As the holidays get closer, the big gifts tend to steal the spotlight. But anyone who has dug into a stocking or opened a small, unexpected surprise knows that the little things can be just as meaningful. I think of this time as the Small Works Season—the moment for gifts that are personal, thoughtful, and easy to slip in at the last minute.
My greeting cards are always the easiest place to start. Each one carries one of my paintings, printed on thick, uncoated stock with a matching envelope. You can use them to send a quick note, or fill them with a longer letter. People tell me they end up on fridges, pinned to walls, or even framed instead of being tossed aside like most cards. They’re small, but they stick around.
I also make prints in smaller sizes that fit neatly into stockings or work as quick wrap-ups for gift exchanges. They’re printed with the same archival inks and heavy fine art paper as my larger editions, just scaled down. A 5x7 or 8x10 can sit on a desk, brighten up a hallway, or hang in a kitchen without taking over the whole room. They’re easy to give, and they ship flat and protected so they’re ready to wrap—handy if you’ve left shopping until the last stretch before Christmas.
Cards and small prints also make sense for those moments when you want something thoughtful but not over the top: Secret Santa at work, stocking stuffers for family, or a way to give art to a few people at once without breaking the budget. Pairing a card with a matching print works especially well—it feels complete without needing anything else.
And of course, it depends on who you’re shopping for. If they love animals, my cat and dog portraits are always a hit. If they’d rather have something quieter, the still lifes are a good place to look. Both hold up beautifully at smaller sizes.
The holidays have a way of sneaking up, and it’s easy to feel like time has run out. But small works prove that a gift doesn’t need to be massive to mean something. A card or a print, chosen with care, can fit in the palm of your hand and still last for years.