We recently connected with Lisa Miller and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

From as early as I can remember, I’ve always been making things. My mom is an artist and art teacher and my grandfather was an artist, photographer and inventor. When I was just 18 months old, my mom introduced me to painting. I could barely walk, yet she stood me up outside on the lawn so I could be as messy as I wished, with a large roll of paper and colorful jars of paint. She handed me a paintbrush and I began expressing myself through art. My childhood was spent creating – whether it was sewing, cooking or making gifts, creating decorations, painting rocks or actual artwork – and I cannot remember a time when I was without imagination and art supplies.

When I was 7 years old, on my own I decided to go out into the world – which was our small neighborhood in suburban Pennsylvania – and sell my art. I don’t know how the idea came to me that I could exchange my artwork for money – or how I had an awareness at such a young age that my art had ‘inherent value’. But I walked down our street visiting each of our neighbors, selling all my paintings, including some to my Mom’s friend, Joan. My Mom didn’t know I was doing this. So when Joan called Mom to tell her how much she was enjoying my artwork – instead of being charmed by a 7 year old’s ingenuity or proud of a child’s natural confidence – she was surprised and worried about what it might look like, telling me ‘people might think we need money’. This was a turning point in my young life. I continued making art, but I didn’t sell any more of my art in our neighborhood then or for a very long time.

Fast forward to college and beyond – art continued to be my true love. I studied studio art and art history in college, diving deep into the meaning and significance of modern painting and architecture, theories of art, the role of the artist in a day and age, and how art emerges from a culture and impacts a culture. Upon graduation I started working in the non-profit world of art museums and later decided to go into the gallery business. And over time I built a very successful contemporary art gallery. I spent 20 years exhibiting and selling ‘other people’s art’. I had become what the author and ‘Godmother of Creativity’ Julia Cameron calls a “Shadow Artist” – someone who instead of pursuing their dreams to become a professional artist, surrounds themselves with art and settles for a career in the art world in other ways.

Outside I was thriving, but on the inside something was missing. And at age 40 I had an awakening. I finally said out loud to myself “I am the Artist!” So I sold my gallery and set up the tiniest art studio you’ve ever seen in the corner of my kitchen and began painting – once again.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an Artist. I make Art! I make inspiring Objects d’Art!

I am inspired by nature, moments of beauty, and the experience of place – how we feel interiorly as humans going thru life together. Much of my work is inspired by the sky. I have always been drawn to clouds – the soft subtle colors that show up in the clouds at sunrise and sunset; or a bright cobalt blue sky with puffy white clouds that go on as far as the eye can see. The sky says so much that is greater than words, that only a painting can express.

My paintings range from small- to quite large-scale 6 to 8 feet tall, expressionistic and colorful oil paintings on canvas, to various sized and themed mixed-media works on paper.

I’ve created a collection of “Cloud Portraits”, each with a single cloud depicted on a smaller canvas, where the cloud will portray a certain ‘personality’, or a message, or a state of being that we humans can naturally relate to and learn from.

Some favorite work to date is my “You Are The Sky” collection. The name comes from a quote from the Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron, who said: “You are the sky, everything else is just the weather.” It reminds me that we are so much more connected and expansive that we realize. It also reminds me, on a day-to-day level, not to get caught up in the small stuff. I have learned that not everything is ours to carry and we can let it go – let it float by us like a cloud in the sky.

“You Are The Sky” paintings are large oil paintings, that are uplifting and powerful – they have presence. As long as humans have lived, we have been captivated and inspired by the clouds in the sky. And artists have captured and conveyed the experience we all know when we look up to the sky and gaze at the clouds. I love expanding the traditional skyscape painting genre that dates back in art history so long ago through the English and French Romantic artists. And the Italian Renaissance. In my “Sky” paintings I’m exploring a wide range of color palettes, impressionistic brushstrokes and loose abstraction to create a depth of feeling – similar to the way Claude Monet painted his beloved Water Lilies.

My intention is to create a painting that captivates and is an experience in itself – that over time it will slowly reveal even more to you. And it will slow you down. Because we lead such busy lives, it is important to take time to let our souls catch up with us. My art invites us to do this. My paintings are a meditation.

In addition to one-of-a-kind studio paintings, I run wellness brand called Cloud 10 where I make inspired art objects that are tools for mindfulness and personal growth. The items in the collection – Cloudstones, Energy Essence Art and Art Cards, and Sacred Art ‘Altarpieces’ – are designed to personalize the journey of exploring your own spirituality. Cloud 10 is ‘Art for Daily Living’ that deepen your connection with your true self and empower you to create a life of meaning and purpose. Becoming “Free To Be Me” has been one of the major themes in my life, and I want to share my experience with others who are on a similar path. My Cloudstones actually started as a personal project – I’d pick up stones while walking on the beach where we live in California. And the stones looked to me like the shape of clouds so I started painting on them – and the “Cloudstone” was born! A Cloudstone feels good to hold in your hand, and can be used for centering practices like prayer and mediation. I’ve also created a range of Energy Essence Art – small intimate, engaging paintings with vibrant colors and energetic enhancements – that, like a favorite crystal, inspire and support the journey of awakening. And my Energy Essence Art Cards are designed for sharing positive energy with others. Art has the power to change the world, and it is up to us to spread the word.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

To enlighten. To inspire. To transform. To delight. Art has the power to heal.

I believe in the power of art to touch the soul, uplift the spirit, and shine a light on the journey ahead.

I am eternally interested in the connection between creativity and spirituality. And my mission is to make art to change the world, through changing ourselves.

This year, I have gone deeper into exploring the emotional power of color, studying and implementing color frequencies in my work. With my Energy Essence Art, I design the color palette for each painting, taking into consideration specific hues and shades that evoke a certain feeling that in alignment with my intentions for my creative expression. I also infuse my paint with a custom blend of flower essences that are vibrationally attuned to support emotional wellbeing, and I layer in gold leaf which amplifies the overall energetic effect of each work of art.

My newest Energy Essence collection, available for the Holidays, is called “Season of Light”. Because in the winter months, the days are shorter, and we yearn for light. Sometimes it lowers the human spirit. I’ve created a color palette of beautiful jewel tones – deep emerald green, vibrant amethyst and warm ruby red – that evoke feelings of inspiration and connection. They vibrationally tap into the Heart Chakra. And I’ve infused my paint with flower essences designed to inspire feelings of hope and joy, faith and trust, to support connection to others and a love of humanity. To see beauty in the everyday. To share your own light with the world. The artwork will be available in a limited edition collection of small ‘altarpiece’ sacred art paintings, as well as beautiful art cards to share with family and friends.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is engaging in the creative process as a way of life. I’m constantly opening myself up to the world, taking in inspiration, and trusting my talents, unique perspective and intuition – everything that I am – to bring something into being that did not exist before. I call this “Completing The Circle”. This happens when my art finds its destined owner, almost like a ‘soulmate’, who my art touches so deeply – it speaks to their soul. And it awakens something in them. It brings beauty and joy and light to their life every single day – and inspires them to shine their own light and live a life that is their best creation. A true work of art!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lisa-miller.com
• Instagram: @lisamillerstudio
• Other: I invite readers to join my newsletter – called “The Portal” a digital sacred-space ‘where the light shines in’ and where I share deeper into my artwork, inspiration and process, explore the intersection of creative expression and spiritual connection, and offer thoughts and ideas that feed the soul – all focused around creating an inspired and authentic life in and outside the studio – follow the link below:

  http://www.lisa-miller.com/theportal

Image Credits

All images copyright Lisa GP Miller courtesy of Lisa Miller Studio.