Figure Studies No.186 thru No.192

Catching up on posting figure studies. All are about an hour or less. I used 8x10 in. panels with a limited oil palette.

Figure Study No.186 by Aaron Miller

Figure Study No.187 by Aaron Miller

Figure Study No.188 by Aaron Miller

Figure Study No.189 by Aaron Miller

Figure Study No.190 by Aaron Miller

Figure Study No.191 by Aaron Miller

Figure Study No.192 by Aaron Miller

Figure Study No. 181

oil on panel. 8x10. about an hour.

tried a new limited palette;

white
transparent red oxide
turquoise

Artdepth sketch night @ Evil Olive

I went to the Artdepth sketch night at Evil Olive down the street from my studio last night. On Tuesday nights I have a figure drawing session at the studio from 7-9:30pm. The Artdepth event started at 10pm. The cool things was that we were providing our drawing horses for them to use and our model was also scheduled to model there that night. Everything went really smooth.

The event was really well run. The models were dressed to play out Nursery Rhymes, the late night kind. The costumes just made the event that much more fun. While we were drawing in the front of the house there was a photo studio set up in the back for some photographers. I had planned to paint in oils but knowing this would be in a dark bar with multiple models I had a feeling the timing would not lend itself to painting and keeping things clean in someone else’s business. I decided to go with the moleskin sketchbook and some watercolor pencils. They worked out perfect for the event. The models came out in groups of two to five. And the times ranged from 10 minutes to 30.

It gave me some good ideas to possibly do with my own workshop once time permits. Here are some of the drawings I did that night;

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

Plein air paintings and sketches from Wyoming

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

While on a hiking trip to the Grand Tetons just north of Jackson, Wyoming I was able to do a few plein air paintings and a late night sketch in the lobby of our hotel. We stayed at the Snake River Resort Lodge. We both want to try camping in the mountains next time.

Over the 4 days in Wyoming we hiked over 26 miles (a marathon marker) and hiked over 9,600 ft. of elevation. The thin air makes hiking all that much harder. We saw just about all the wildlife Wyoming had to offer. Seems like early October is a great time to visit. Luckily none of the bears or moose came across our path on the long hikes or while painting.

My painting sketches took about an hour each, mostly 45-50 minutes. I'll make a second post detailing my tools and materials to go painting in the mountains.

Figure Study No. 180

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

oil on panel. 10x8. about 1 hour.
I also tried a new limited palette.
• Titanium white
• Transparent Red Oxide
• Turquoise
* tiniest bit of Indian Yellow (mixed into the final highlight on her butt)

Figure Study No. 179

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

oil on panel. 8x10. about 1 hour.

Guardians of the Desert - wrap

Final cover art for the book Guardians of the Desert by Leona Wisoker. The final image is a mix of digital and traditional. I painted the main portion of the front cover in oils and created an extension to the painting for the spine and back cover, creating a wrap image.

The main character, Alyea, is portrayed as removing her veil or covering wrap. She's a new desert lord, fierce, and independent. Even the wren has some significance.

Again, I would like to thank Barbara at Mercury Retrograde Press, for this great opportunity.

Figure Study No. 178

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

Oil on panel. 8x10. about 1 hour.

Figure Study No. 173

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

Oil on panel. 8x10. About 1 hour.

Figure Study No. 172

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

6x8. Oil on panel. about 60 minutes. Maybe less.

Figure Study No. 171

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

Oil on panel. About 25 minutes. 8x10.

Figure Study No. 170

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

8x10
oil on panel.
about 60 min.

Figure Study No. 169

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

6x8

oil on panel.

about 45-50 minutes.

the tan lines were fun to paint.

Plein Air Painters of Chicago Exhibition 2010

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

oil on panel. 12x9.

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

oil on panel. 9x12.


These paintings will be part of the Plein Air Painters of Chicago Exhibition 2010.

The opening reception at the esteemed Palette and Chisel Gallery is Friday August 6 from 5-8pm.

The show will hang from August 6-15. Gallery hours are 11-5 weekdays and 11-3 on the weekends.

If you're in the area stop in to see some amazing work by the Plein Air Painters of Chicago.

Ren Faire plein air painting to help a charity

I spent most of this weekend at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. I had a blast painting in the crowds of people. All the artists that were asked to participate had the work go to auction today. The auction was to help a charity; Variety; The Children's Charity of Wisconsin. It was to help kids with disabilities. Amazingly all 3 of my paintings sold and the book store went through a slight bidding war! Sweet! I would love to do this again.


Tuscany Tavern

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

I bought the wizard a drink to pose for me.

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

I saw some of Jim Pavelec's books in the shop there.

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

Apple Seeds

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

Oil on panel. about 6x6.

When painting anything remember "the seeds". Keep in mind that objects you are painting have an interior. That it is not a flat shape with a dark and a light side with a highlight somewhere. try to keep in mind the three dimensional space the object takes up.

Figure Study No. 167 and 168

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

These two quick studies were from the Illustration Master Class. The first was a 10 minute study and the second was about 30 minutes. Both oil on gessoed panel.

Plein Air City Painting Workshop - Day Two and Three

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

Day Two:

We spent day two at the busy, busy six corners area of Wicker Park. The area has a six corners intersection, an el stop and a park with the block. Very much a deep end of the pool to paint in environment wise. Scott did a demo across from the park painting down a shady street. After the demo and a quick bite to eat at Sultan's Market for some falafel sandwiches I choose a spot under the el tracks in a very high traffic area. If you are not used to painting in public this can be very overwhelming. I quickly became more involved with trying to capture the scene in front of me rather than worry about people looking over my shoulder. I scrapped down 3-4 panels though that day. It was all about the learning process for me but Scott kept wanting me to keep my failed attempts.

Day Three:

We met at another six corners location at Grand, Milwaukee and Halsted. People from Chicago might know that's where the Funky Budah Lounge is. After the mornings demo I found a great spot near some overhead train tracks and an unexpected view of the Sears (Willis) Tower. After three days I was able to put everything into action and I managed to not scrape this one down.

From Aaron Miller | Illustrator | Designer

There are some interesting things that you pretty much do for any painting you approach but that are really key for painting on location. Really locking in your composition really is key. Once you start painting the world keeps spinning and the light moves. So, once you've locked some stuff in you can still capture the original scene. And repeating patterns is really key as well. We're talking about things that keep moving, like people and cars. But, they will keep showing in in the spots you want them to! The car for instance is 2-3 cars over the course of the painting. I was bummed the first time it moved and I only had a few details painted. But 10 minutes later another similar car took it's place, and another an hour later.

Painting in the city is fun but its one of the most challenging things as a painter you can do.

Podcast Episode 7 - The Interviews

Episode 7 is LIVE!

Music Zoe Keating: Listen to her music here.

This week, we have a supersized interview spectacular, with Illustration Masterclass instructors and students alike as well as an illustrator turned author.  Want to hear about Julie Bell's new artist venture?  Or how about Wizards of the Coast's Jeremy Jarvis' "magic pencil"?  Tune in right here.

Listen to Episode 7

Illustration MasterClass 2010


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Plein Air City Painting Workshop - Day One

Yesterday I started a 4 day workshop with my friend and former classmate Scott Tallman Powers. We spent the morning in Uptown watching a few demos and went over some key tips specific to painting in the city outdoors. Even covering how to deal with people.

After we broke for lunch I got started on a few value studies pieces. A great way to break into the comfort zone of painting outside and getting a longer painting session started off right. You can either use an umber or black for the two color value study.

Photo of Scott during his demo.