resurfaced in 1896 and spread worldwide in the late 1900's.

Standards for contemporary miniature competitions and exhibits and may vary slightly depending on the host organization--some have no restriction on scale and but do enforce the maximum size of 25 square inches. Framing guidelines require that the overall framed work is 64 inches in circumference or smaller.  

2.5" x 3.5" by Gail Hayton

To learn more please visit the website of Miniature Artists of America.

http://www.miniatureartistsofamerica.org/