A Small Surprise in the (my) World of Art: My Journey with "Wilson No.16"

You've possibly seen some of my stuff at [www.kozka.com] where I work with both tableau photography and landscapes. My art is all about drawing you in and making you part of the scene, and size has always been an important part my work. If you've had a chance to check out the essay in the mountain water section of my site, you know I've been exploring sizes ranging from what I call small to medium prints (50 cm to 75 cm) to larger images (over 1 meter to 2.5 meters and beyond). For the type of audience engagement and interaction I wanted I settled on that series being 1m x 1.8m

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But let me tell you about this funny, unexpected twist that happened recently.

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I was entering my piece "Wilson No.16" into a competition. After a lot of experimenting in the past, I found that this image looks its best at 1 meter square. It's even more stunning at 1.5 meters square but needs just the right space to shine without feeling cramped. The competition allowed for a max size of 1.5 meters, so it seemed like a perfect fit. But here's the kicker: through some mix-up (a brain fade or a typo, who knows?), I ended up submitting its size as 20cm x 20cm on the entry form – I micro print ( add to this I did not notice at the time )

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I had completely forgotten about the whole competition until the gallery called to remind me. When they mentioned the size I'd submitted, I was speechless for a moment. Then, snapping back to reality, I confidently promised them a 20cm x 20cm print by Monday.

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So, today, I printed "Wilson No.16" at this new, much smaller size. And guess what? It totally blew me away. I've always had a soft spot for this image – it was even the cover for 'The Imperfect Beauty of the Sublime' catalogue. But seeing it this small, engaging with it in this new way, was a real eye-opener.

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This got me thinking about how small-scale art creates this super personal and intimate connection, kind of like those religious icons that draw you into a different world. It's incredible how a simple mistake can lead to such a great discovery.

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As a result of this happy accident, I've decided to release a limited edition of 10 signed prints of "Wilson No.16" in this size. Each one is printed on Canson Platine Fibre Rag and is priced at $AUD 450. (email or message me if you are interested)

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I'm not sure if I'll always go for prints this size, but for "Wilson No.16", this smaller dimension is as impactful as the larger version. As with all my work, it's all about how it connects with you, and this size does just that. Its different to large print, but equally powerful.

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And here’s a thought: there's something magical about mistakes in the art world. They're not just slip-ups; they're unexpected guides, leading us down paths we might never have explored otherwise. This little blunder with "Wilson No.16" wasn't just a mix-up; it was a gateway to a whole new perspective in my artistic journey. It goes to show, sometimes the best discoveries are the ones we never intended to make.

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