We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Mills. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

Hi David, thanks for joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

One of my first jobs after high school was at a lawn care maintenance facility in Rockville, MD. As the new guy, I got assigned all the jobs you might expect. I loaded and unloaded trucks, repaired equipment, made bank runs, filled in for absent service techs, stocked shelved, took inventory…. you get the picture. I couldn’t have been more than a week in when the Vice President cornered me and asked me to follow him to the rest room. He told me that (in addition to the other tasks) I was in charge of keeping the restroom squared away. “Oh, great.” I thought, I “get” to clean the bathrooms. The VP was a quick talker and moved quickly as I’m sure he always had important things to do. But before my spirits went fully into the toilet, he handed me his jacket. He always dressed very Vice Presidential-like, almost always wearing a suit. He literally rolled up his sleeves and demonstrated to me how he wanted me to clean the bathroom going forward. “You do this, that, fill the hand towels, make sure the, blah blah blah…. and bam, all clean.” As I stood there in the close quarters of a one-toilet restroom holding a suit jacket that cost more than I was going to make that week, I watched the VP and co-founder of the company scrubbing the shop toilet. The fact that he didn’t tell me to “go clean the restrooms”, but rather he did it while I watched somehow made the task less horrible. That example of leadership put things into perspective for me. I was part of a team that made the whole operation function. Whereas I could not do whatever it was that his role required of him, I could stock the shelves and hose down the shop yard and… yes, clean the toilets. I never looked at menial tasks the same after that.

David, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve had other jobs, I’ve pursued other professional creative endeavors, I’ve considered career paths that weren’t in the creative field, but nothing lights my fire like using my hands to bring to life the ideas that are in my head. Some people were given a beautiful voice, a strong body, a mind for numbers, the ability to find humor in the mundane. I was given creativity. Of course, just like the sprinter or the mathematician, I’ve had to develop my skills and study my craft. I started teaching myself how to draw from a young age with a drawing kit given to me by someone who noticed my interest in art and recognized my potential. I made the Art Honor Society in High School and was voted “most artistic” in my graduating class. After working for a few years, I decided to get some formal training in the arts. I took one or two courses at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington DC before enrolling at the University of Maryland art program. I continued my studies there part-time until I ran out of money. I would later go back and take additional design classes but never fully completed the program. At that point I started a small graphic design company as it seemed like a reliable way to put my art ability and passion toward a paycheck. The goal was to make enough money to finance a full-time studio practice where I could get back to the hands on business of painting and making stuff.

I love painting and have tried all of the paint media finally settling on oils. I still love oil painting, however it takes a backseat now to the work I’m doing on the “Frequency Aesthetic”. I arrived at the “Frequency Aesthetic” after a years’ long soul search. In the years leading up to and since my father’s recent death from cancer, I dug deep into my soul to find out what “it” is all about. Why we’re here, what we are, who we are, who I am, what I want to be, what I’m supposed to be. My soul search led me to get reacquainted with basic physics, which lead to particle physics and metaphysics. Although my understanding of each is rudimentary, I’ve come to understand that everything that exists is made from the same raw materials. Be it rock, dirt, air, flesh, hair, flora and fauna, everything has energy in common. We are all energy. The “Frequency Aesthetic” is my attempt to put this concept into 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional forms. Although I’m partial to metal at this point the medium has little significance for the most part, as long as it takes the form of energy. I want the works to resonate, literally. I think the human brain is capable of perception on a subconscious level that is so vast and intuitive that we’ve only barely begun to understand its limits. The “Frequency Aesthetic” explores the notion that the signals received through the eyes are processed and transmitted to every cell in your body through your fundamental energy network. For example, the first FA works are patterned collages arranged around a visual representation of harmonic sound frequencies. The intention is that the brain will interpret the visual data and associate it with the actual sonic data you’d receive if you heard the same harmonies. The next leap is that whatever feelings you would associate with that sound, you’d also associate with that image. If true, this would work to make you feel good or bad when looking at “pleasant” harmonies or “grating” dissonance, respectively. That idea really excites me.

So after many years and many trials and errors, I have found “it”. The what that I am supposed to be doing. Without question I know that this is my journey. The crooked path that led me here has given me the certainty and confidence to continue this pursuit. I no longer experience the dreaded artists block that many artists are familiar with. It’s very clear to me what my subject is, energy. The only question is what media to use to express it.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes. My mission is to encourage a unity and harmony that is sorely needed at this time in history. As people in America and abroad have become further divided and contentious in recent years, I fear the divisiveness in America is ripe to boil over unless something changes. Unity is needed, healing is needed, cooperation is necessary. On a quantum level we are more alike than different and It’s time to come to know and celebrate our sameness as much as our differences. Representing the similarities that we all share is a primary element of each artwork I create.

I believe that all people, all animals, all things, all everything can either be in harmony or in discord. That condition however, is not permanent, but fluid and variable. The goal with my artwork is to exhibit this to as many people as possible with the intention of showing that we are all connected, and through intentional positive interaction we can all exist in harmony despite our differences.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Yeah, I think it’s important for non-creatives (although I don’t really like that term) to know that we creatives aren’t just flippant, pie in the sky, irresponsible, flaky, head-in-the-cloud dream chasers. A seed was planted inside of me and every day it grows. Sometimes I have the means and emotional resources to feed and water that seed. Sometimes there are periods of drought for that resilient little tree. Sometimes outside forces attempt to chop that tree down, stunt its growth or damage its roots. But that little seed was planted with intention and purpose and it knows it long before and better than I do myself. That tree is calling to me like victory is calling to the competitor, like the mountain calls to the climber. I don’t do it for fun nor do I do it for free, but I would. I didn’t necessarily choose to be an artist, I was chosen as the incubator of that little seed. The seed is destined to become a tree and I am gratefully and respectfully beholden to nurture that calling. I wish to share my work with as many people as possible. I want them to experience and be moved by my work like it moves me. That dedication requires investment and I have always approached the craft and business of art seriously and professionally. I encourage anyone who isn’t an artist to open their minds, hearts and even wallets to support artists and the arts. It can be a lonely journey, a little encouragement goes a long way. I’ll end with a quote from my favorite bumper sticker: “Earth without art is just E…h”.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.davidmillsart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmillsstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMillsStudio/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanStroker