Small artworks create big impression at Edmonds gallery

What they lack in size, they make up for in intricate detail — that’s how small artworks are sometimes described.

“They’re carefully painted,” said Barbara Noonan, a Seattle artist who judged the small works show now on display at Edmonds’ Gallery North. “To be able to capture so much in a small painting is challenging at best — and magnificent.”

Some 174 works by 69 artists were accepted for this year’s contest, with entries coming from points as distant as Maine, New York and Tennessee.

The size of each work is about 2½ inches wide by 3½ inches tall.

“It’s amazing,” Noonan said. “Anyone who goes should pay attention to the exquisite detail.”

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One painting of a cat is just 2 inches by 2 inches. “It looks as if it was painted with eyelashes,” Noonan said.

The first-place winner, “Jacked Up,” was created by Lonetta Avelar. The depiction of a kangaroo was created on a scratchboard, a technique in which the image is produced by scratching to create contrasting white in the piece.

Second place was awarded to Jani Freimann for an image of an owl titled “Says Who?”

Glen Kessler was awarded third place for his oil painting “CircuitScape 91: Shimmering Skyline,” about 2¼ inches tall.

“A lot of them I think are done under a magnifying glass and have amazing details,” said Mary Bess Johnson, a photographer who is a gallery member.

Noonan operates the Mornin Noonan Night Studios in Seattle. She is a signature member of the Northwest Pastel Society and the Pastel Society of the West Coast.

Her works have been displayed at the Edmonds Arts Festival, the City of Kent and the 2016 Northwest Pastel Society International Exhibition in Tacoma.

The Small Works Show will be on display through March 30. The pieces included in the show can also be viewed on the Gallery North website, gallerynorthedmonds.com.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.

If you go

Gallery North, an artists’ cooperative at 401 Main St. in Edmonds, is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Call 425-774-0946 for more information.