ABOUT THE ARTIST

SADIE PENNELL

Sadie Pennell is a Filipino-American watercolor artist based in Dahlonega, Georgia. Working at an unusually small scale, she creates meticulously detailed miniature paintings—no larger than a quarter. Through watercolor, Pennell explores intimacy, memory, and the significance of everyday moments.

ARTIST STATEMENT
 

I make paintings about small, everyday joys.
 

It’s the Little Things grew out of my desire to slow down and really notice the moments that shape our days — a favorite snack, a bird we spot outside our window, a new book, the comfort of the couch at the end of the day. These are things that are easy to overlook, especially beside life’s bigger milestones, yet they’re the moments we live with most often and perhaps don't think about. This series is about taking time to recognize and appreciate those simple, everyday pleasures.
 

Each painting in this series is no larger than 24mm in diameter. Painting at this scale requires complete focus. When I’m working, everything outside the painting falls away — there’s only the brush, the paper, and the moment I’m trying to hold onto. That sense of concentration is a big part of why I work small.
 

At this size, the work can be easy to miss at first, but once it’s noticed, it requires focus. You have to stop, lean in, and spend time with what’s in front of you. In a world that encourages quick glances, I hope these paintings slow the viewer down and ask them to consider what’s right in front