NEW: Harbron Miniatures Box





I am pleased to reveal a new addition to the Harbron Plein Air range: a panel box for storing/carrying your miniature 5 x 7 inch panels.  

5 great reasons why I take this box on location: 

  1. Small canvas boards, or miniatures, are great for warming-up. Rather than jump straight into my main piece, I might do a miniature just to get my mind and ideas focused and my hands loosened up.
  2. Sometimes my miniatures will be the main piece. I might complete a run of miniatures between rain showers or when I don't have a lot of time, or when I simply want to focus on a small study.
  3. Miniatures are great to do at the end of a painting session, to use up what paint I have left on the palette, whilst making the most of any time I have left. 
  4. Miniatures are super portable. I can reduce my kit to 2 paint brushes, a limited palette of 3-4 tubes of paint, small airtight palette, my medium and a rag. Off I go! At such a small size, I can get away without an easel - I'll just hold the board in my hand. 
  5. Miniatures help me reach more people and open an additional income stream. Because they come in at a lower price point, they are more affordable for gift hunters and art appreciators on a limited budget.

When doing a miniature, I tend to steer clear of grand panoramic views or large buildings. I'll focus in on an element of my planned larger piece. For example, If I'm painting a large tree, I might warm-up with a miniature study focused on the base of the trunk and it's roots or the way the light falls on part of the foliage. I won't usually think about detail, just impressionistic blocks of hue and tone to give the general idea. When working small, it's best to keep it simple :)


One of my simple 5"x 7" plein air studies in oil.

The Harbron Miniatures Panel Box is handmade in small batches by me, using materials and components sourced here in the UK. The box includes a full set of three 5 x 7 inch canvas boards and is available for £44.99 inc. UK postage and recyclable 'eco' packaging.

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