It has been awhile ... since I have updated my website. I have been working as a digital artist for Wacky World Studios (a theme environment company) for the last 4.5 years. I have been working as a digital painter with a fine group of digital artists. We were part of a team: digital artists, concept artists, set designers, sculptors, carpenters, and mural painters. The style ranged from Wacky to realistic. Very nice work, fun stuff.
The economy is real hard on all us these days.
I am back to full time freelance and this up-date is part of those changes. I also moved from the beach to Clearwater, Florida a couple of years ago. That address change and other changes will be reflected in my pages as I move through redesigning the pages.
My story goes... about 1970, while I was serving in the U.S. Air Force, I picked up an airbrush for artwork on motorcycles. It was then, that I contracted a passion to create, and the hope for a future in art. That was the beginning of my studies to become ever stronger in the skills of drawing and painting. The need to create and grow led to formal art school at The Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. The GI bill helped to fund my studies. After two years of classes and some part time apprentice opportunities, I was hired out of school into a top national art studio.
That was a studio for advertising art, commercial art, mechanical illustration... deep in the pressure of deadlines. I was very fortunate to be surrounded by great seasoned mechanical illustrators. In the commercial field, the challenges of producing quality on deadline are intense. The personalities flared under the pressure of the changes and the deadlines. So, there was plenty of entertainmet.
Today I create most of my artwork on the computer. I have become very comfortable with the digital media of Photoshop and Illustrator. I also have enjoyed using html, Dreamweaver, Painter, Flash, InDesign.
Some projects still call for the use of paint on board, canvas, or 3-D props. Airbrush is still my favorite favorite tool there. Fine Art paintings, life drawing and caricature sketching are opportunities to use inks, pastels, and watercolor for their special look.
I continue to exhibit my work with fine artists. In 2008, I won a Gold Medal for my Acrylic painting "City Fantasy 2, Turn It Up" in the National Verterans Creative Arts Festival.
The Graphic Artists Guildhas been the most informative for influences in legal and professional issues during my career.
Knowledge of © copyrights law is so important in art as a business. Most artists don't want to be bothered with the legal issues. Maybe you are an artist and also felt it was a bother. But, artists educating themselves as well as their business contacts can help us all.
Note: This site began way back in 1999 as a sample show place for my work within a fine learning adventure for me. The art and the copy will change at any time. Please enjoy my artwork here and refer my site to those would may be able to use my services.
All of these images are from my original artwork. No reproduction rights are transferred without a contract with me A.J. Miller and payment of an agreed fee.
Special Thanks... to super artist Ken Graning, my friend, mentor and influence since 1976.
Visit Ken's site http://www.artist-artwork.com/
Special Thanks... to Bob Lever. I was very fortunate that (Mac Tech) Bob was my neighbor at the very time I bought my first computer. His help has been instrumental in the success of my first publishing this site in 1999. Many Thanks, Bob.
Special Thanks... to all those who have believed in me and have been patient enough to help me grow. I know I can be a lot to put up with. I can only hope I will be worth the extra work for those that do.
A.J. Miller, Illustrator, 2612 Pearce Drive # 211, Clearwater, Florida 33764 (727) 596-6384