Meet Michael Miller | Fine Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Miller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, why did you pursue a creative career?
In many ways I think it was a career in art that chose me. I was not particularly gifted as a child when it came to drawing, many of my other siblings art work made it on to the fridge before mine did. Art was a byproduct of my fascination with history. I would read accounts of Civil War generals and spend the next day drawing them. My parents took me to Gettysburg when I was 12 and it was there that I started to fall in love with the old barns and the idea of preserving part of the past. It struck me that history was all around and I wanted to preserve it through painting them. I painted local barns and landscapes slowly getting better at my craft. Then due to the encouragement of a friend, I decided to do a local art show. I did well, and sold a few pieces and the following year I did several more shows. It’s been 8 years since I started and have since gone full time painting. My work has evolved over the years, I’m focused on preserving rural America in my own way and pursuing the truth and beauty in each painting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a landscape painter and almost exclusively work in oils. My subject matter mostly consists of old barns and rural America. The overall goal with my work is to make the viewer feel as though they are looking at a distant memory and relate to a time that is slipping by. I like to paint in a tonalist palette, giving each piece a heavy atmospheric quality making some look dream-like. I mostly work in the studio, but I was accepted into the Nemacolin Art Residency program and will be spending the month of October painting pleinair on the grounds, which I’m very excited about. Being almost completely self taught, I love opportunities that allow me to grow and improve my craft. It’s hard to say how I got to where I am professionally as art is a very non conventional career. As I mentioned earlier, my love of art springs from my love of history. After years of drawing historical figures and landscapes I started to get somewhat good at it. In 2014 I did my first art show and made a few sales, I was hooked. Over the following years I worked odd jobs and focused on building on an inventory for more shows. In 2016 I started painting and doing shows full-time. It sounds relatively simple when all typed out but that journey was marred with doubt. There was a constant battle going on internally over whether or not I should invest all my money and time into my art business. To rely on what you’re painting at 2am for income can be nerve racking and exhilarating. All these years later it still is a challenge, but Ive learned that the only way through it is to bet on yourself.
I hope that when people see my work they are reminded of a time that is slipping away and are able to find the beauty in the simplicity of my work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Medina Ohio lies southwest of Cleveland by 20 miles or so. Its not a large city, only a population of about 25,000 people yet it is never short of things to do. We would start the day by grabbing breakfast at the Cool Beans Cafe. This idyllic coffee shop is located in medina’s beautifully restored historical square. After breakfast we could take a coffee to go and walk around the square. There are plenty of intriguing shops and boutiques that surround the park in the square’s center. If we get lucky we might catch one of Medina Rick’s guitar performances in the park. Later on we would get dinner at Thyme 2, just a short walk from the historical square. Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining or something low key, this restaurant can accommodate. The first floor is dedicated to the fine dining experience, while the basement is a relaxed cozy spot for more casual fare. After dinner, we could head back to the square for a quick drink at H2, a rustic wine and cocktail bar in the heart of the square. There are plenty of wines to choose from, but I recommend their manhattans.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could talk about people who have helped me until spring has passed to winter, but as I’m sure that would not fit in this magazine, I’ll limit my response to just one. My father had a book called “The American Spirit,” and in this book were paintings of great historical battles and famous Americans by the painter Mort Kunstler. On a time I was leafing through the book and turned to my dad and asked, “do you think I’ll ever be this good?” My dad looked 12-year-old me right in the eye and said “No, I don’t think you try hard enough.” This may sound harsh, but that was an invitation to be something better. You see my dad came from very little and knew how powerful a strong work ethic could be and he instilled that in me at a young age. He always worked very hard to support my mother and our family. Being an artist isn’t easy, there are some really hard days that make you think about throwing in the towel, but then I reflect on my father’s work ethic and push myself a little harder. I honestly don’t think I’d be an artist today if he instill that in me.

Website: Michaelmillerfineart.net

Instagram: michaelkmiller91