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February 22, 2015 things changed. For many years prior, the last thing I did before bed was read for an hour. Not fiction but rather on topics for which I have a great appetite – computation linguistics, knowledge engineering, and and philosophy. Unfortunately, my profession as a manager of software engineering (also for which passion exudes from my pores) doesn’t provide for extracurricular time necessary for full immersion into academics. While this is still a profound interest, my intention with these studies was to produce software to do some good.

Frustrated by constantly consuming information I had a conversation with a close friend of mine. She said:

“Sometimes your brain needs to consume, but other times it needs to produce. A balance of both is healthy.” -Paraphrased, Heather John

The epiphany struck me – I need a creative outlet. I painted in high school and for a few years after – but always abstract oils on canvas. I had recently tinkered with oil painting for a couple of months. I never quite produced the art I wanted. Frustrated, I quickly abandoned the endeavor and the unstretched canvas was folded and sat next to the 8′ x 8′ frame I built.

But this epiphany led me to produced the charcoal drawing on the left. The first charcoal I ever created.

The next evening I drew another sketch. Then the night after that and the night after that until it had become a necessity. I had to draw what I experienced that way – whether it was a direct reflection or some freudian interpretation distilled from brain to paper.

This was exactly what my mind needed. I found a way to express myself which words could not do. From March through July I kept my nightly routine (I hate calling it a routine because it is more of a necessity for a healthy life.)

And the drawings got a bit tighter in their composition. Until I was communicating an emotion.

I was telling a perfectly fragmented, ambiguous story that made a lot of sense to me- though sometimes not others. That’s the point of the ineffable.

Many are quite odd:

But I lacked color in my new world. September of 2015, I purchased a few tubes of watercolors. I practiced with color values.

Until finally, just under a year later, color:

I invite you to view six of my pieces that are currently on display (and for sale) at the Starbucks on Mass Ave in Indianapolis. They’ll be there all of February. I would love to know your thoughts and how these paintings make you feel. Comment below or send me a note on social meeting.

One of the most gratifying experiences it to connect with another artist to either inspire or be inspired by them. Everyone is an artist in their own right. You just have to find your medium.

“Everyone is an artist in their own right. You just have to find your medium.”

Thanks for reading.

Cheers and Much Love, and Happy Creating,

Jake

Art for Sale: Etsy
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“The brilliant hues in this dayglow palette really make a powerful and instant impression on the viewer. A surreal jungle of organic forms, Miller’s composition is reminiscent of whimsical tales and science fiction fantasy, a backdrop for the viewer to revisit the childlike wonder of imagination and secret daydreams. A landscape of kinetic creations, this watercolor highlights the possibilities of play in painting and creates a warm, wondrous environment for an adventure through the mind. Promising both danger and discovery, the mutable narrative of this vibrant scene serves as a stage for unconscious visions to unfold.” -Heather John

Artist Statement:

 

The most colorful of my paintings, this is one of my most prized paintings to date. The black and almost wilted trees rise like smoke from the horizon just beyond the streams and lakes. Look closely at the ‘blob’ in the center of the painting. This is a figure, hunched down in the landscape, looking towards the horizon. Look at his toes and see how he appears to squat down and melt into a relaxed position on the ground. It’s as though he is part of the landscape – perhaps rock. In the foreground, a beautiful flower blooms – the figure, fixated on the beauty beyond misses the beauty that is just behind him.

Medium: Watercolor and Charcoal
Gallery Framed and Matted
Certificate of Authenticity Provided at time of Purchase
Price: $420

Click to Purchase