Interview! A Bit of My Backstory.

Rena Small, Artists Hands Grid Continuum, Linda Post

This Canvas Rebel interview is the third extensive Q&A that has been published about me in the past few years. Each set of questions is quite different - and my answers often reveal thought processes and memories that surprise even me.

I was always the child daydreaming in the back of the classroom, drawing pictures instead of taking notes. Secret portraits of my classmates, fashion design, geometric patterns, even making up illustrated stories and books. My public high school didn't offer college-bound students the option of taking art classes - it was considered a "trade"... read more

Listen to me talk about the mini-me project!

MINI-ME IS OPEN!

Follow this link to hear me talk about these pieces.

I rarely work small-scale, and I don't often use pastels these days. When 33 Contemporary Gallery put out a call for postcard-sized self-portraits, it seemed like a totally fun project.

Welcome to the Monkey House is a tiny 4" x 6" pastel self-portrait with a capuchin monkey, from my recent travels in Costa Rica and Roatan, Honduras. It’s also a statement of my view of the world situation in 2025, with a nod to Kurt Vonnegut.

The second "mini-me" pastel is titled Monkey Business. It's 4" x 7" and even funnier.

Check it out - both are on Artsy.net in the Mini-Me exhibit.

I hope you enjoy the interview. And the whole self-portrait show is worth viewing online - I love so many of these teeny-tiny works, and I think you will too.

In addition to Mini-Me, I have a piece in the April National Association of Women Artists exhibit in Cotuit, in the big gallery at the Cultural Center.

My studio is buzzing with activity these days, and I promise to keep you in the loop. Feel free to introduce your art-loving friends to me here.

I am so glad it's finally spring!