Artist Statement

Born in 1994 and based in Dahlonega, Georgia, Filipino-American artist Sadie Pennell is esteemed for her exceptional craftsmanship in creating intimate and meticulously detailed watercolor works, each confined to an area as minute as a quarter. Her practice as a watercolor miniaturist redefines conventional notions of scale and medium, pushing the boundaries of fine art with remarkable sophistication. While her pieces may appear modest from a distance, they reveal an intimate world of intricate detail upon closer examination, suffused with a profound sense of warmth, serenity, and wonder.

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Pennell’s oeuvre is a seamless blend of Impressionist inspiration and realist precision, drawing a rich tapestry of influences that include Mary Cassatt, Pierre-Aguste Renoir, Claude Monet and Filipino artist Fernando Amorsolo. She admires how the Impressionists masterfully used each brushstroke to enhance clarity and composition, creating works that, while spontaneous and expressive, also convey a sense of structure and depth. This fascination intertwines with her deep respect for Amorsolo’s vibrant realism, where light and color are harnessed to breathe life into his subjects, imbuing them with a radiant vitality.

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In her own work, Sadie channels these combined influences to create miniature worlds where light and color are pivotal. Her pieces, though initially appearing highly precise, reveal a delicate interplay between meticulous detail and the expressive spontaneity inspired by the Impressionists. This fusion of styles results in a striking realism that captures the viewer’s attention and invites deeper exploration. Despite their diminutive size, Sadie’s works exemplify her exceptional ability to merge the precision of realism with the fluid, evocative brushstrokes of Impressionism, all within a space encompassing less than a single inch. 

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“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
— Vincent van Gogh

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This quote by Van Gogh encapsulates Pennell's approach to her art, where even the smallest elements come together to create something extraordinary. Through her work, she elevates the ordinary to the sublime, demonstrating that every small joy, no matter how tiny, deserves recognition and reverence.