MINIATURE PAINTINGS
This page features Yamada's artworks, that are up to only about 12 inches. Since 1983, Yamada professionally created a series of original miniature paintings on antique silver spoons, violin, banjo, buttons, ceramic plates, clam shells, blank vinyl sheets, bonfire sea glasses, etc. since 1983.
These miniature artworks by Yamada were displayed at the Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD), University of Michigan School of Art (Ann Arbor, MI), Neville-Sargent Gallery (Chicago, IL), Collins Fine Art (Chicago, IL), Shinsen Gallery (Chicago, IL), Brownsboro Gallery (Louisville, KT), Museum of World Wonders (Brooklyn, NY), etc.
This page features Yamada's artworks, that are up to only about 12 inches. Since 1983, Yamada professionally created a series of original miniature paintings on antique silver spoons, violin, banjo, buttons, ceramic plates, clam shells, blank vinyl sheets, bonfire sea glasses, etc. since 1983.
These miniature artworks by Yamada were displayed at the Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD), University of Michigan School of Art (Ann Arbor, MI), Neville-Sargent Gallery (Chicago, IL), Collins Fine Art (Chicago, IL), Shinsen Gallery (Chicago, IL), Brownsboro Gallery (Louisville, KT), Museum of World Wonders (Brooklyn, NY), etc.
The single drop of the sea water contains the essense of the vast and glorious oceans.
Tha's the spirit of the miniature art.
- Takeshi Yamada
Tha's the spirit of the miniature art.
- Takeshi Yamada
CONTENTS
SCULPTED & PAINTED BONFIRE SEA GLASS (VISIT THE PAGE "BONFIRE SEA GLASS ART")
SCULPTED & PAINTED MANILA CLAM SHELLS (VISIT THE PAGE "MANILA CLAM ART")
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (VIOLIN), STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER (BANJO)
EYES OF SEA GODDESS (CLAM SHELL)
BLUE MERMAID (PANEL), BLUE SEAHORSE (PANEL)
BLUE HORSE SNAIL (HERMIT HORSE) OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (SILVER SPOON)
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (DISH)
IRON PHOENIX: CHICAGO (CERAMIC DISH, WOODEN DISH, WOODEN JEWELRY BOXES)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (SILVER SPOON)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (BUTTON)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (DISH)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
SCULPTED & PAINTED BONFIRE SEA GLASS (VISIT THE PAGE "BONFIRE SEA GLASS ART")
SCULPTED & PAINTED MANILA CLAM SHELLS (VISIT THE PAGE "MANILA CLAM ART")
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (VIOLIN), STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER (BANJO)
EYES OF SEA GODDESS (CLAM SHELL)
BLUE MERMAID (PANEL), BLUE SEAHORSE (PANEL)
BLUE HORSE SNAIL (HERMIT HORSE) OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (SILVER SPOON)
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (DISH)
IRON PHOENIX: CHICAGO (CERAMIC DISH, WOODEN DISH, WOODEN JEWELRY BOXES)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (SILVER SPOON)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (BUTTON)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (DISH)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
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PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (VIOLIN)
STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER (BANJO)
Takeshi Yamada saw the visions of miniature paintings of the famous musicians on the violin and banjo at the antique store, when he was a student of Maryland Institute College or art in Baltimore, Maryland. The Miniature portrait oil painting of the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and angels were painted on the back of the antique violin. He also carved fine grit lines on the surface and aged it. With this artwork, he won the calendar competition of the University Microfilm International, and the image was published in its large calendar when he was a graduate student of the University of Michigan School of art in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This and another miniature oil painting created by him – portrait of Stephen Collins Foster on the antique banjo - were displayed at one of the graduate school students' art exhibition at his school in 1985. These artworks were also displayed at Yamada's solo art exhibition "Takeshi Yamada’s Chicago" at the Collins Fine Art Gallery in SUHU in Chicago, Illinois in 2000. (Click for the bigger picture and descriptions below.)
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (VIOLIN)
STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER (BANJO)
Takeshi Yamada saw the visions of miniature paintings of the famous musicians on the violin and banjo at the antique store, when he was a student of Maryland Institute College or art in Baltimore, Maryland. The Miniature portrait oil painting of the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and angels were painted on the back of the antique violin. He also carved fine grit lines on the surface and aged it. With this artwork, he won the calendar competition of the University Microfilm International, and the image was published in its large calendar when he was a graduate student of the University of Michigan School of art in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This and another miniature oil painting created by him – portrait of Stephen Collins Foster on the antique banjo - were displayed at one of the graduate school students' art exhibition at his school in 1985. These artworks were also displayed at Yamada's solo art exhibition "Takeshi Yamada’s Chicago" at the Collins Fine Art Gallery in SUHU in Chicago, Illinois in 2000. (Click for the bigger picture and descriptions below.)
Exhibition Scenes: University of Michigan School of Art, Maryland Institute College of Art, Collins Fine Art Gallery
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EYES OF SEA GODDESS (CLAM SHELL)
A series of miniature acrylic paintings entitled "Eyes of the Sea Goddess (Eyes of the Mermaid Princess) was created by Yamada inside of the clamshells of the quahog clam and the large size surf clam, collected at the Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn, New York City.
EYES OF SEA GODDESS (CLAM SHELL)
A series of miniature acrylic paintings entitled "Eyes of the Sea Goddess (Eyes of the Mermaid Princess) was created by Yamada inside of the clamshells of the quahog clam and the large size surf clam, collected at the Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn, New York City.
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BLUE MERMAID (PANEL)
BLUE SEAHORSE (PANEL)
A series of miniature oil paintings entitled "Blue Mermaid" and "Blue Seahorse" was created on the blank telephone card by Yamada. Each artwork features a sea monster with the fish fins at its lower body.
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BLUE HORSE SNAIL (HERMIT HORSE) OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
A series of miniature oil paintings entitled "Blue Horse Snail of Alchemy (Blue Hermit Horse of Alchemy) was created on the blank telephone card by Yamada.
BLUE HORSE SNAIL (HERMIT HORSE) OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
A series of miniature oil paintings entitled "Blue Horse Snail of Alchemy (Blue Hermit Horse of Alchemy) was created on the blank telephone card by Yamada.
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BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (SILVER SPOON)
Yamada also created a series of miniature oil paintings of the "Blue Horse of Alchemy" on antique silver spoons base on his vision. Shortly after, he was granted for his solo art exhibition at the Brownsboro Gallery in Louisville Kentucky. This city is best known as the location of the Kentucky Derby, the first of the three annual races that make up the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (SILVER SPOON)
Yamada also created a series of miniature oil paintings of the "Blue Horse of Alchemy" on antique silver spoons base on his vision. Shortly after, he was granted for his solo art exhibition at the Brownsboro Gallery in Louisville Kentucky. This city is best known as the location of the Kentucky Derby, the first of the three annual races that make up the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
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BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
A series of miniature oil paintings "Blue Horse of Alchemy" was created on the blank phone card by Yamad base on his vision. Shortly after, he was granted for his solo art exhibition at the Brownsboro Gallery in Louisville Kentucky. This city is best known as the location of the Kentucky Derby, the first of the three annual races that make up the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Also, the horse is one of the 12 sacred animals of the traditional Chinese zodiac. The artworks representing these 12 animals are considered good-luck-charms and commonly seen at gift shops in China and many Asian nations including Japan, the home nation of Yamada.
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
A series of miniature oil paintings "Blue Horse of Alchemy" was created on the blank phone card by Yamad base on his vision. Shortly after, he was granted for his solo art exhibition at the Brownsboro Gallery in Louisville Kentucky. This city is best known as the location of the Kentucky Derby, the first of the three annual races that make up the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Also, the horse is one of the 12 sacred animals of the traditional Chinese zodiac. The artworks representing these 12 animals are considered good-luck-charms and commonly seen at gift shops in China and many Asian nations including Japan, the home nation of Yamada.
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BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (DISH)
This oil painting was rendered on the non-fired white ceramic plate.
BLUE HORSE OF ALCHEMY (DISH)
This oil painting was rendered on the non-fired white ceramic plate.
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IRON PHOENIX: CHICAGO (CERAMIC DISH, WOODEN DISH, WOODEN JEWELRY BOXES)
Yamada lived in Chicago, Illinois during 1987 and 2000. Yamada believes Chicago is the most mythic city in the modern era in the United States because of its history. Chicago, like the mythic creature called phoenix, rose from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. On the flat ground called prairie there, then the world first skyscraper was created for trying to reach the heaven. Yamada called Chicago, the Iron Phoenix. Shown below is a series of Yamada's miniature artworks (acrylic paintings) created on the round ceramic plates (dishes), round wooden dish, and wooden jewelry boxes.
IRON PHOENIX: CHICAGO (CERAMIC DISH, WOODEN DISH, WOODEN JEWELRY BOXES)
Yamada lived in Chicago, Illinois during 1987 and 2000. Yamada believes Chicago is the most mythic city in the modern era in the United States because of its history. Chicago, like the mythic creature called phoenix, rose from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. On the flat ground called prairie there, then the world first skyscraper was created for trying to reach the heaven. Yamada called Chicago, the Iron Phoenix. Shown below is a series of Yamada's miniature artworks (acrylic paintings) created on the round ceramic plates (dishes), round wooden dish, and wooden jewelry boxes.
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THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (COPPER PLATES)
Yamada created a series of miniature artworks when he took the basic jewelry making class 101 at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 1984. A thick flat copper plate was cut, filed, forged, and pounded with heat for making the shape resembles the spoon. Then portrait of the three-eyed goddess was painted in oil paints, and a glass diamond jewelry was fashioned. Yamada also created a pair of oval-shaped relief by using the same thick copper plate, by using the hand-held jeweler's grinder for making the fine details of this artwork. He also fashined them with glass diamond jewelries.
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (COPPER PLATES)
Yamada created a series of miniature artworks when he took the basic jewelry making class 101 at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 1984. A thick flat copper plate was cut, filed, forged, and pounded with heat for making the shape resembles the spoon. Then portrait of the three-eyed goddess was painted in oil paints, and a glass diamond jewelry was fashioned. Yamada also created a pair of oval-shaped relief by using the same thick copper plate, by using the hand-held jeweler's grinder for making the fine details of this artwork. He also fashined them with glass diamond jewelries.
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THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (SILVER SPOON)
Yamada was inspired by the heavy, deep, and egg-shaped worn out silver spoons found at the antique stores in Baltimore, Maryland, when he was a student. He collected dozens of them and started painting based on his visions and his female friends, who posed for his camera there during 1983 and 1985.
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (SILVER SPOON)
Yamada was inspired by the heavy, deep, and egg-shaped worn out silver spoons found at the antique stores in Baltimore, Maryland, when he was a student. He collected dozens of them and started painting based on his visions and his female friends, who posed for his camera there during 1983 and 1985.
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THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (BUTTON)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (goddess of art, muse of art) Miniature oil painting on the three inch antique button, These three are the first set of artwork created by Takeshi Yamada when he moved to the United States from Japan in 1983. As an exchange student from Osaka University of Art, he had only one month to take classes at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California. After that, he was scheduled to fly over to the East Cost for continuing his study at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. His time in California was extremely short and busy. Nevertheless, he was so driven and did not want to stop creating artworks even such an extreme busy conditions and dramatically different environment. So, Yamada decided to create a miniature painting, so that it would not take big space in his tiny bedroom (shared with another exchange student) of the school dormitory AND it is also easy to transport with him when he fly across the continent to move to the next art university (Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland). The original buttons were purchased at the yard sale and the antique store in Oakland. Yamada's adventures and explorations had just begun in the United States.
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THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (DISH)
A series of oil paintings rendered on the ceramic plates entitled "Three-eyed Goddess of Alchemy" was created by Yamada in Osaka, Japan, just before he moved to the United States in 1983. For Yamada, these are religious objects of spiritual and physical powers to protect his family and his nation, while is is away from there.
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THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY. miniature oil painting on panel, 1983, Takeshi Yamada, Japan. One of the last few artworks created by Yamada in Japan, just before he moved to the United States. These intricate miniature paintings represent the ancient statues of the Goddess of Alchemy as the hermaphrodite.
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY (PANEL)
THREE-EYED GODDESS OF ALCHEMY. miniature oil painting on panel, 1983, Takeshi Yamada, Japan. One of the last few artworks created by Yamada in Japan, just before he moved to the United States. These intricate miniature paintings represent the ancient statues of the Goddess of Alchemy as the hermaphrodite.
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REFERENCE
ARTICLE: SW: three-eyed God, Goddess, and Muses
PHOTOS: Pintest: Yamada's miniature paintings on silver spoons
REFERENCE
ARTICLE: SW: three-eyed God, Goddess, and Muses
PHOTOS: Pintest: Yamada's miniature paintings on silver spoons
This is the official fine art website of the Japanese-American artist, rogue taxidermist, educator, and author, Takeshi Yamada (山田 武司). Images contained on this website may not be used or reproduced in any manner without the explicit permission of the artist. For information on obtaining the rights to use images on this site, contact Takeshi Yamada at [email protected] with “image licensing” as the subject line.
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