Sue Miller

Ontario, Canada, Glass Glow, oil, 20 x 34" (51 x 86 cm)

My Inspiration

I’ve always been fascinated with how form reacts to light. The reflections and distortions of light through glass present wonderful challenges to paint, which continues to push me to try new techniques and expand my skill. Whether glass is lit by daylight, candlelight or neon, the vibrant colours and delicate strength of glass is a lasting pleasure to paint.

This painting is part of a series I’m developing called Community Spirits that examines various aspects of the role alcohol plays in our society from happy celebrations to struggles with addiction. As I continue to work through this series, I’m considering the societal impacts, both positive and negative, as well as the physical and psychological effects.

My Design Strategy

For this painting, my goal was to portray the intense glow of light through glass showing the many shapes, delicate curves, reflections, and distortions. The lighting was particularly important and I often use candles tucked behind bottles to bring out the intense colours and luminosity of the glass. My challenge was to give the impression of something solidly there yet almost invisible in places.

My Working Process

Typically, I roughly block in the initial layer on stretched canvas working loosely from background to foreground. Once blocked in, I use undiluted oil, placing one brushstroke, leaving it alone and moving on to the next, to cover the canvas in an alla prima style. Working from large to small brush size, I end with a very fine liner brush for the small details and lettering. My aim is for the abstract brushstrokes to pull together into a fairly realistic image when viewed from a distance. In this particular piece, I used a palette knife for the background and kept it quite loose to contrast with the foreground. The chroma is high to help portray the intensity of the under-lit lighting.

Contact Details

Email: suepmiller@rogers.com Website: www.smillerart.com