Canvas Pontiac 2019

Here’s an easy thing to do. Visit https://www.canvaspontiac.com/2019-handcraft and look at all the artwork submitted to this years handcrafted category of Canvas Pontiac. Click the heart on any entry you feel the love for. I hope you will select my painting Electric Pole as one of your favorite.

I believe this is a juried competition, but the first stage looks like it’s also a popularity contest. So, if you don’t mind sharing with your buds, I hope to see my painting on the side of a building in downtown Pontiac again this year.

Thanks for your support. – sm

Opening Recognition

The MFAC opening was really fun this past Friday. Thanks to everyone who came out to see the show. I was awarded the Corinne Maillard Robinson Award. What a great surprise. Thanks to the juror Jerald Melberg and the BBAC for this recognition.

  • MFAC Opening Evening
  • Gallerist and Juror Jerald Melberg

Art Opening Friday

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s

38th Michigan Fine Arts Competition

Meet me at the opening this Friday the 22nd, 6pm-8pm | Awards presented around 7pm.

Artwork selected from the surrounding five state region. My selected artwork:

Stasis Hiatus

The Making of Stasis Hiatus

I hope to see you there.

BBAC’s 38th MFAC

Yay! My painting “Stasis Hiatus” was accepted for the BBAC’s 38th annual, 2019 Michigan Fine Arts Competition.

This will be my fourth time participating in this 5-state regional competition. Come to the opening, and see all the amazing work selected by this years Juror Jerald Melberg.

I hope to see you there.

Exhibition Opens — Fri., Jun. 21; Reception 6-8pm – Awards Presentation around 7pm

Exhibition Closes — Thurs., Aug 22, 5pm

BBAC Gallery Summer Hours
Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm

1516 S. Cranbrook, Birmingham, MI 48009

Me and Tiff (re-shot)

I asked Larry at Fine Art Printing to reshoot these portrait paintings of Tiff and I, because my shots didn’t accurately represent the originals. As you can see below, the new shots are much better.

Thanks a bunch Larry & Tim. Glad to have your help.

Self portrait of the artist.
Self portrait, acrylic on wood panel, by Steve Miller.
Portrait painting of artist's wife.
Acrylic portrait painting of Tiffany Moy-Miller by Steve Miller.

My Favorites Exhibition at GPAA

Yay! I'm in the Grosse Pointe News today! Opening tomorrow at 2pm Jan. 26th, @ the War Memorial!

The “My Favorite” exhibition continues through Sunday, March 10. It is open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore, Grosse Pointe Farms. Call (313) 881-3454.

Portrait of my Aunt Marge

acrylic portrait painting by Steve Miller
8×8″, acrylic on wood panel with 1.5″ profile, completed 11/9/18, © Steve Miller 2018

My Aunt Marjory passed away recently. I made this portrait in memory of her as a gift for my California cousins. I haven’t seen that side of my family in decades, and I look forward to joining them soon, as we celebrate the life of this wonderful, joyful, humorous woman.

This portrait was based on the above photo that I believe was taken by my cousin Lynette. I usually work from my own photos, but since this was a surprise, I worked with this image, found on Facebook, that I feel captures her spirit. In the original photo, she was celebrating 50 years of supporting The League of Women Voters.

The Ice Cream Truck is Coming

Image of a Painting by Steve Miller titled, "Allowance".
12″x16″, acrylic on wood panel, with a depth of 1.5″, completed 11/2/2018, © Steve Miller 2018

I finished this painting of my girls getting ice cream from the ice cream truck over this past summer. It’s based on a snapshot I took.

We allow them to pay for that sort of thing with their allowance, and sometimes the oldest treats her sister using her allowance, because the youngest spent all her money. I think this was the case here. So, I’m calling this painting “Allowance”. Hopefully, it will often remind my youngest that her older sister loves her.

Here’s some details of the progression from my instagram page

Allowance portfolio post.

Live Painting Demo

Cruise into Pontiac tonight and tomorrow for a live painting demo.

As a participant in Pontiac’s Art on Wheels Festival, and on the heels of winning first place in Canvas Pontiac’s Art Competition, I will be fabricating a new landscape, painting live and open to the public inside the Alley Cat Cafe, located on the corner of N. Saginaw and W. Lawrence St., in downtown Pontiac, MI.

I will begin the painting Friday night (8/17/18) from 6-9pm, and hopefully complete the work tomorrow (8/18/18) during the busy Dream Cruise afternoon.

During the live art demo, limited edition prints of “Trail Dreams” will be available for $300, credit cards accepted. Also, I have six recent artworks you may enjoy exploring throughout the cafe.

I believe there will be lots of activity with street musicians, multiple artists and craftspeople, and food trucks serving the public, so it should be very interesting to see what that environment inspires in my work. Hope to see you there.
For all of you unable to make the event, I’ll try to post some of the action on my facebook page or instagram Acct. So like or follow me if you haven’t already, to stay in touch, and, Thanks.

Here’s a writeup about the Festival in the Oakland Press.

Canvas Pontiac – 1st Place

As an independent artist, I am very grateful to have received a first place award from the Canvas Pontiac art competition for my painting Trail Dreams.

The judges responded by saying, "from weaving paths through the forrest, with trees that change in and out of focus, a river that leans diagonally to the left, it's perfectly positioned in the pocket part, and really captures your imagination."

With this recognition, and prize money, I will continue painting large scale imaginary landscapes that give viewers new places to explore and enjoy.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to have this painting seen by so many people through this program. My 8'x10' banner will continue to hang on the side of the building located at 35 N. Saginaw, downtown Pontiac, MI., for a full year.

Thank you for your interest and support.

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