Featured Artisan : Peiwen Petitgrand of Oiseau deNim

It doesn’t seem so long ago, but back in 2000, google & youtube were really not as widely available as they are now, ( How did we cope?! ) so when Peiwen discovered the world of dolls houses from some miniatures magazines she found in a Japanese bookstore in Taiwan, she was hooked & went on a search for more specialist books that could teach her more.

Once she was able to access the internet more readily, she discovered AIM & CDHM two organisations that enabled her to learn from some incredible miniaturists online. (see links below) Angie Scarr being a huge influence, as Peiwen loves to make clay food. So what else inspired her?

When I go travelling, I take lots of photos in restaurants, pastry shops and museums; they are the source of inspiration toward to my dolls house miniatures. For example, I am planning to make Sicilian pastries & dishes in a scene as we had such a great time there this year.

Peiwen now lives in France & making miniature food is her part time job, alongside her other work manufacturing optical and photographic equipment. She creates her miniatures from a small table in the living room, but also has some machines & tools in the garage ( although her most important tool is a very basic needle tool )

She loves creating her clay food but also working on furniture for her own dolls house project. What is the hardest thing about working with clay?

Sometimes I have difficulties to adjust and make all the elements in a coordinated and harmonious way! Like a cook who has all the fresh ingredients on hand but sometimes it’s difficult to accomplish a delicious dish. 

Well, Peiwen’s miniature food is certainly all mouth-watering & fit for a Michelin star. She has always felt that although sculpture, texture, shading/ colour and scale are important, it is “personal style” that matters & brings her tiny food to life.

View more of Peiwen’s work HERE
https://www.cdhm.org/
http://www.artisansinminiature.com/