Penny paintings by Jacqueline Lou Skaggs

If artist Jacqueline Lou Skaggs’ goals were to save money and paint more often, she successfully achieved both: Her new collection features twelve images painted on found pennies—proving that you don’t need pricey canvases when you can find painting materials in between the couch cushions.

Skaggs uses oil paint to create images of butterflies, fruit bowls, landscapes and children’s portraits on the tiny copper faces. Look close enough and you can make out an embossed Abraham Lincoln peeking through the paint. These amazing, pocket-sized pictures prove that no canvas is too small or unlikely.

And she’s not the first to fall in love with teensy, tiny art. If she hung out with Willard Wigan (the micro-scupltor) and Diem Chau (the Crayon whittler), she’d be in good company.