“]
Julianne Miller
| Based in Evergreen, Colorado, artist Julianne Miller specializes in pastel images of tranquil, “captured” scenes and moments. Whether her subject is a prairie landscape, children playing on the porch or a rainy urban street, her works are characterized by vibrant recreations of natural lighting and shadows or peacefully evocative moods. As a youth, she fancied commercial art instead; she studied it at the university level and embarked on a career that endured 20 years. Then, a decade ago, her mother passed away from cancer. Left to Julianne were cases which held her mother’s trusted collection of pastels from college. Julianne began using those pastels as a diversion from her grief. She occupied her mind with shapes, light, color, and moments. Whenever friends stopped by, they couldn’t help noticing her work. Repeatedly urging her to show them. Eventually, she did. Julianne prefers pastels because they exhibit vibrancy not possible in other mediums. She also appreciates how pastels allow her to embellish colors, making a scene appear more surreal and beautiful. Her influences include artist Greg Storer, who taught her how to use her mother’s pastels; Desmond O’Hagen, whose pastel urban scenes inspired her with their signature looseness; and Kim English, who’s command of light and shadow is unparalleled. Of course, Julianne’s greatest influence was her mother, who introduced her to the many fascinating worlds of art when she was a child.Sadly, Julianne had to rely on her mother’s pastels one more time when shortly after her mother’s death, her husband Rick was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. As he went through chemo and eventually departed, her painting helped her to endureher grief. “It’s been such a gift to have this release,” she says. “It’s also a gift because my work brings other people joy.” |
|