Miniature Masterpieces 

As a child, Marc Mead loved building houses out of cardboard boxes. Even his earliest attempts had an elevated level of technicality, with sliding balcony doors and a working elevator made from a mustard lid and a spool of thread. 

“I made crude furniture out of bottles and scraps, scavenging pieces from my broken toys to save for future projects,” Marc said. “I dreamed in cardboard, envisioning magnificent floor plans.” 

Marc explored miniature building off and on over the years, though his fascination with architecture remained constant. He experimented with building an elaborate kitchen with cabinets covered in contact paper and river rocks glued to the wall. When it came time to move to a new house, he made the conscious decision to “let it go,” even though he had spent so much time on it. Marc took photographs of the house, scavenged it for parts, and destroyed it. 

“When you pour your creativity into a project for so long, it becomes part of you,” Marc said. “It was a bit like a funeral, but I have wonderful memories of dreaming it up and building it.” 

The Beautiful Disaster 

A decade passed. Marc’s scrap drawers filled with bits and pieces, waiting for new inspiration. His next big project was a two-story floor plan. “It was magnificent, but the roof seams and the windows failed, so I named it The Beautiful Disaster and set it aside for 15 years.” 

Two local events propelled him to the next level. First, he visited The Miniature White House when it traveled to the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds. Second, he was captivated by the 2001 Symphony Designer Show House with an elaborate domed ceiling and bay windows, with similarities to The Beautiful Disaster. 

Building on his previous experience, he replicated the room, and then, Marc was inspired by a Parade of Homes project with a piano room, intricate tile flooring and stained-glass windows. Each element of the room became a complicated project within itself. Fortunately, Marc discovered the Oklahoma City Miniature Club. By attending monthly meetings and classes, he expanded his skills and networked with miniature experts all over the world. 

“Anything full-sized can be made small-sized,” Marc said. “My specialties are buildings and furniture, but I barter with other artisans for miniature pieces such as plants, people, clothing, or silver. There are even standout experts who craft tiny crystal decanters or one-inch paintings of museum-quality. I can’t afford to live in such opulent places, but when I’m building a miniature, I am living in it.” 

Big Time Miniatures 

Marc’s hobby skills have advanced to such a high level that he is now displaying his work at shows in Dallas. When his creations are photographed, it is almost impossible to distinguish his work from an actual building, including his most recent accomplishment — a 4-gallon working swimming pool! 

Marc flexes his creative building skills at work as a sign builder for Vital Signs. He describes his workplace as a “wonderland” of tools. “I love my work. I get to be artistic at work, then go home and be artistic in a different way. I can’t think of a better life,” Marc said. “When I finish a project, I sit back and it feels so extremely satisfying. No, that isn’t a strong enough word to describe how it feels,” Marc pauses to think. “I think the word is…fulfilling.” 

Follow Marc on Facebook and Instagram @marcmeadminiatures.