Saturday, September 29, 2007

Trudy


R.I.P. Trudy.
My friend Warren lost his wild little companion today. It was shocking to read his email announcing that Trudy had pasted away after a strange unknown illness. Trudy and Warren were my first visitors in Houston. Trudy was a very active pup, and at this visit very much behaved. It will be sad to not see her jumping around.
My heart goes to Warren. remember you made her life better by rescuing her from the shelter.
Trudy is jumping in the clouds.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Tailbone Heal


some more digital art
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Leaves revisited

Took the image from Leaves and took it further with more layers. Reminds me of another item that is nice to have on a Fall day - a comfy quilt.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Leaves

I created this from some pictures I took of the Japanese Maple that was in front of the family home in Getzville before we moved. The red leaves reminded me of the change of seasons up north and the leaves are falling, cool crisp breezes signally the beginning of Fall.



Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Hold Me


Created this image and it made me think of someone hugging.
It is week 2 and day 2 back at work. I seem to have the energy to make it through the day, but I get pretty wiped by the night. I guess most people get wiped and that is why a good nights rest makes you ready for a new day.
So now it is off to bed. I will be hugging my pillows. To bad they don't hug back.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Building Abstracts

This is the house across the street. Historic in it's own right, a work in progress that I get to watch daily progress.


From this photograph, I started building abstracts. Layer upon layer.

Always building upon each other.

Today I took care of myself. I ate breakfast, took my meds, had some coffee at the local coffee shop, then got a haircut, then worked out. It was a small workout but it was a start to see if the endorphins can change my body. Then some rest at home, phone calls with family and friends. Ate dinner at Lubys, took out the trash, did some laundry, worked on the computer, and blogged.

Now it is time to get ready for week 2 of work.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Saturday, September 22, 2007

FANtasy


Today was a day of not feeling well.

I read my friend, Jim's blog and it seems he was not having the best day either. A good day for a white blanket, a couch and a good old movie that makes you cry. A few movies I like are Now Voyager, Love Affair, Wizard of Oz and Pay It Forward.

I found this old drawing that I did of a broken fan. I thought I would see what I could digitally transform this drawing of mine into.
At first it was just playing with the lines and the shades of gray. It is interesting to see the vitality of the lines now that they intertwine with each other.
But add some color and the piece turns to fantasy. Your mind will look at it and create it's own story. But whatever you see, feel, emote - it basically started with a broken fan. I am sure there is a metaphor in there somewhere.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved


Friday, September 21, 2007

Hold that thought

Tired, going to watch TV, play Jewel Quest and go to bed.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Brain Full


I had a long day. But have made it through 3 days now at work.
Getting stronger each day.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Day 2

I created this piece of digital art using the picture of my legs in the hospital bed (see previous blog entry). I thought it was appropraite that two months later I am recovered and getting back to my old self.

Good things are happening again, friends are planning visits, Mom & Dad are coming to visit, commissions & sales are increasing, and new people, new venues, and new opportunities are happening.

It's all about changing your perspective on things. Call it P.A.C.E. (Positive Attitudes Change Everything), Call it Doing Only What You Can Do, Call it whatever.... it's working. And so am I.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Monday, September 17, 2007

BACK to WORK

Back to work in many ways - corporately and art wise. It was my first day back at my corporate job in two months. My surgery is healed well and now the projects are in que. I have to work on my promotional materials, website and gallery. I have to get my design ready for Via Colori this November, work on a Diffa Jacket Design before December 1st, I have two commissions that I need to finish in the next two months, I have shows and open studios coming up the next three months. All good news! Great news to be so busy so quickly. Now even with all this I need to begin thinking about shows next year and the year after that, gallery representation.

Did I mention it feels good!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Studio Work

Spent today in the studio working on a few paintings. This is the latest version of "Angel", you may recall it was orginally "Angel Wings", and it is being reworked.


This is the piece entitled "The Gall" and I muted it by staining (a J.F. technique).


Tomorrow, I start my corporate job again fulltime.

Well time to watch the Emmys and go to bed early.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Saturday, September 15, 2007

TRANS


Today was about listening to your inner voice. We have lots of them. When you listen to them they will transform you. They can transfix you. They can translate for you.

Each of these eight images evolved from the previous.
As I went along, I listening to the inner voice which guided me in the transitions.
At times it was like transcendental mediation.
In many ways each of these art are family related by common transferred to the child canvas that is was created from.
You can look at these pieces individually and each stand on there own, or you can transverse the transcribed abstracted emotions and transfer those emotions into your own psyche.
Like a transducer, you will transmit your translated emotions to your those that you transplant the feelings and ideas that these abstracts bring forth to your conscienciousness.
Transform yourself.
Transport yourself.
As we are only transient observers here for a short time.
Copyright 2007 William H. Miller All Rights Reserved






Friday, September 14, 2007

conflicted

Not sure what to say.
So best to say nothing.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Doctor's Orders

Well the Doctor and Surgeon have given the ok for me to return to my corporate job on Monday. I have been building my strength up by getting up early and staying awake all day (no more afternoon naps, darn). I worked some more on "wings" today.
I also took a picture of this painting that I have been trying to decide if it is done.

This is a painting that I struggled with becuase of the bright colors, so I took lessens from Jim and I added some stain. I used a ivory stain and a brown stain to mute the colors. I think it is now heading in the right direction.
More art and stories to come (along with lots of rain!)
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Predicting Stains

My artist friend, Jim Frederick loves and I usually disagree when it comes to full color. Jim usually stains and watermarks his paintigs and they then have a more muted feel to them.

This is my digital representation of what the work might look like if he were to stop working on it (which I am sure there are not enough layers for him yet) and stain the canvas. I admire Jim and his work and constantly grow my own artistic work by sharing and interacting with him.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller and Jim Frederick All Rights Reserved

Old Standbyes

In an effort to keep myself entertained I resorted to my old comforts. I got the new version of Jewel Quest II (jealous Jim & maFred?) and I watched the Wizard of Oz.
Both let me pass the time, and reflect.

Watching my favorite Reality Contests -- Big Brother 8 and The Biggest Loser.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Monday, September 10, 2007

Patient

Just a quick note: It was a good day, a not so good evening. Meet with the Surgeon again tomorrow. Patience. It is difficult at times especially when your body is not responding the way you would like. Not sure if that makes me a good patient or not. Off to have a warm bath, some relaxing music, and a good night's rest.

Happy Birthday Timmer.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Stretching My Wings

Today I ventured into the studio. I lasted the full 5 hours and the studio tour. The traffic was sparse but I met a few very nice individuals and that is all you ever need.

This is a picture of the Houston skyline I took today from near where the Winter Street Studio are.


This is a view of the studio and a painting that I did many years ago, actually 4 years to be exact. I figured it had lived it's life and it was time to breathe some new life into those wings.



So I began pouring paint on the two canvases. This was the beginning of the new wings. I will keep the progress posted and like my friend, Jim Frederick, you never know where this experience will take you -each layer representing different emotions.


This is the progress of the painting which I previously posted on.

Ending the evening watching "Legally Blond".

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Friday, September 07, 2007

Motherly Inspiration

This is a scan of a painting done by my mother. I have also enjoyed looking at this painting of water lilies.

This is my digital reinterpretation of the painting.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller and Dorothy E Miller All Rights Reserved

Diner

Today I took my attitude and said get out of the house and see what life has to offer today. So I went to a local diner for breakfast. I brought my camera along becuase you never know when either inspiration will strike or you'll be in the right place at the right time to capture a moment.

The rightness of this moment was that no one was sitting on these great swivel diner stools.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Gratitude

I watched the movie The Secret tonight before writing this blog and before heading to bed. I realize the blog previous to this was focused on what I do not want. So to change that let me start to say that I am grateful for healing from my surgery, I am grateful to be employed with a company that has great health and disability benefits, I am grateful to have great co-workers, friends, and family that have hung in there with me and provided me the help and spirit uplift when I need it most, I am grateful that my body tells me how it feels, and I am grateful that I have a creative mind that can visualize being healthy, to feeling well, and doing the multitude of things I want to achieve. It is this feeling that I want to have more of. It is this feeling of wholeness, of adrenaline, of creativeness, of empathy, and contribution that I look forward to growing each day stronger and in abundance. I can be what I see and feel myself being.

Gives a whole new meaning to sweet dreams.

Gurgles

Having a self pity moment, my stomach is gurgling hard, making noises that one should not normally. You would think I had not eaten in days and yet it has been only minutes. I took my new antibiotics and the rumbles started. I keep wondering why me, what am i supposed to learn from this.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Starting to Paint


This is the beginning layers of the digital painting that I did. I am working in acrylic at home on my dining room table. This makes good use of time since there is nothing on television and I am listening to music - it takes me away to another place where I am not dealing with cronic diaherrea. The doctor gave me some antibiotics to try this week, so cross your fingers this does the trick and I can get back to being my full force in the world. I entered two pieces in the "SNAP TO THE GRID" exhibit with LACDA in Los Angeles, the show runs from September 13 - October 4th.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

more art

Just another version... this will be another digital sketch for a painting.





Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

PH climbing the staircase


This is a piece I created today. In an effort to show how you can take something that is real and abstract it I added the steps to create this image. This image started from a photo I took of my friend, PH (Stephen) in a stairwell of the studio. Then after manipulation in canvas painter and photoshop playing with the colors and shapes.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Monday, September 03, 2007

Digitally Painting

This is a digital painting that I did. I think this is one that I may try to recreate on canvas. It will be interesting to see if I can achieve the same brightness and if I can blend the colors as well as I did here.


Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Luann Platter


I actually changed my pattern tonight and went out to eat tonight. I had dinner at Luby's and had the Luann Platter.
It felt good to get out. The food tasted good.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Who needs a canvas?

Seattle artist Phil Hanson painted 30 different people that influenced him one on top of another on his torso, then he trimmed a little off of the edges, took that strip and rolled it up.

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Nightlight Cutouts



This is a piece that I created using several photos that I took of some nightlights in my home. I was reminded of Matisse's cutouts when I was working on this image.

Today I spent time working on updating my website, or at least tried to. I had some problem when I went to save it so I might have to work on it some more.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Saturday, September 01, 2007

more


finding solice
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Expanding

Creating -

Today I spent time working on what if this does not get any better than it is right now. I went to bed visualizing how good it would feel to be well. I woke and still things had not changed. So I tried to carry out things today. I returned movies, I paid rent, I visited the studio and met a new artist moving in. Then I got some lunch before going and picking up some new canvas for the new commissions. I am looking forward to trying to paint. I took a nap, called some friends and Mom & Dad. Then I learned some more about web design and then created some digital art. The piece above was created from scratch --- here is one of the first pieces as it began to develop.


It is interesting to know that from some random scribbles - you as the viewer can create your own story with the image.
A sea of balloons to a picture illustrating someone living with a virus in a background of viruses.
Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved