Two Janus Cards for 2026
collage miniatures by J A Dixon
from my Haus of Cards, Series Pi
Archive for the ‘Gift Art’ Category
2025 yields to a fresh face
Thursday, January 1st, 2026A happy 80th to Kathy!
Wednesday, November 27th, 2024“Say thank you in advance for what is already yours.”
— Denzel Washington
As the holiday nears, gratitude is in the hearts of all who silently look inside and attune, especially those with circumstances in flux between sweetness and sorrow — for those of us less tempted to take things for granted — as a tide of adversity and bounty reminds us that thankfulness must be present in the midst of both suffering and grace.
A long practice of making crafted cards for others, the wellspring of my concentration on the art of collage, occasionally sparks an unexpected commission based, more often than not, on the traditional photo montage. These works may not be destined for a museum, but the response makes them a most rewarding experience, as I participate vicariously in an apex of family joy. The type of “legacy collage” featured below is an ideal gift because it is highly meaningful to the recipient, of course, but everyone also relates to the inherent “cut and paste” technique, accessible to all, with its deep heritage in the domestic and applied arts.
Bouquet of Memories
legacy collage by J A Dixon
11 x 14 inches
Tiny PaperScape
Tuesday, April 30th, 2024This small paper landscape was created for an Art Center of the Bluegrass “tiny art” fundraiser, and if you know who selected it, please let her know that I will be more than happy to add a signature. Participants in this annual event are asked to submit the miniature piece unsigned. Click here for my guiding attitude about art donations.
Tiny Paperscape
collage miniature by J A Dixon
6 x 6 inches
IMCAC Collage Exchange ~ Warfare Series
Saturday, April 27th, 2024
The recent Baker’s Half Dozen Collage Exchange sparked a new series of miniatures that quickly took on a warfare theme. Now to see which one the Museum retains for its permanent collection.
My eleven-part Warfare Series originated with no conscious intent nor anticipated interpretation and potentially serves as a kind of “collage rorschach.” Images that personify both the greatest evil and the highest good have always found inclusion in my collage artwork from time to time. This kind of art is very different than my representational collage, although both are based on re-using and manipulating found paper that has little, if any, intrinsic value. Juxtaposing the detritus of our culture within this practice offers creative choices about what to use and what to ignore. I continue to be interested in the complex relationship between spontaneity, intuitive judgment, and subjective awareness.
a boulder of sweetness, a boulder of sorrow . . .
Thursday, December 29th, 2022“Tension between the best things that can happen and the worst things that can happen is where you and I find ourselves every day. That’s where you’ll find Jesus. Over and over again, he’s in that place between sweetness and sorrow — fruitfulness and barrenness.”
— Troy Brewer
Not too many people in the world receive a miniature collage landscape as a thank-you present for the holidays. I’m so grateful for this year-end commission. What a splendid gift — from my dear patron and for her recipient, too! Family loss, family gain. Funny how sweetness and sorrow get all blended together at this closing time of year.
Les Rochers du Long Lac
collage landscape by J A Dixon
6.5 x 6.8125 inches
0:100 site/studio
private collection
Makin’ Christmas collage again!
Friday, December 23rd, 2022 
Happy Happy to my Partner in All Things!
Monday, April 11th, 2022
1979
collage miniature by J A Dixon
4.75 x 5.0625 inches
collection of Dana Lynn Dixon
Haven on the Ridge
Wednesday, September 30th, 2020“Observers should feel that the act of painting was effortless — that it happened, it just happened. Which, of course, is not true.”
— Jane Piper
I’ll be spending more time in the collage studio soon, but I made the most of the warm months to create collage artwork in the open air. Much love and appreciation goes out to my sister, Joan Wood, for hosting a summer plein-air gathering at her wonderful retreat on Kelley Ridge in Garrard County, Kentucky. Since I was the PAACK coordinator for the outing, 
I decided to set up in a central spot to help me avoid overlooking any of our intrepid participants. The turnout was great, and I had at least one visitor that I wasn’t expecting. A house portrait demands a certain density and exactitude. I left with a good start, but it fell short of the hoped-for level of detail, so I challenged myself to bring it around with an expenditure of studio time equal to what I devoted to the outdoor session.
Cardinal Haven is the name that our mother, Virginia, came up with for Joan’s isolated abode (which spurred the title of this featured miniature). It’s on display right now, as part of the annual group exhibition in downtown Danville. En Plein Air lasts until October 30.
Haven on the Ridge
collage miniature by J A Dixon
50% / 50% — site to studio
7.1875 x 7.1875 inches
private collection
Bringing the ‘Haus’ repository up to date . . .
Sunday, March 22nd, 2020“Once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed.”
— Charles Schultz
I think back to when John’s Haus of Cards produced 200-to-300 handmade cards a year — for birthdays and celebrations, for sickness and sorrow. Compare that to my current output, and I’m certainly not “picking up speed.” But I have no thoughts of giving it up. It’s still one of my favorite things to do. Check out my full archive of greetings.
Sweet Petite
collage greeting card by J A Dixon
series Omega, collection of D L Dixon
Daughter + Mother
collage greeting cards by J A Dixon
series Alpha/Omega hybrid, private collection
Mighty Joan
collage greeting card by J A Dixon
series Alpha, collection of J D A Wood
Sym-patti-co
collage greeting card by J A Dixon
series Omega, collection of P Powell
Bouquet of Hearts
collage greeting card by J A Dixon
series Omega, private collection
A Natalie Day
collage greeting card by J A Dixon
series Alpha/Omega hybrid, collection of N Sluga
Foot’s Choice
collage greeting card by J A Dixon
series Omega, collection of W W Barefoot
For Alyx
collage greeting card by J A Dixon
series Alpha, collection of A Kenner
Mindful of the most vulnerable
Sunday, March 15th, 2020There is no profit in worry for something beyond one’s control. It is a time to think clearly, to focus on what one can actually affect, to be extremely inquisitive, to be self-sufficient, and to take care for the vulnerable. Here is a collage miniature that I attached to a hand-crafted card for a friend, good patron, and person of faith who is currently at high risk.
In Praise of Prayer
greeting card miniature by J A Dixon
4.8125 x 5 inches
private collection
Big night for tiny art
Saturday, February 29th, 2020“Many artists struggle to make a profit each year, and although it might sound noble to give art away, sometimes it does the community of artists more harm than good. Fundraisers who ask numerous artists for outright donations devalue the worth of the art in that community. … The folks that put on these fundraisers are not malicious people. They just don’t understand how selling donated art at low prices hurts the art community.”
— Lori Woodward
Our local Art Center had another successful fundraiser last night, thanks to a massive number of minuscule donations from regional artists. Staff members had to rethink how the event was organized. The turnout was so insane last year that the fire marshal weighed in with concerns.
I contributed four playing card experiments a year ago, but this time around I decided to boost that to five collage miniatures that met the 6×6-inch constraint.
Much has been said and written about the expectation that artists will continuously supply the fruits of their creative labor without compensation in support of nonprofit fundraisers. My basic motto is, “Keep it small, and keep it infrequent.” I’ve gone into more detail about the issue at this blogsite more than once. I have respect for those who decline requests across the board. It’s a decision for each individual. It bugs me when people preach a universal approach. Pro-bono contributions are a time-honored activity in the professional world, but, as with nearly everything, there has to be balance. I recently took part in a fundraiser that split some of the proceeds with participating artists. Nothing wrong with a win-win like that. I hope the practice spreads to a greater number of worthy organizations.
It’s not a new idea. Maria Brophy, Lori Woodward, and others had pretty much thought this through ten years ago:
• mariabrophy.com / the problem with donating art and the solution
• fineartviews.com / fundraisers that do it right
Please share your observations with me. I shall always reply!
Five Tiny Donations
collage miniatures by J A Dixon
within a 6×6-inch size limit
“Tiny Art” fundraiser to benefit
Art Center of the Bluegrass