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all paintings Art News Event figure landscapes

Postcard Salon

What: A Postcard Salon is an exhibition where all artworks are the size of a postcard, 4 x 6 inches. Also, all artworks are for sale for only $30.

Where: The Muskegon Museum of Art

When: Exhibition runs from March 30 – April 21, 2023 | Reception is Thursday, April 20 | 5:30 PM (Sale starts at 6:30 PM)

If you happen to be in Muskegon during the reception then you’ll probably be able to grab your first Steve Miller, you savvy art collector you.

Categories
all paintings landscapes process animation representational

Perspectiva

Perspectiva – painting progression animation

This is a very short painting progression animation of my painting Perspectiva, 48 x 36 x 1.5″, acrylic on canvas, © Steve Miller 2022

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Art News cityscapes landscapes past favorites realism

SOLD

This is Tony. He’s the hardworking small business owner of Sunnyside Landscaping. He recently did a large paving job for our family. Excellent work by the way. Our new and old patios look great.

Anyway, one day I was showing Tony around my studio and he saw this painting of the Royal Oak water tower. He talked about how much time his wife would spend there with their kids when they were little. I said that I had done the same with my girls, and that was one of the reasons I painted it.

To make a long story short. Tony’s and his wife are the new proud owners of Water Tower. He got it for her as a gift.

Nice job Tony, and thanks a bunch.

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all paintings Art News Event figure landscapes new paintings

Hatchback 16

See “Cool Down” in person at Hatchback 16, a group exhibition juried by artist Taurus Burns for Hatch Art Gallery.

Opening Reception Saturday, April 2 6pm-9pm
Artist Talks
Saturdays at 2pm (starting April 9)

Exhibition April 2 – April 23, 2022 
Hatch Art Gallery
3456 Evaline
Hamtramck MI 48212

Gallery Hours: 
Saturdays, Noon – 6pm 
Thursdays, 6pm – 9pm 
Fridays, 6pm – 9pm

Categories
all paintings expressionistic landscapes process animation representational

Mental Fix

Here’s an animated .gif file of the different stages in the making of my new painting titled, Mental Fix. It was inspired by a strange happening under the viaduct on Normandy Rd next to Delemere Blvd. in Royal Oak.

Mental Fix, 16 x 20, acrylic on wood panel, started 4/2/19, completed 4/13/19, © Steve Miller 2019

Categories
all paintings landscapes new paintings process animation realism

Ben Jamin | painting progress animation

This repeating animated gif file shows the development of my latest painting titled, Ben Jamin.

The realistic landscape depicts the Benjamin Avenue Viaduct in Royal Oak, Michigan toward the end of winter.

There are several dilapidated 1930’s viaducts in Royal Oak. They are a point of contention with the residents of the city for various reasons, including questionable structural safety, potholes, trash, and graffiti.

A year or so ago, a friend of mine, artist Carl Oxley III, decided to call attention to the state of disrepair the viaduct near his place was in, and he painted a mural of his signature bunnies on the wall. Well, it turns out graffiti is illegal and someone complained about it to the city. The city responded very swiftly by apprehending Carl and painting over his bunny mural with gray paint. (See my rendition below) Carl learned a thing or two through this process about the city and how it has no control over railroad crossings, but plenty over covering up graffiti.

Anyway, to make a long story short, his story stuck with me. I found myself taking pictures of the viaduct on Benjamin Ave., near my studio, toward the end of winter/early spring. This painting is the result of my curiosity. I love the stains on the concrete, and the texture of the leaves and potholes. I like the subtle differences of the gray squares covering old graffiti and the peeling paint. I like the light, the shadows, and the perspective. Most importantly, I like the challenge it was representing this space accurately. On the sidewalk, I’ve included one of Carl’s bunny yard signs under some leaves, as an homage. He sold those yard signs to people who wanted to support his cause of calling attention to the problem.

Check out this painting in my portfolio.

Categories
figure landscapes new paintings representational

En Plein Air – Lake Michigan

Image of a Painting by Steve Miller titled, "A Day At Douglas Beach".
8″x8″, acrylic on birch wood panel with 1.5″ profile, en plein air 8/7/18, completed 8/13/18, © Steve Miller 2018 I worked on this painting while visiting a beach in Douglas, Michigan with friends and family.

Last week, I made a painting while visiting Douglas Beach on Lake Michigan with my family and friends.

I had a blast working en plein air, under shade, while everyone else played in the sand and water.

Studying the changing light and reflecting surfaces of the water was mesmerizing, but I had to work quickly laying in compositional and color choices before my acrylics dried or the light changed too drastically.

The finished painting took approximately 2.5 hours on site, and a couple more hours in my studio.

Here is my FB Post about painting  “A Day at Douglas Beach”.

To comment, and stay informed, Like Steve Miller – visual artist  on Facebook. Or, follow me on Instagram at SteveMillerArt

Visit the portfolio entry for “A Day at Douglas Beach”.

Categories
all paintings expressionistic landscapes new paintings representational

Rocky Climb

It’s hot, humid, very bright. Keep moving. Almost to the top. There’s an offshoot with shade. If only these damn horseflies would leave me alone.

This is one narrative I consider when thinking about my latest acrylic landscape painting titled, “Rocky Climb.”

Rocky Climb, like a lot of my paintings, is not based on a real place. It’s a fabricated daydream I explored for fun, through trial and error, and months of pushing paint around.
I enjoy painting imaginary landscapes because it reveals more about me than if I were to paint what’s in front of me. On the surface, Rocky Climb expresses the beauty I find in organic forms, and rugged environments. However, when looking a little deeper, this painting suggests that I have more hill to climb before I feel accomplished or satisfied. Therefore, this painting says a lot about my inability to appreciate where I am at the moment. I guess I should work on that.

To see progress shots and details of my painting process, follow me on instagram @SteveMillerArt.

See Portfolio Page of Rocky Climb.

Categories
all paintings landscapes

Trail Painting Progress Gif

Just finished this big trail painting today.

I took several pictures, so I could make this little animated gif and look back at the work in progress.

Trail Dreams, 60 x 40, acrylic on canvas, © Steve Miller 2017

This painting was inspired by mountain biking in SE Michigan, but is not an actual place. It’s just a daydream built on good memories of getting out there and contending with the trail. Feeling the exhilaration of moving through the trees, and finding all these great things to look at, if only for a moment.

Categories
landscapes representational

Painting The Trails

Small landscape painting of a wooded trail. 8 x 8, acrylic on canvas, 11/28/17 Just completed these two imaginary trail paintings, part of a new series inspired by mountain biking in Michigan. Painting imaginary trails is just as fun as riding real ones. Small landscape painting of a dirt trail. 8 x 8, acrylic on canvas, 11/28/17
Categories
Art News Event landscapes new paintings

Grosse Pointe Peepers!

THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON!

Come to the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. The 79th GPAA Members Show. 2-4pm.

GPAA SHOW POSTCARD

I’m lucky to have two pieces in this show. Thank you GPAA.

An acrylic landscape painting by Steve Miller of a floating island with bigtop stripes, a catfish dragon swimming, clouds floating, a bird peeking, and a volcano popping.
Unexpected Expedition, 60 x 40, acrylic on canvas, © Steve Miller 2017

Acrylic landscape painting by Steve Miller of a bluff overlooking a beach, a plateau, a ball, and a small building on a hill.
Just Bluffing, 36″x24″, acrylic on canvas, © Steve Miller 2017

Unexpected Expedition hanging in the 79th GPAA members show at the War Memorial in Grosse Pointe.

Categories
abstract all paintings expressionistic landscapes

Unexpected Expedition

60″ x 40″, acrylic on canvas, 2/10/2017

Here’s my latest mental landscape.