Small Wonders: Endearing Animal Paintings by Gina Matarazzo

American artist Gina Matarazzo paints mice, chipmunks, squirrels, cats and songbirds as the quiet protagonists of their own miniature worlds, working in oil on panel and paper from her studio in southern New Jersey.

A good number of Gina’s subjects are asleep. Curled into nests, teacups and the sound holes of guitars, they rest among acorns, berries, keys and star anise, each detail rendered with the patience of an Old Master still life. Her work borrows the visual language of devotional and courtly portraiture, with gilded halos, crowns, carved frames and tooled borders.

Gina describes her work as a way of celebrating the small things that are often overlooked, using a little creative license to make everyday animals feel mysterious, regal and magical. For more of her adorable paintings, visit her website and follow her latest updates on Instagram.

More art on the grid Gina Matarazzo’s website