RITA EARLES

A native of Arkansas, Rita Earles received a Bachelor of Science in Education with a majoring Art from the University of Arkansas of Fayetteville. Upon graduation, she worked first as an interior decorator and then in finance for eight years before turning full time to art.

Earles has won awards of excellence at international shows including “Best of Show” at the El Dorado Gallery Miniature Show in Colorado Springs Colorado and was part of the 1993 Arkansas Artists in Washington, D.C. during the Clinton Inauguration. She was accepted in to the World of Miniature Exhibition in London, England in 1995. She won second place in oils at the 2000 International Miniature Exhibition. Her work is displayed and collected internationally.

The miniature can be defined as fine original art done in small scale. A commonly accepted standard today is the “one sixth rule” which requires the subject to be no larger than one-sixths actual size. During the Elizabethan era the Royal Court the aristocracy of England were great patrons of the miniaturists establishing a tradition of having family members portrayed in miniature. The miniatures significantly diminished with the advent of photography in the mid-nineteenth century. However, a few dedicated artists managed to keep the discipline alive. Subject matter and media become more varied with the inclusion of the still life landscape and sculpture. In recent years, there has been a great resurgence of interest in miniature art. With its minimal space requirement and comparatively lower cost it places fine original art within the reach of the serious art lover and collector.