This is a very short painting progression animation of my painting Perspectiva, 48 x 36 x 1.5″, acrylic on canvas, © Steve Miller 2022
Category: process animation
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Zap Zap
Electric Utility Poles interest me for a few reasons.
- They’re ignored yet ubiquitous.
- They’re reminiscent of a crucifix yet come in many variations.
- They jettison up into the sky.
- I imagine invisible current running all around and through them.
This illustrates a new process for me. I started working a little differently by combining loose brushy abstract marks with figurative forms inspired from my snapshots around my neighborhood.
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
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.
I began painting “Stasis Hiatus” in November of 2018. This has been one of the most rewarding and difficult paintings I’ve made to date.
Originally, I was open to portraying the interior loosely and painterly, inspired by an artist I stumbled upon on Instagram. However, as I went along, I found myself excited by the prospect of pushing the image realistically, and taming the visual chaos of the room.
I am portraying a moment I experience often when walking into my studio. The need to decide whether to get to work on a painting that I’m not fully invested in yet, or play the drums for instant gratification.
My father used to talk to me about the subject often. He felt the need for instant gratification was a real stumbling block in our society. I can see his point, however, procrastination can also lead to creativity.
Look At My Painting “Stasis Hiatus“.