About Me

Hi! Karen Libecap here…

So glad you stopped by to check us out!

I am a Tiny Painter with a passion for creating miniature paintings that contain as much detail as I can convey in a 1.25″ by 1.25 inch space. My goal is to get the closest likeness to the subject as possible, creating a unique and intriguing work of art. My subjects are based on everyday images that resonate with me on some level, whether it evokes a cherished childhood memory, depicts something beautiful, or is something that shows off my quirky sense of humor. We like to say that when you look at my collection, it’s a window into the mind of Karen. So, come on in and take a look around in my head!

 

…that started my affinity for small things. In between my filing work, I would collect left over scraps of paper, write stories and draw pictures on them and file them away in a little shoe box. I loved playing with my little collection of art.

Here’s a (little) bit about how I got here… 

I’ve been doing Tiny Paintings since 2014 but art has always been a big part of my life. I came from a family of artists. My mother was an oil painter/sculptor and always encouraged me to pursue my passion.  When I was little, my grandfather owned a print shop. My Dad worked there in the evenings after his day job. He would often let me go with him.

The print shop was the kind where typesetting was done by hand compositing. Each character or symbol was a small piece of metal called a “sort” or “type” which was combined with other types to make up the form, from which the page was printed. As you can imagine, these pieces were really small! My job was to file the type pieces away when he was finished with them. It was my job partly because I was the only one who could see them well and partly because I was just a girl. Oh the good ‘ol days….

Anyway, that started my affinity for small things. In between my filing work, I would collect left over scraps of paper and write stories and draw pictures on them and file them away in a little shoe box. I loved playing with my little collection of art.

I attended Kent State University for graphic design. I’ve been an Art Director in major cities such as Chicago in addition to Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. I have worked in many different mediums along the way such as watercolor, acrylics, clay, and encaustic wax, pastels and oils. As life happened, I drifted away from art. I got married, had 3 beautiful children, got divorced…

Then, in 2009 my high school sweetheart, Jeff, and I reconnected. The first thing he asked was “Are you still drawing?” Then he asked, “Why not??” Soon after that, I decided to start painting again. I began with “normal” sized subjects, but found I had trouble finishing them because I would lose interest after a while. Going back to my roots, I decided to return to dealing in tiny sizes again. It was the right move for me because I was able to try so many different things which kept my interest, plus I could actually finish a Tiny Painting in a day. Today I am continually working to refine my art and explore other options within the miniature space. Recently I began experimenting with slightly larger versions of my classic Tiny Paintings which are 3″ x 3″, as opposed to 1.25″ x 1.25″. I actively attend art shows around the country, so check my calendar for upcoming events and come introduce yourself! If that isn’t possible, come say hello on Instagram and Facebook. I’d love to meet you!

So, that’s my little story. (pun intended)  Thanks for reading!