Robert Paul Galleries Now Exhibiting Latham Family's Original Paintings

The Robert Paul Galleries of Stowe, Vermont have become the newest gallery representing the Lathams.  We are honored to be a part of such a beautiful venue.

Heralded as one of the countries finest art galleries, Robert Paul Galleries offers a truly outstanding selection of American and European original paintings, sculpture, local photography and limited edition graphics and represent numerous acclaimed and highly awarded artists, not only from Vermont and throughout the U.S., but also from Canada, Spain, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia and more.

Gilcrease AAIM Awards Karen Latham People's Choice

Karen Latham was awarded the "People's Choice" award for her painting "Contemplation - Young Wolf" at the Gilcrease Museum's American Art in Miniature 2009 in Tulsa, Oklahoma where it also was sold. Since the opening of American Art in Miniature on October 24th, museum visitors were give the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece.

American Art in Miniature is an annual tradition at Gilcrease Museum. The exhibition ran from October 24 – November 8, 2009. The American Art in Miniature Reception and Art Sale was Thursday, November 5 during which a Silent Auction for work from 180 talented artists from across the nation was held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. All works of art were no larger than 108 square inches (example: 9 x 12) exclusive of the frame. Sculptures were no larger than 1,728 cubic inches (example: 12 x 12 x 12) exclusive of base.

The museum's website is www.gilcrease.org.

Miniature Art - Paintings in Miniature

Summarized briefly, miniature painting is a form of painting that is deeply rooted in many cultures and spans centuries. The Lathams are a family of American artists practicing it in today’s modern art market of galleries and exhibitions. As an artist, Rebecca Latham as well as her mother, Karen, and sister, Bonnie, strive for detail in their painting. Studying with a Flemish master, they have developed their styles for painting extreme realism. Their works, both large and small, are painted “in miniature”.

Early Beginnings

Miniature painting is a traditional style of art that is very detailed, often referred to as painting or working “in miniature”. Because of their origins as illuminations, they are also painted to have as smooth of a surface as possible. (It is also suggested that miniature art may have been influenced by the medals of ancient Rome as well) Miniature art can be traced back to ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus scrolls. Monks are also often highlighted for their contributions to early miniature painting with their beautifully illuminated manuscripts such as the Celtic Book of Kells and England's Lindisfarne Gospels (both of which measure around 9" x 12"). Some early manuscripts contain miniatures on their pages that depict beautiful arrangements of life sized flower arrangements on their borders. The history of the art is also seen throughout the world in various other cultures.

Miniature painting began out of necessity for illustrating documents and manuscripts to aid those reading them during a time when many were not able to, before printing was invented. The miniature helped to convey the story and meaning of the written word. Therefore, the art of the miniature is directly connected to the book arts. The various sized illuminations (pictures) were cut out of these books or documents so that they could be carried more easily. Later, developing from the carried miniature, portrait miniature artists were commissioned to paint small portraits – paintings that were used as we use wallet sized photographs today. These sizes of miniature paintings became popular with collectors and are often referred to as “hand held miniatures”. Portrait miniatures were painted in larger sizes as well, for example master miniaturist, Nicholas Hilliard, Peter Oliver, and Sir Charles William Ross all painted works that were of a larger size.

Sizes

Miniature painting is sometimes confused and assumed that the pieces must be small or depict subjects on a smaller scale to be considered miniature art, though this is not the case. It is helpful to keep in mind that the origins of the term "miniature" have nothing to do with a size. The word miniature comes from the terms 'minium' (used for the red lead paint used in illuminated manuscripts) and 'miniare' (Latin for 'to color with red lead').

Miniature painting is a style and technique of painting, and as such, a wall sized work could be painted “in miniature”. Authors of the Yale University Press publication, “The English Miniature” have stated that miniatures have been painted large and some works are even considered to be gigantic. Numerous faculty members of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London confirm that miniature paintings are not restricted to smallness. Larger sized miniature paintings are documented throughout history and are recognized today, though painting larger works in miniature is more difficult and time consuming than a smaller piece if the same attention to detail is observed. Miniature art is also unique in that it was and is often used on objects, such as the Russian lacquer boxes that are beautiful examples of Russian miniatures.

Exhibitions

Today, there are miniature art societies in western society to help promote and preserve traditional miniature art and the “spirit of miniature”. Their exhibitions feature the hand held miniature paintings (or sculptures) and each exhibition has its own unique guidelines and rules for artists showing in their exhibit. Some of these rules limit the size of work to be no larger than a set square inch. Others limit the size of a subject, such at the 1/6th scale rule that a subject may not be painted larger than 1/6th of it's natural size, or the 2” rule, that an object in the painting may not exceed 2”. Scale rules were initially put in place as a guide for artists starting out in miniature art. There are also many framing restrictions for society miniature works as well. All of these rules are put into place by each show for their own individual and unique exhibitions, and do not define what miniature art is.

Artists painting miniatures throughout history were not restricted in their artwork by scale as their subjects were painted to any measurement or scale that the artist deemed pleasing to the eye and their patrons, for both manuscripts and other miniatures. Subjects that are naturally small in size, such as butterflies and insects, were painted life sized. Thus the 1/6th scale rule that is used by some shows and societies today unfortunately causes a bit of confusion to those new to the art form who commonly assume that is it a part of a mechanical criteria of the miniature's definition. The world's experts in miniatures do not recognize the rule as legitimate, and view those embracing it as unknowledgeable, and dismiss them.

The term "miniature", as it addresses miniature painting, is often confused with "miniaturize" and some miniature art exhibitions do not refer to miniature as it's initial meaning of techniques, but rather the size of the painting (miniaturized painting). They are two very separate descriptions.

Miniature painting is an art form that is very rich in history that continues today by artists from around the globe. The beautiful ornamental qualities of the miniature should be preserved whether it be the intricate large pieces, or intimate hand held works.

Many thanks to Joan Willies RMS, the Victoria & Albert Museum, & Patrick Noon.

[Article by Rebecca Latham]

Objects of Desire - Holiday Miniature Art Show Opening

Rebecca & Bonnie Latham at the public opening of Miller Gallery's 2006 Objects of Desire

Objects of Desire, Miller Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, located on Hyde Park Square. The Lathams are again showing a collection of small paintings at the annual miniature art exhibition. As last year, they have released a collection of 1/6th scale traditional miniatures. However, the artist's body of work also includes some of their larger miniature paintings. The artists were on hand at the exhibition opening to speak to the public.

The artists were also in the gallery later that weekend to paint in the gallery.

Karen, Rebecca, & Bonnie's artwork is available through the Miller Gallery. If you are interested in one of the Lathams' pieces of art from the "Objects of Desire" exhibition, please contact the gallery directly http://www.millergallery.com/

Rebecca Awarded Top Honors in the MPSGS International Miniature Exhibition

Little paintings, painted in miniature, are popular with collectors. Rebecca Latham's work has been judged as one of the best in the field of miniature painting by America's most respected miniature art society.