Pick a gallery piece for $100 or less

(Updated: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 12:49 PM)

Timberline Art Gallery has a unique new show on exhibit titled "100 Small Wonders for $100 or less." The exhibit will run through May 2.

The exhibit is a creative display of 100 small paintings, all priced at $100 or less. Each painting will be no larger than 10" by 10" in size and many will be much smaller. There will be oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, and mixed media works.

In addition to paintings, you will also find diminutive sculptures and ceramics, fiber art works, weavings, spirit figures and colorful chakras, tiny gourds, glass pieces, and jewelry.

As in life, visitors to the gallery will discover that great things often do come in small packages. Able to concentrate on reduced-size works, renowned Timberline artists have created some tiny treasures, all available at reasonable prices for personal art collections, new art collections and Mother's Day gifts.

"Small Wonders" is part of a nationwide trend by artists toward creating smaller paintings and art works in today's tortured economy. As an added and somewhat unexpected benefit, many Timberline artists are enjoying the opportunity to work in a new format or even a new medium.

Artist Suzanne Banks is pleased to be able to finish small paintings more quickly than large ones, giving her a chance to complete more paintings.

Mixed media artist Kathleen Mattox is enjoying a break from painting full sheet watercolors and mixed media works that frame to 30" by 38" because of the lower costs of materials and frames.

Artist Anita Stoll loves painting small works to experiment with new techniques, colors, and surfaces as she and her pastel students work on a series she calls "Mud Pies."

In addition to lower costs and invested time for artists, the fact is that smaller works also meet the space requirements of long-time collectors who have run out of wall space to display their treasured art works. Small works can fill small spaces in a collector's home or office. Small works can also become 3-D pieces, in a sense, when displayed on an easel or leaning against books in a bookcase.

Part of Timberline's new "Theme Show" experience, "100 Small Wonders" will be one of three theme shows in 2010.

The Sierra Second Saturday Art Hop receptions for the show will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 13 and April 10. There will also be instructional classes on the two Saturdays which is a new experience for Timberline.

The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

--Kathleen Mattox