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

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.