While I did pitch this month's blogtastic offerings as 'weird', I'm willing to bet a majority out there wouldn't think of the art of miniatures as such. Allow me to venture on with the understanding that for the population that happens to have Pediophobia, a specific phobia that is an irrational fear of something that poses no threat - often times tied to a fear of dolls, miniatures can be VERY weird.


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Regardless of how you view this particular subject, weird can always be admired!

Miniatures covers a wide variety of subjects. Whether they are dolls, figurines, furniture, scene settings, or full blown structures, the artists that work on the tiny scale have a supernatural eye for detail. Think the head of a pin or the tip of a pencil as a work surface. Some mediums that I've seen at Art in the Wilds are also created in miniature by some tenacious artists in the world from fiber arts little clothing to tiny pottery to woodworking.

If you've ever watched a movie, I guarantee you've seen plenty of miniatures! Miniature effect has been used in Hollywood films since the Silent Era, most notably in 'A Trip To The Moon' from 1902. Titanic (1997) couldn't have been made without a miniature scale ship to sink. The Lord of the Rings trilogy wouldn't have had such a detailed Middle Earth without miniatures. Same goes for the Harry Potter series and any film that destroys your favorite city, especially if there's a nuclear irradiated sea monster stomping through.

Movie miniatures are practical in their use. On the Fine Arts side of things, there are amazing works that would fit right in anywhere in your home; or anywhere at all! My personal favorite miniature artist is New York based Matthew Albanese. Not only does he create mindboggling landscapes but they're pieces depicting nature!

Whether viewed up-close or from a safe phobia-determined distance, miniatures are wonderous to behold. Art in the Wilds would be a grand venue to showcase a miniature artist in the future! Perhaps, one day, we'll see them there.

While Shock and Awe is a military term, it does align with this subject of fine art. As well, tying in my previous posts roughly rounding out the effects of this pandemic we're all facing, the very reason I felt compelled to talk about this subject was due to isolation. I'm certainly not the only person that expanded their horizons while they were forced to stay in one place lately.

Today, as is referenced in some of my own sketch(y) art here which I'll be adding from now on, I'm going to delve a bit into the world of the arguably barbaric art. I'm talking Ant Hill/Insect Dug casting.

I will say that my own feelings regarding destruction of wildlife are firmly on the side of preservation. However, when it comes to problem pests such as fire ants and termites, I'm willing to let the matter slide; at least where it pertains to the pests being in too close proximity to humans or vice versa. No one should go out into the wilderness where these insects are bothering no one and pour molten metal into their homes.

That said, temporarily puncturing my humane standards did open up a world where fantasy meets reality and efficiency meets beauty. I won't be linking to any of the videos I've watched though I do recommend browsing Anthill Art on your own. A simply Google image search is enough to boggle the mind. The process of casting alone takes nerves of steel (aluminum in this case) that I do not have. It brought to mind the metalworkers and glass artists we've had at Art in the Wilds.

The results of blasting the tunnels of worker insects with the shock of 1,221 degrees of aluminum knocking on your door leaves me in awe with every single piece. An entire world is cast in detail. Every passage, cavern, and vent shaft - yes, they do make little vent shafts! - can be admired from all angles. As a writer, it opens my mind up to ideas of post-apocalyptic or alien worlds; a possible story landscape outside the norm.

While I have not seen this particular art style at our summer show, there's always the possibility one might appear in the future. Or, perhaps even better, someone takes inspiration from this Artist vs. Pestilence tactic to recreate the wonderous anthill in their own mediums.

The combined efforts of nature and man encouraged me to break out the pen after countless years! I do hope it puts the creative itch in all of you out there, as well.