OUR

students work

MINIARTS ACADEMY

Explore, be inspired, and see what’s possible when creativity meets craftsmanship!

Step into a world of tiny wonders! This gallery showcases extraordinary creations by students from our Miniature and dollhouse-making courses. Each piece reflects the dedication, creativity, and technical skills our students developed in class.

Every creation here began as a beginner’s project – proof that passion and guidance can transform imagination into tangible magic.

miniaturist student

FIONA ZHOU

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Fiona Zhou is a remarkably talented and passionate student who has immersed herself in the intricate world of 18th-century French interior design through our miniature courses. She joined both the Rococo Salon Course and the Rococo Furniture Course, where her creativity and dedication truly shone. Fiona has crafted an exquisite 1:12 scale Rococo salon, a masterpiece that captures the opulence and elegance of the era. Her salon is a testament to her meticulous attention to detail, featuring luxurious embellishments, intricate golden ornaments, and a harmonious blend of pastel tones that evoke the quintessential Rococo aesthetic.

Not only did Fiona design and assemble the salon itself, but she also created and designed stunning Rococo-style furniture to complete the space. Each piece reflects her deep understanding of the period’s design principles, with curved lines, delicate carvings, and lavish finishes that bring the spirit of the 18th century to life. Her work demonstrates not only technical skill but also a genuine passion for French culture and historical interior design.

We are incredibly proud to have her as part of our community and look forward to seeing where her artistic journey takes her next!

MINIATURIST STUDENTS

Da Wang & Xiao Li

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We are thrilled to introduce Da Wang and Xiao Li, two exceptional students who embody the spirit of creativity and collaboration. As a couple deeply passionate about miniatures and the art of crafting, they have turned their shared hobby into a remarkable journey of artistic expression.

Da Wang and Xiao Li work seamlessly together on all their miniature projects, and their relationship has flourished through this mutual passion. Their dedication to perfection is evident in every piece they create, showcasing their meticulous attention to detail and commitment to achieving realistic looks. Each miniature reflects not just their skill, but also the love and care they pour into their work.

Beyond their artistic talents, Da Wang and Xiao Li are genuinely wonderful individuals. They are always friendly and eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with others, fostering a sense of community among their peers. We are proud to have such inspiring students in our program, and we look forward to seeing where their artistic journey takes them next.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WORKING WITH MINIATURES?

We saw the courses posted by our teacher on an online platform and found them very interesting, so we decided to give it a try.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH MINIATURES? WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

Da Wang: My first experience with miniatures was terrible. I bought a dollhouse kit, but many of the parts had size discrepancies—some were too long or too short, and some couldn't fit together at all. In the end, I never completed the dollhouse.

Xiao Li: My first experience with miniatures was fantastic! I was in high school at the time and really liked the miniature models my classmates made, so I tried making one myself. My first model was an off-road motorcycle.

WHAT TYPES OF MINIATURES DO YOU ENJOY CREATING OR COLLECTING THE MOST?

We enjoy exquisite, vintage, and realistic items.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS HOBBY?

We started professionally learning miniatures from our teacher two years ago. Before that, we were learning various handicraft skills, such as fabric arts, leatherwork, embroidery, and doll-making.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT YOU'VE WORKED ON SO FAR?

It’s the MIDDLE AGE CASTLE COURSE we are currently working on. It’s larger, more challenging, and has limitless creative potential.

WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU DEVELOPED SINCE YOU STARTED MAKING MINIATURES?

We have learned skills such as metalworking, woodworking, hand painting, clay modeling, and aging techniques, especially methods for representing one material with another—like using cardstock to depict stone, bricks, wood, metal, and tiles.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE WHEN WORKING ON YOUR MINIATURE PROJECTS?

Currently, our challenge is that we have both started to develop presbyopia.


HOW DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR DESIGNS?

Books, paintings, films, sights from travel, a child's whimsical idea, or even a strange dream.

DO YOU PREFER WORKING ALONE OR COLLABORATING WITH OTHERS ON PROJECTS?

Collaboration. One of us is good at design while the other excels in fine crafting, so working together is the best approach.

WHAT MATERIALS AND TOOLS DO YOU PREFER TO USE WHEN MAKING MINIATURES, AND WHY?

We collect small items, especially those with curves, like small medicine bottles, capsule toy boxes, buttons, and old jewelry, which are very useful when making miniature objects.

HAVE YOU LEARNED ANY TECHNIQUES OR TIPS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS?

When assembling dollhouse parts we like using screws and an electric screwdriver; it eliminates the noise from nails and hammers and is very labor-saving.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR TIME BETWEEN WORK AND YOUR MINIATURE PROJECTS?


Our time is relatively flexible, allowing us to dedicate more time to crafting.

WHAT ROLE DOES CREATIVITY PLAY IN YOUR APPROACH TO MINIATURES?

Creativity is very important. We usually start with an idea, which guides the design, leading to the final completion. We don’t like uncreative, mechanical, or repetitive work.

HOW HAS YOUR STYLE OR TECHNIQUES EVOLVED OVER TIME?


Initially, we followed our teacher's instructions, but after becoming skilled, we began incorporating our own creativity.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC ARTISTS OR CREATORS IN THE MINIATURE COMMUNITY THAT INSPIRED YOU?


Our initial mentor was our teacher Claudia, who not only taught us skills but also reshaped our understanding of miniature art. We also admire several well-known artists with strong personal styles, such as Chris Toledo, Aida Pravia, Tomohiro Tanaka, and Kazuyo Kudo.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT BEING PART OF THE MINIATURE COMMUNITY?

Continuously challenging ourselves to create more realistic and exquisite work.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS OR ASPIRATIONS IN THE WORLD OF MINIATURES?

To develop our own style and design and produce a series of works.