Micro-painting: Artist creates tiny watercolour art

By Shannon Lane @shannonroselane

IN THE world of microscopic art, hamsters are dwarfed by sugar granules and a tiny cinnamon roll wouldn’t even satisfy a mouse

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The bible has been shrunk down to the size of a seed

With the help of a magnifying glass, Filipino actor and artist, Hero Angeles created his miniature watercolour artworks.

These dog treats are far too big for this tiny Yorkshire Terrier

He said: “I always want to try different art techniques and methods that apply to my own style. I was wondering if it is possible, and what it’s like to do a small painting - so I tried. At first it is very difficult, especially if you’re working in a very small space.

Hero Angeles managed to capture the detail and beauty in this tiny peacock's feathers

“When you’re dealing with very tiny paintings, you must be sure to use a magnifying lens. I use a brush with my right hand and the lens on the left.”

Actor and artist, Hero Angeles created these miniature watercolour paintings with the help of a magnifying glass and a steady hand

Hero’s pieces range from 1.5mm to 1.5cm and take him 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the difficulty of the subject.

The artist has since gained attention and a large social media following from his work and has challenged himself to keep going smaller with his micro-paintings.

Little lamb: The small scale of this sheep is evident when compared to these cotton buds

Hero is mainly inspired by animals for his micro-paintings, and rarely paints human figures due to the unattainable detail of a person’s face.

He said: “I am an animal lover. Since I was a kid I’ve been really fond of animals. Most of my works are inspired by animals, they have different characteristics, appearances and emotions.

This hamster is even smaller than some granules of sugar

“I seldom do human figures in micro-paintings. The reason is the size and detail. It’s hard to paint the face when it’s too tiny."

A steady hand was needed for this dainty deer's antlers

To differentiate his art career from his acting, Hero has created the brand ‘Artcetero’. A combination of the words ‘art’, ‘etcetera’ and his forename. Through Artcetero, Hero sells his artworks for charities and fund-raising groups.

This mini cinnamon roll wouldn't satisfy a sugar craving

The 31-year-old actor and artist said: “Unlike acting, creating artwork only requires yourself. You are the director of your own work. Your canvas and pencil are the tools in making a good story. Your hands will speak your emotions through colours and execution of ideas.