Miniaturist
Insider Info
A miniaturist is someone who loves all things in miniature -- from tiny
books and teddy bears to sets of army figures and entire wood villages complete
with mini furniture.
A miniaturist's art is collecting and creating a tiny version of the world
around us.
People have been fascinated with miniature crafts for centuries. Miniaturists
aim for exact detail in their tiny replicas. The illusion for the audience
is that they are looking into a small frozen version of their own world.
Possibly, some of the world's first miniaturists were painters. Think of
the ancient texts where the first letter on each page is decorated with ink
or paint. If you look closely, many of these letters are surrounded with a
tiny scene illustrating part of the story. As with most miniatures, you might
need a magnifying glass to appreciate the tiny detail.
Miniature books have a long history as well. And the popularity of miniature
books is growing. Today, the Miniature Book Society, based in Ohio, has over
400 international members. Writer and publisher Frank Anderson has been creating
miniature books since 1965. "I enjoy creating books that are unique," he says.
"Miniature books are difficult to make. It can take up to six months to
create one copy by hand. So it is rare for a miniature book publisher to create
more than 50 copies of the same book. Because they aren't mass-produced, miniature
books increase in value as time goes on."
Another expression of miniature art is the military diorama. What is a
diorama? Collectors and makers of military miniatures use this word to describe
scenes in which models or figures are seen against a realistic background.
A diorama is a moment frozen in time, a 3D photograph. Military modelers
use figurines, horses and military equipment to create these in a miniature
landscape.
Most military modeling is built to tell a story from the past. And dioramas
are made to recreate actual moments in history. Historical accuracy is important
in many types of miniature art, as is the depiction of future events. "One
of our most popular exhibits is a miniature trip to Jupiter and back," says
George Devlin, the owner and operator of Miniature World.
Perhaps the most common miniaturist is the dollhouse craftsperson or enthusiast.
Dollhouses have been collected for over 300 years.
Many of the first doll homes were built as simple children's toys. But
as the years passed, adults took interest. Nowadays, miniaturists specializing
in dollhouses make detailed homes complete with wood furnishings.
Obviously, these are not for children at all. They take years of work to
create and are often very expensive masterpieces selling for thousands of
dollars.
Many who choose to collect dollhouse items first purchase a home created
by an artisan. Then they get straight to the fun of decorating.
When buying your first dollhouse, remember that the cost of decorating
and furnishing it will go up with the number of rooms in the home. So think
small if you are just starting out. Most houses come with an open back or
a front that opens for easy display.
Then it's time to add the finishing touches -- wallpaper, curtains, quilts,
furniture, dishes and food. There are specialized craftspeople in all of these
categories.
You can purchase ready-made pieces or use your imagination and create your
own. Many of the books listed in this article have helpful hints and building
plans. You can then choose to adorn your dollhouse with ceramic or wood figures
and pets.
Model makers and miniaturists usually work from home. Here, in their shops,
you will find a large variety of tools. A table saw, glue, magnifying glass,
craft knives, paintbrushes, scale rulers, compasses, sandpaper and small pliers
are used to mold wood, plaster, foam and anything else that will give the
desired look.
Getting Started
Interested in trying it out? The National Association of Miniature Enthusiast's
Web site features a map. Click on your state for a list of miniature shops
near you.
All of these miniature hobbies come with a specific set of rules. The law
of scale or size is one of the most important. In other words, if you are
a miniaturist building furniture for dollhouse collectors, you need to be
sure that your furniture fits correctly.
For example, the universal size for dollhouse miniature making is a one-12th
scale. This means that one foot is converted into one inch to create a miniature.
Check out the National Association of Miniature Enthusiast's Web site for
a complete conversion chart to standard miniature scale.
Anderson notes that when it comes to miniature books, "they have to be
readable and no larger than three inches tall or wide." Miniature books cover
a wide range of topics. Look out for the millennium miniature edition of the
Bible set to come out this year.
"There are several career opportunities in the field -- everything from
museum management to making miniatures for a living," says Janet Wilhite.
She is the director of the American Museum of Miniature Arts.
"Some people make miniatures from their home and travel, entering their
pieces in shows where they are sold to collectors. There is always a business
opportunity."
Join a club or read a book on the topic. There is no telling where the
small things in life will lead you.
Associations
Cottage Industry Miniaturists Trade Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 42849
Evergreen Park
,
IL
60805
USA
Internet
:
http://www.cimta.org
International Guild of Miniature Artisans
P.O. Box 629
Freedom
,
CA
95019-0629
USA
Internet
:
http://www.igma.org
Miniature Book Society
620 Clinton Springs Ave.
Cincinnati
,
OH
45229
USA
Internet
:
http://www.mbs.org/
National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts
P.O. Box 69
Carmel
,
IN
46082
USA
Internet
:
http://www.miniatures.org/
Links
History of Miniature Arts
Learn more about the history of this craft
Miniature World
The site features three virtual tours of their most popular exhibits
Tom Bishop Miniature Shows
For a schedule of international miniature shows
Back to Career Cluster