Throughout my childhood I watched my father, artist Ken Matthews, work on miniatures in his studio. I spent many hours soaking up his techniques and reading through his vast library of books by miniature artisans. I loved the concept of this miniature world - perfect recreations of things that in real size are wonderful, but in miniature are an awe-inspiring cross between fantasy and artistic miracle.

Over the years I experimented with many art forms, mainly larger format sculpture, pastel, and mixed media. But the 'small world' my dad introduced me to beckoned and I began to create unique items for inclusion in the miniature room settings he crafted. When so many people commented on my intricately sculpted, hand-painted foods, they became the focus of my art.

I launched my website in September 2002 and have managed to show my work to a larger audience through this venue, exposure through the media, miniature publications, art festivals, dollhouse and miniature shows and word of mouth. All of this has allowed me to keep creating miniature foods at a steady pace. In 2003 I received a Guild School Scholarship from the International Guild of Miniature Artisans and look forward to attending in June 2004.

As a full-time mom of a toddler who works during the day as a designer at a local daily newspaper, every precious free hour finds me in my studio in Whitehorse, Yukon, here my passion for miniatures is realized in the details of my work; their scale, shape, texture, colour. I am always striving to create perfect little things.

Thanks for looking,   

NEW Customer comments, various

NEW! Article, The OptiMst, by Miche Genest 2002

CBC Televison, "On the Road Again", January 2004

Inclusion in Lark Books, ‘500 Polymer Clay Creations’ due to be published in 2004

CBC Radio, interview
You may listen to this interview while you are browsing my site. To hear the 7 minute interview: - Download and install Windows Media Player using the link here; - Click onto the CBC Radio interview link above and play.

I’m always fascinated to see the working spaces of other artists, so here are some pictures of mine. Not as tidy and ‘perfect’ as some people assume I work. Look closely, you’ll never know what might be on the workbench!