Yellow Headband -B- Debbie Miller,beach scene

20x20" oil on panel  $1200

Lost the man with the red hat for this - it just seemed like clutter.  HERE is the little version.

Red Hat -2-Debbie Miller daily painting,beach scene

6x6" oil on panel $100

This image was painted from a photo of a very crowded beach day - there are thousands of paintings in this one photo.  Nice place to get lost in and ignore winter out the window

Red Bucket - A- Debbie Miller Painting, beach scene

 

20x20" $1200 oil on cradled panel

Red Bucket  - the larger painting inspired by yesterdays little one.  see it HERE.
It is so freeing to paint these and I'm excited to see where it goes.

Red Bucket - 1. Debbie Miller daily painting, beach scene

6x6" oil on panel $100

Oh Hello.  Remember me?
So, back in the studio with regular hours - hooray!!  It is all about time in the studio - my paintings are just not going to paint themselves no matter how I try.

There is a little stack of panels with black gesso just hanging around so this week that is the go-to surface.
The subject - people on the beach - of course. 
BUT Ive got the itch to paint bigger more abstract paintings - its really all I want to paint right now and I am even thinking about using acrylics *gasp!*  I know?  crazy talk right??

Which brings me back to the stash of little black panels - these I will paint a quick little painting to play with composition and to get a feel for the image - a sketch with paint. Not quite as realistic as I used to paint but not all crazy like the paintings in my head.
They will be up for sale through my daily painters page (or email me) and then I'll post the bigger paintings that the little ones inspire.  Fun right?

So here is little painting #1 - and fair warning I've got a thing for buckets 

Are you in a creative rut? I am.

nfDP
 Can you say "Rut"?  I can - because I'm in one.  Like an addict, admitting it is the first step.
 So what is the creatively challenged to do?

Hunker down and just get to work.
 Stop making excuses and make some art.
 Sounds simple right?
Well it is.  .....sort of.  Sometimes some help - or a swift kick in the butt is needed.
   Luckily, while  searching for something very important on the internet (ok - pinterest specifically : that time crusher dressed in beautiful clothing)  I came across Twyla Tharps book "The Creative Habit".
 Which is the Best. Book. Ever.    The 'kick' I needed.   Reading and rereading it now - getting ready to start doing the exercises at the end of each chapter.  Starting with my sketchbook.  It always starts with the sketchbook doesn't it?  Why do so many go half filled and forgotten?
No more - from now on my sketchbook is going everywhere.
That will cover #1 - find your pencil - the one creative tool needed.  After that 2-building a tolerance for solitude (no problem there,  being alone rules), 3-Facing your Fears - ok this one is big, time to make a list  and 4 - Going without for 1 week - take a week off from clutter and distractions ....hmmm like pinterest and social media? duh.

So if you see me with a pen in a little red book just smile and know that I'm doing my Twyla homework, getting one step closer to breaking the block.

 

Secrets in the Snow - daily painting,debbie miller,snow scene,pink

6x6 oil on panel

A while back I painted several snow scenes - this is one of them - the last of the bunch. 
Think I'll do some more this week. 

Cozy, Lazy Days of Winter

oops - didn't I say I was going to post everyday in January?  Dang.  3 whole days. 
Well I tried. 

I did take down and put away Christmas - and let me tell you THAT is no easy job.  I don't know about you but I decorate by bringing the holiday stuff out a little at a time - some garland here,some ornaments there - its a PROCESS.
  BUT for some reason it all has to come down all at once, on the same day - except some of the outdoor lights - those can stay up for a bit to brighten these short days and dark nights. 

and I saw an owl again....

RedStripe - beach painting, Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on panel

 Coming soon to a bookseller near you....if you live in Germany :) 
You'll have to wait for the book but the original painting is available.  Sitting pretty in my studio,waiting for a new home

Green Chair

8x10 (I think) oil on wood panel

After finishing up a portrait, I often grab another panel - a leftover or wonky sized board - to do a quick painting on before the time is up.  Usually these are looser and more colorful.  This is one of them.

I'm learning alot from these - maybe I'll post some more over the next month.
You can see the first portrait HERE

Icy Plunge - beach scene,blue,gray,Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on panel
Happy New Year!! 
Today I watched those brave (er...crazy) people take the icy plunge.  It was really cold this year - well done Polar Bear swimmers!  Why do they do it?  Cleanse?  Fresh start?  Its a little nutty but I like it...maybe next year.
  In the mean time - working on day one of my art resolution.  Did you make one this year?
Ive decided to post a painting everyday this January - mostly to get myself back in the habit of blogging again.  I have no particular theme going - just the challenge of posting and writing and painting - EVERY day this month. 

  So here is #1 - I just took the plunge

Santas downtime

6x6 oil
So - no open studio this year BUT I'm always game for "by Appt."  so send me a message if you want to stop by the studio and pick up some original art for the holidays!!

also - check out my latest portrait here: http://debsfaceproject.blogspot.com/2012/12/nico.html
more to come

SantaBeach and RISD sale

6x6"oil on panel

2 mths since I last posted???? shamefull!  Well you will be happy to know that I am fully recovered from my near death thumb infection.

  OK it wasnt exactly THAT bad but Man did that hurt -Seriously, child-birth hurt, not kidding.
 Thanks to a good orthopedic doc and lots of anti-biotics I have been saved. 
Let the painting commence.....
Come by and see my miraculous thumb recovery at the RISD sale tomorrow (sat. 12/8 at the convention center in Prov.)

RISD Holiday Sale

RISD holiday sale.  YAY!  I will be there!! stop by and say hi,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alumni_sale/sets/72157631967386017/?page=2

A Little Pink on Blue - daily painting, cupcake,debbie miller

 6x6" oil on panel, 
Back in the studio today after a football filled, beach walks and crisp weather weekend.  Perfect.

Ignore the photo below if you are sick of pet photos, this dog is just so cute I can't help myself. 

Green Chair - debbie miller, daily painting,santas

6x6" oil on panel $100

I know.  Sorry.  A wee bit too early for Santa, Thinking about how I'll be doing the RISD holiday show again this year and it is time to paint up a new batch of these guys.  So I'll be posting the few I have left from last year.
Last Christmas I hot glued a hook to the back of my Santa paintings and hung them all over the tree - looked so great.  Why didn't I take a picture of that? 

Endless Summer - beach painting, Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on panel $100

October 1st ---what??  when did this happen???  September is a blur.  Not that I'm complaining even a little bit.    Around the studio its an endless summer as usual but you can bet I'll be getting out for some plein air painting soon.

Welcome October - I do love you so.

South Shore Beach - plein air painting, Debbie Miller

South Shore Beach 12x12" oil on panel $300

 

The big waves drew me to the shore - then I remembered my paints were in the car - no easel and a bunch of crappy brushes but I managed  

cupcakes,orange,cherry,Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on panel. $100

I am almost ready for a pumpkin....not quite....but almost.  So I'm easing into the idea with a a little orange painting today. 

Fresh Start

nfdp
Fresh Paint, Fresh Palette, Fresh Start.

The best piece of advice on this whole "making a living from your art" thing is that waiting for inspiration to strike is a waste of time.  Time in the studio - a commitment to go to the studio and get to work - NO MATTER WHAT is the key.

The art is not going to make itself, the art is not going to sell itself. 

So - the party is over or the party is just beginning if you are a glass half full type and I hope you are.
Back to regular studio hours and regular art making. 

BTW - this palette is from my plein air box - its just a piece of foam core to fit inside the lid with a sheet of wax paper taped over it. 

peanut butter cupcake, debbie miller, orange

6x6" oil on panel $100

 - the unofficial end of summer has come and gone (can you believe it?) but to me it's the official start of fall - my favorite time of year!!
Bring on the apples, pumpkins, brisk weather, football games and clogs.  I am ready.
Not to say I haven't TOTALLY enjoyed summer this year. In fact, if you've been wondering where the heck I've been (probably you don't give a hoot but I still feel the need to provide an explanation) well I've been in my backyard A LOT -
 gardening is my other passion and my interest wanes from time to time but this year with my painting in a slump the creative juices had to flow somewhere.  Painting,building,planting etc.  take a look here at what  I was up to ; http://pinterest.com/dgmiller1/my-garden/