We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shane Miller a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shane, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My first delve into painting was during high school. I had a watercolor tutor that would come to the house a couple times each month to teach me the basics of composition, color theory, etc. Moving forward into college and beyond I spent time exploring acrylics and oils on the weekends when I could find the time. Back in 2016, I met a couple folks in Nashville who took the time to critique my work and set me on the path of painting full-time. The best advice I received that year was to take time to fully explore the craft of painting and the limits of my creativity. Nothing replaces the endless hours spent exploring in the studio and the largest hurdle between now and tomorrow is the limit you place on yourself.

Shane, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m currently 31 and was born in western Maryland. I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2013 and began painting full-time 2017. There is a feeling of nostalgia and melancholy that runs throughout my work. When viewing a piece, I want you to feel like you are recalling a distant memory or dream.

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

I think the largest driving factor is a deeper understanding. There are two sides of that coin for me personally — One being trying to master the technical art of painting. The second, and perhaps the side that is a little more important, is a deeper understanding of unspoken emotions. I’ve often viewed painting as a sort of meditative experience. Pablo Picasso once said, “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” I want my paintings to work as. a catalyst for the viewer to take a moment and reflect on their own emotions. I think that is one of the reasons I keep my landscapes fairly non-specific.

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

Everyone has the ability to express themselves creatively in some form. It is exceptionally rewarding to be able to devote every day exploring ideas and thoughts. Before I was painting full-time, I studied and worked as a physical therapist assistant for several years. It was nice helping folks recover, but I didn’t feel at peace with my life. I think we are our best selves when we find our passion in life and pursue it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shaneartistry.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/shane.artistry