You are being redirected to my new website! Please just hold tight a sec. 

New Site!

I am very excited to announce the launch of my new website! It took me longer than it should have, but it’s finished, and it’s exactly what I wanted. Not being what anyone would call tech-savvy, I had a steep learning curve, but it was actually really fun figuring all this stuff out. Here’s the link! https://www.jessicamillerpaintings.com/

I’m shutting down my blog, so for those of you who receive my posts via email, this will be the last one. But I’ll continue to post new paintings, along with whatever I have to say, on Instagram, as well as a few other platforms. Follow me!

https://www.instagram.com/jessica_miller_paintings/

https://www.facebook.com/JessicaMillerPaintings/

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/jessica-miller-4214

https://www.pinterest.com/JMpaintings/pins/

Half-Hour Portrait

Some kids sit down for their portrait, and I know right away that they are determined to do this sitting-still thing right.

Half-Hour Portrait

The most important things I learned from my two greatest teachers:

Hananiah Harari: You don’t have to follow the rules.

Andrew Lattimore: But you have to pay attention to value.

Also, isn't she a beauty?!

Half-Hour Portrait

This woman was delightful, as well as being a delight to paint.

Commissioned Portrait

Not much to say today, just happy to be painting. This is the final portrait of a beautiful family I painted earlier this year.

Commissioned Portrait

I also love a face with good angles.

Commissioned Portrait

I do love painting salt-and-pepper beards.

Thank you

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who is keeping me busy painting portraits during this time! I’m so grateful to be painting all of your beautiful faces and to be getting to know you a tiny bit in the process.

This portrait is up for auction at Daily Paintworks. All proceeds will be donated to Showing Up for Racial Justice.org.

Thinking about process

I’m working on portraits of suuuuch cute kids. You’ll see them eventually. I’ve spent all afternoon getting one of the “drawings” right. (I finally got it!) Sometimes that becomes tedious, but I’ve learned the hard way not to jump in with color until I can see the likeness in my lines. It may take a while, but it results in far less frustration down the line. The same goes for the half-hour portraits, only in a much more condensed time frame! You can see that some of those drawing lines remain, which I like.

Kitty Portrait

Such a sweet little Jin.

Marsh

Little landscape, trying to capture the early colors of spring as we finally begin to warm up!

Two notes to self. I already know these things. But apparently I have to keep learning them over and over:

1. That painting that you just want to be finished already? The one you can’t stand to look at any more? Leave it for a few days. When you come back to it, you’ll have more energy and will be able to see all kinds of stuff you couldn’t see before. Then you can finish it. And actually like looking at it.

2. When you are too lazy to put your painting shirt on over your clothes, you will end up with pink paint all over your favorite sweater.

Happy Earth Day!

Half-Hour Portrait

I like it when the light comes in just right and makes the eyes glow.

Baby Portrait

I painted this baby from a photo, never having met her. Later, I spotted her in her mother's arms at an event. My first thought was, "I know that face...but how?"

Portraits from Photos

Although my first choice is to paint from life, I do paint portraits from photos when that's not possible!

And oldie but goodie

I've been building a new website (which is finally coming together!) and have been going back through older portraits in the process. This one will always be one of my absolute favorites.

More like a 50-minute portrait...

Anyone recognize this beauty?

Half-Hour Portrait

With the help of a few creative and patient parents, I have worked out a way to paint two-and-a-half-year-olds (not a demographic known for their ability to sit still) from life. So bring on the little ones!

Commissioned Portrait

And the final portrait for Sweden. Aren't they a beautiful family? 

Commissioned Portrait

Second of the portraits that went to Sweden. How cute is she??

Commissioned Portrait

I was recently lucky enough to paint one of the most beautiful little families I've ever encountered. Here's the first portrait. These went all the way to Stockholm. 

Half-Hour Portrait

And the final sibling. SUCH a treat to paint this face.

Half-Hour Portrait

Glasses add another level of complexity, especially when I'm trying to finish within half an hour. But I love this portrait.

Half-Hour Portrait

Sibling number 3.

Half-Hour Portrait

Sibling number two. The light really was perfect.

Half-Hour Portrait

Here's the first of four siblings, painted in their home on a gorgeous day, in the most wonderful natural light.

Half-Hour Portrait

Probably the best painting lesson ever drilled into me: color is nothing if you don't get the value right.

Half-Hour Portrait

One of the things I love about having to paint fast: I sometimes see and paint things without processing them consciously, only to discover them after I've finished. Look at the diagonals in the shadows under his nose, and in the pink and green blocks of color on the bridge of his nose. Not exactly the same angle, but pretty close!

Art Show Bedford!

I'm thrilled to announce that I will be painting half-hour portraits at Art Show Bedford later this month. Show dates are Jan. 25-26 and Jan. 31-Feb. 2, with a Preview Party Friday, Jan. 24. The show is free; tickets to the party can be purchased here. This curated show features over 40 local and NYC artists, with proceeds donated to local charities. Contact me if you'd like to reserve a portrait sitting!