Artists think big, paint small at '24 Minis' exhibit in Tarentum

Even if you’re painting a life-size depiction of baby birds, you don’t need a huge canvas.

That’s part of the reason why Murrysville artist Betty Trout decided to focus on multiple families of robins in her backyard as the subject of her entry in the “24 Minis” exhibit at the Manos Gallery in Tarentum.

More than 170 artists submitted an image and proposal for this year’s show, which requires all 24 pieces of art to be created on 6-inch square canvases. Proposals were whittled down to 60 entries, which will be part of a juried competition.

The exhibit will open Saturday, Sept. 20 from noon to 8 p.m. and will run through Nov. 1.

“Last year’s ‘24 Minis’ challenge was a rewarding and growing experience,” said Trout, 68. “Working on a series of the same subject and in that small size allowed me to really explore and learn in detail about (my subject) — bees — to depict their characteristics and lives.”

Trout said she toyed with the idea of exploring a series of facial expressions this year, but ultimately went with nature once more, showcasing the avian diversity in her backyard.

“They’re fascinating to watch and explore with their different colors, characteristics, personalities and stages of life,” she said. “I wanted each painting to be a different type of bird — but with four nests of robins in my yard, my grouping includes a sub-group of robins’ life stages.”

For Irwin artist Ari Wulff, working on a small canvas is all in a day’s work.

“I tend to work on the smaller side, so that in itself wasn’t a huge challenge,” said Wulff, 65, who mostly works in watercolor and acrylic paints. She said her biggest challenge was whittling down the list of people she wanted to paint.

“I’m a queer artist, and this year I decided to paint 24 LGBTQ icons,” she said. “There is a portrait of them and then mixed-media things in the background that are attached, which relate to each person and their legacy.”

For a painting of Pittsburgh artist Andy Warhol, Wulff created a background of real Campbell’s Soup can labels to paint over, a nod to Warhol’s “pop art” style.

Wulff said she loves the tranquility that comes from sitting down at her easel.

“I can really just get lost in it,” she said. “It’s very relaxing and it shuts the whole world out.”

Trout is looking forward to the opening reception.

“It was exhilarating last year, seeing the culmination of everyone’s work on display,” she said.

The Manos Gallery is at 320 E. Fifth Ave. in Tarentum. In addition to being on display during regular gallery hours, an open house for the exhibit will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 1.

For more, see TheManosGallery.webflow.io, or call 484-529-1597.