MAXWELL G. MILLER - Blog

MAXWELL G. MILLER

Graduation and New Self Portrait!

7/1/2022

At the end of June I completed my latest self portrait and along with it my apprenticeship with Anthony Waichulis. As my diploma states, I have "successfully completed The Ani Art Academies' Apprenticeship Program as an accomplished journeyman." It feels fitting to end my apprenticeship with a self portrait as I also started with one. This also gives me an opportunity to compare my current and previous work over the years with consistent subject matter, and what a difference it's made!

The Journeyman
14x9"
oil on panel

The Journeyman is a self portrait which expresses the artist's journey toward mastery. The objects surrounding the central subject represent learned skills and crafts that serve as creative inspiration. A self portrait painted 3 years prior appears on the left in homage to the early part of the artist's journey.

New Painting! Strawberry Palette

6/22/2022

Strawberry Palette
5x7"
oil on panel

Strawberry Palette started as a color-matching exercise panel. Once the colors were mixed, the entire panel was then used as a reference for this piece.

New Painting! Spellbound

3/24/2022

Spellbound
6x7.5"
oil on panel

Spellbound was painted in admiration of feminine power, portrayed through traditional imagery and objects of witchcraft. Historically met with intense persecution and violence, witchcraft is now being reclaimed and celebrated. The central figure is left intentionally blurred and ambiguous as iconography of the feminine form. Set atop a ouija board, the rune stones and tarot cards invite the viewer to explore further meaning.

This painting has sold and is now part of a private collection.

The Story of Art - Highly Commended Podcast Award!

9/4/2021

Good news! I tried my hand at an art history podcast and it was selected as one of 100 highly commended podcasts by RØDE Microphones! They sent me some awesome gear to use too! I have some cool things planned for these microphones in the near future! You can check out the 2 minute preview episode here: https://anchor.fm/maxwell-miller8

Color Charts

8/19/2021

I'm working on color charts this week! It's great working with a full color palette and making the chart has been enjoyable so far!

Gauntlet Drawing Complete! The Eternal Garden

7/31/2021

The Eternal Garden
19x25"
charcoal

My final creative project of the drawing program at the Ani Academy is complete! This project, known as "The Gauntlet", is a demonstration of the mastery of your materials before moving on to different materials - paint.

At 19x25", The Eternal Garden is the largest and most complex drawing I have done, and is packed full of references to the TV mini-series Over the Garden Wall. From Wert's tape of love poems for Sara to the reflection of the Beast in the teapot - all of the objects in this drawing appear in some form in various episodes of the show.

This drawing has sold and is now part of a private collection.

The Final Countdown to Painting!

5/29/2021

After finishing all four form repetitions of the Ani Art Academy drawing program, I've completed my final cumulative drawing, pictured below. There's only one thing standing between me and the painting program, and that's one final creative project known as The Gauntlet.

New Drawing! Behind the Curtain

4/25/2021

Behind the Curtain
8.5x12.5"
charcoal

Behind the Curtain depicts the props and performance tools of a one-man circus act. This includes my own props from my time as a performer: juggling clubs and balls, fire-eating torches, a bullwhip, and playing cards set up for my favorite card trick.

This drawing has sold and is now part of a private collection.

Portrait Drawing Group

4/4/2021

I recently joined an online portrait drawing group to get back into portraiture! Hopefully these weekly drawings will help me improve my drawing speed and serve as a nice break with all the academy repetitions I've been doing.

New drawing! The Dryad's Spirit in Sunder

1/18/2021

The Dryad's Spirit in Sunder
6x16"
charcoal

The Dryad's Spirit in Sunder depicts a tree spirit of Greek and Celtic mythology. With the destruction of the dryad's tree, she appears in her rarely seen corporeal form for the last time, her spirit disseminating into the forest.

This drawing will be part of the upcoming Radical Botanicals exhibition at Lovetts Gallery opening February 6th 2021.