About the Artist: Jean Miller

I took my first watercolor class during that period of my life when I was about to go crazy with young children, housework and a full-time job. I needed something just for me and doing watercolor was it. I'm a retired school librarian of 32 years. My husband and I raised 2 wonderful girls and many individualistic cats.  I'm now a grandmother of eight.

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I actually decided on watercolor because I thought the paint would be cheaper than oils! I fell in love with the medium. I read every watercolor book in the Public Library, viewed every watercolor video available, watched watercolor instruction programs on PBS, and subscribed to watercolor journals. With the encouragement of my family, I entered paintings in the county fairs and the Virginia State Fair, earning ribbons each time. I have had several gallery shows, belong to This Century Art Gallery in Williamsburg, VA.  My paintings hang in homes of friends, clients, and family.  I always enjoy watching someone open a painting of their pet and seeing them smile.

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My painting technique is simple. I use a lot of water and play in it with color. I love to blend the colors on the paper and watch it move. Glazing always surprises me. I use all MaimeriBlu paints and fairly cheap brushes. (I am very hard on brushes.)

  Talley

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I have been told that I paint very large. It does not seem large to me; it seems simplified with the colors exaggerated to make full use of contrast. In a landscape or seascape, I always start with the sky and work forward. I paint the sky very quickly and never go back into it. If I am painting an animal, I do the eyes and ears first because they are the hardest to get just right; if I ruin them, I have not wasted a lot of time on the painting. If I am painting flowers, I start with the background and then move around and around the flowers, adding and deepening the colors as I go, usually leaving the centers till last. I paint boldly, yet softly.

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I hope you enjoy looking through my website.  Feel free to contact me if you have questions at jean@paintingsbyjean.com .

Your friend,

Jean