whimblog

2011-09-10T11:11:00.001-05:00

This is one of my teachers and inspirational mentors. Ms. Lorrie Maurino, my high school art teacher at Williamsville North High School from 1974-1978. She has taught many students about art, life, acceptance, justice, free speech, humanity, and how to be the best artist that you can be... and that it's hard work. She is currently fighting a variety of illnesses, so please add her to your thoughts, your prayers, your pray circles or whatever connection to the universe you use to assist her in her healing.

2011-09-08T20:24:00.002-05:00

I have a new laptop and it's a MAC ! MacBook Pro - making the jump from the PC to Mac.... let the transformation begin.

A new website

2011-06-01T21:40:00.002-05:00

This is an image of the home page of my new website. I have been working with a great developer in redoing my web presence. If you would like her name and contact information let me know. It now has multiple galleries, a section for video (to come), a link to this blog (so guess I will need to blog more again), links, social media, ability to sign up for my newsletter, a quick reference of where I am showing, and more. Please take a look and let me know what you think.

www.whimdesigns.com

Billy

Counter Creative

2011-01-23T18:59:00.002-06:00

Day 23 - iPhone art - this piece is titled "counter Creative" and is inspired by my lunch today with friend, Carmen.

NOTE: The reason I posted it here after so my missing months of posting on my blog, is for some reason Facebook, stopped posting my photos and thoughts coming from my iPhone. So now I am trying to post it here and link it.

Now that's counter intuitive!

Drawing is fun-da-mental

2010-07-14T21:09:00.002-05:00

It is amazing what the eye can see, how the mind can interpret that vision and coordinate it with your muscles and hand to be able to recreate a likeness of another human being using line, shape, form, shadow, contrast, light.

It is alway a pleasure to work on someone portrait.

Thanks Jonah for sitting for two hours.

Another nap?

2010-07-05T16:31:00.005-05:00

It was a long weekend...

It was filled with hours of napping, hours of creating art, hours of eating, hours of watching movies, and hours on the computer.

I am in the process of trying to get rid of things I have... it's hard... my fear is to end up like those horders on reality television.

Speaking of reality television - Big Brother 12 (my summer fun!) starts Thursday, and I have been enjoying Bravo's Work of Art -search for the next greatest artist!

The photo is of the lights of the cars on my street right before the fireworks... a little burry because the lens clouded up due to the difference in temperatures in my house versus outside.

Blogger Angel

2010-06-13T15:04:00.003-05:00

For those of you who visit here... just to check... a post for you.

I guess it was the blogging angel that came to me and said... create me... post me... blog about me.

The universe connects the spirit in wonderous ways.

iphone art

2009-09-27T21:53:00.002-05:00

I created this image which I call "iphoneEYE" - it is more like my inner artistic eye, I created this image and the other posted on Facebook, but the original was this black & white line drawing from Brushes on my iphone.

I love line drawings like this, you can see so many things, you can see a stain glassed piece, a figure, a pumpkin in the garden.

Jim's Challenge

2009-09-20T11:10:00.004-05:00

My friend Jim Frederick, posted this photo of a hat on the ground and challenged me to make art from it. Below are two of my tributes to this. To honor, I created this Sailboat. I am sure his father would love it.

I also created this image, abstract but still containing the hat. In a way it is the mind's eye and what a computer allows an artist to create.

ARt aNd cOPy

2009-09-17T21:49:00.003-05:00

I created this image from an image that I created on my iphone while I awaited for the movie "Art and Copy" to be shown at the River Oaks Theatre in Houston, TX. The movie was presented by the AAF-Houston .

The movie was amazing. It was perfectly timed and reminded what I do as an artist. communicate. Words, Images are my tools.

To see what the image was before I modified it, visit my facebook profile.

FREEDOM

2009-09-14T22:57:00.002-05:00

I created this image of the US Flag based on an image I took off the television showing the masses of people at the inauguration of President Obama. Lately voices of dissent against the President have become very organized, very vocal. While these voices have found media channels to become loud and angry... they are hardly worth all the attention the media is giving them, I guess that is important, since they are in the minority. Where are the polls that ask Americans what they think of rude outbursts, where are the coverage of uncovering lies of the bankers, the insurance companies, where is the outrage? In most cases they are voices of passion, not facts. The voices are loud and crying out for an answer, and the answer they want of course is not the answer of wanting dialog, discussion, or even debate but just wanting it their way. Many of these voices are ignorant. Surprising ignorant. Followers of radical radio catalysts, that make money off these listeners and followers. They say lies (even after proven wrong) and spread them and hold them up as fact. If this is the price of FREEDOM, then so be it. But we must fight ignorance in the media with factual reports and now allow facts and reality to become distorted. That becomes a hard thing to do. We have the separation of Church & State for that very reason. 200 years ago --- Church was what the Internet is today --- a place where people gathered, they listened, they were galvanized, they acted. In a way maybe we should have a separation of NEWS (as long as it is fact based and unbiased) and MEDIA, PROPAGANDA, AND SOAP BOXING, GRAND STANDING. Where is Walter Cronkite when you need him.

?

2009-09-11T22:51:00.003-05:00

Sitting home

My computer

The TV

Creating digital images

from painted memories

I wonder what my mind

is trying to say.

Shark Stone

2009-09-09T20:09:00.004-05:00

I was presented with this photo taken by Michael W. Kennedy. He sent it to his wife and said - "this reminds me of a "Billy" picture, maybe we should send it to him and see what he can do with it." Well that struck me as a challenge. I created this image from that image and of course to honor not only their marriage and companionship, but their love of sharks! I used the image they provided to create this underwater image.

Artists become art

2009-09-06T23:18:00.003-05:00

I created this work of art using the photo of my friend, Jim and I at ArtCon2008.

Vomiting Art - Like a Moth to a Flame

2009-08-24T22:13:00.005-05:00

I created this image which I title "Like a Moth to a Flame"; it was based on a challenge of my artist friend, Jim Frederick based on this picture he took of some vomit that was in the parking lot of a 7-11 store that he and another artist, Laura Kerr (aka PaintSlap). Well here you go --- something beautiful from something vile and disgusting.

Creating Art From Trash

2009-08-18T23:20:00.002-05:00

This was the new digital image that I created from a photo that I took at an event and the trash that was in the garbage bin. Beauty can be found anywhere.

Copyright 2009 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Happy 17th Anniversary to Me.

2009-08-17T22:04:00.001-05:00

Too much to go into, but 17 years of living!

Planet Abstract

2009-08-15T22:25:00.002-05:00

This image was created from the photo taken of Planet Hollywood in England. Today was a day of relaxing, thinking watching television, playing on the computer, napping, eating and just being inside my own head. My friends are celebrating art shows, birthdays, hearing music, texting and facebooking.

Copyright 2009 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

View from a bus

2009-08-13T20:20:00.003-05:00

This is a creative abstract that I created...

it reminds me of light, viewing the ground from a plane, Miro, and more

In case your wondering this was the original photo that I started with... a view from a bus.

Madame iX - Ladies in Waiting

2009-08-11T21:01:00.006-05:00

This was initially created with my fingertip on my iphone using the app called brushes, it is my reproduction on Madame X by John Sargent. After I exported the image from my phone to my computer I worked on further manipulations of the pixels.

I like the simplicity that this image has, but still retains the elegance.

This image to me exudes romance, the red and the texture also give it a drawn and watercolor look.

The diffusion of light on the original image makes it closer to the original by Sargent with the really white skin, or at least as I remember.

Finally a version from my blue period.

The beauty of computers is that you can experiment and create alternative views quickly. I wonder what the masters what have done with the technology if it were available to them.

Project Thinking

2009-08-09T19:36:00.003-05:00

This is an image taken on my recent trip to London. Today was a relaxing day... laundry relaxes me. I napped. I ate well. I organized and cleaned. I read. I blogged. Thinking of what my next project should be.

Copyright 2009 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Kicked in the pants by Julie Powell

2009-08-07T21:49:00.004-05:00

Well as you can see I have not posted in quite a while... sucked into this whole facebook, twitter, social media, I forget my own voice and stopped blogging. But today I had a unique experience... have you ever gone and seen a movie with a friend who is in a different city? or a different country? Well today after work, I went and saw the movie Julie & Julia at 6pm CST in Houston TX, my friend, Carmen went and saw the movie in Toronto at 7pm EST in Toronto, Ontario, Canada - we texted before the show and then called each other after the show. It was a great show for us hungry for knowledge and wanting to share our voice and experience with others. In a way Julie Powell, inspired me to get back to my blog - I must be disappointing my readers (or at least my two followers)... so now it is back... what project should I attempt and have you my readers around for the ride. So this wake up call made me realize that art and writing do mark time. It is hard to believe that this is the 3 year anniversary of my brother's death. I miss him and know that his spirit was with me during my recent trip to England, Ireland, Scotland, and France. Now, concentrate on my art, my writing and sharing more blog posts. Carmen - enjoy your knitting!

working...

2009-02-26T07:10:00.002-06:00

I may not have been blogging recently, but that doesn't mean that I have not been working either in the studio painting, at home, on the job, or just taking photographs. Here are a few of the photo from the last few weeks.

Helga's in the kitchen

2009-02-04T23:09:00.002-06:00

Found this polaroid and LMAO.... good times with Helga!

Happy Birthday Mark

2009-02-02T00:17:00.002-06:00

It would have been my brother's Mark's 45th Birthday today, February 2nd, 2009 - been thinking alot about him this weekend, how much he would have enjoyed the super bowl, bitching about the cold Buffalo snowy weather. I found this picture and it is a favorite of mine of the two of us. Hope you're having one great day where ever you are, love Billy

Fort Lauderdale

2009-01-26T22:53:00.003-06:00

This is the Atlantic Ocean at night!
Great to smell the saltwater, feel the ocean breeze, the cool water and sand on my bare feet.

This is the great Florida Orange Juice cake I had for dessert

Walking alog I came across this random piece of cardboard and leave perfectly positioned as if it was "Street Art" or a piece of "Found Art" saying look at me!

Something made me think of Jim!

This made me think of Steve for his nature photos, and Armando for his Birds on a Wire paintings.

United Hope

2009-01-20T17:06:00.002-06:00

I created this image of the flag, I call it AMERICANS FLAG becuase I used a picture I captured on the television of the millions on the mall watching the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack H. Obama.

It is a great day to be an American with hope for change and a better world.

Copyright Jan 20, 2009 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

It's Just A Jump to the Left...

2009-01-11T02:17:00.002-06:00

Tonight I relived a part of my youth. I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show in Houston at the River Oaks Theatre at Midnight with my "virgin" friend, Karen. It was as good as always, and the heckles have certainly changed over the last 20 years since I last saw it at the 8th Street Playhouse in NYC. Some of the antics were the same, some were lost in time and no longer relevant, newer more clever shout outs made it - but all in all watching the young of today dressed in transexual attire (much more than when I was 20) it warms the heart to know that this lives on, the performance during the show, and the audience part tisss a ..... SAY IT! ...... Pation! is still fun once you get into it. I left laughing as gobs and gobs of toilet paper was stuck to the bottom of my shoes!

GOT MILK? GOT PRIDE?

2009-01-08T22:24:00.003-06:00

Tonight I saw the movie "MILK" - all I can say is that it moved me deeply. Lots of memories flooded my brain. You see I was gay closeted teenager. What I remember was seeing images of gays protesting, reading that it was ok to be gay, that Anita Bryant thought I was a prevert (I knew I was not), and all this I guess gave me the courage to be myself, to be gay, to be out -- it took time, first my friends (many are still good friends today), then my family, then my co-workers. I remember my first Gay Pride in NYC. I will search for some photos from way back then and post them.

My name is William H. Miller and I am here to recruit you.

It is ok to be gay. It is ok to be straight. It is ok to be yourself.

Thank you Harvey Milk for opening the door.

Thank you for Daniel Nicoletta for your photos of the events.

Thank you to the wonderful couple I met after the movie, we met for a reason. I hope to see you again soon.

Thank you to my best friends who I talked to before and after the movie and who are reading this post now. Yes, if you are reading this you are my friend and in my life for a reason.

Thank you to my parents, my biological and chosen family, and my co-workers who love me just the way I am.

Becoming a digitalist

2009-01-06T18:49:00.002-06:00

Evolution

http://billy.snaplog.com/

How did I get into being a digitalist .... I was painting in my small den that I shared and I was traveling so painting was hard to do often. Then I got a digital camera and I had this idea to document the abstracts that I saw each day during my journeys. I started taking pictures. This lead me to blogging - with the purpose of showing some of those pictures and adding words to clarify my thinking. This year, I came across another type of blog - snaplog - that allows me to post the photos from my iphone directly to the net and with the GPS location of where the photo was taken.

I am taking time to get back to the basics of my creating spirit. Watching an inspiration DVD called "Downtown 81" which includes legendary graffiti artist Jean Michel Basquiet. So great to see so many street scenes from NYC.

"if you want to see the world just have to walk a couple of blocks, if you want to see someone, just think about hard about them and you'll run into them"

You must be an artist if ...

2009-01-05T22:03:00.002-06:00

your clothes have as much paint on them as the floor and the canvas you paint.

I found this site when I was looking for things.... Art Jokes.
http://painting.about.com/od/inspiration/a/ArtJokes.htm

I am sure you can leave a comment of your own filling in the blank...

HNY

2009-01-01T00:25:00.001-06:00

The small but first post of 2009!

Happy New Year, everyone!

The Force of Creativity

2008-12-30T10:17:00.001-06:00

The Foot Muse

2008-12-29T23:51:00.003-06:00

Inspiration comes from the most unlikely places. I created a digital art piece once before from a photo of a friend's new shoes. In my holiday card this year I wished that Santa brought them a new pair... and this photo of shoes arrived in my email box... and as I listened to my ipod inspiration and my computer brain took over the shapes of this photo to create the new piece. A great way to work at the end of 2008. Now I need to sleep and dream of new digital art pieces for 2009.

Time Flies

2008-12-27T20:04:00.002-06:00

Can not believe that my time in Myrtle Beach has come to an end. In the early morning hours, I will head to the airport for my flight to Houston via Atlanta. If all goes well and uneventful I will be in Htown by noon. Today we saw "Seven Pounds", framed and hung numerous pieces of art. The cowboy boot by Jim Frederick, the artwork from my mom, my Dad's hole in one certificate, some of my digital prints, and some of the art collected in their cruises around the world. The week was filled with great home cooked meals of roasted pork loin and turkey... stuffing, potatoes, green beans, beets, and top it off with Christmas cookies and pecan pie and ice cream. Well signing off for now.

Thankful

2008-12-24T18:22:00.003-06:00

"Some days we forget, to look around us, some days we can't see, the joy that surrounds us. So caught up inside ourselves, we take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for what we know can be. And on this day we hope for what we still can't see. it's up to us to be the change, and even though we all can still do more, there's so much to be thankful for."

This was part of a song that was sung at the community theatre Holiday production in Conway, SC. It was really good and the words are very inspiring. Prayers to Karen for safe passage to Houston on her drive this week. Happy Birthday to Seth. Merry Christmas to all my friends and family spread across the globe.

The Holidays in Myrtle Beach, SC

2008-12-21T13:04:00.002-06:00

The Miller's have a routine - breakfast at the Omega Pancake house. All the staff know Mom & Dad, and they know their usual orders. I was welcomed as the boy from Texas.

The snowglobe is from the flowers sent to Mom & Dad to start the Holiday Season. Now I have time to rest, and do the usual Christmas routine - Addressing my holiday cards, and update my address book. I got news also, that my friend, Karen, has gotten an assignment in Houston and will be my neighbor for a number of months. I am very excited, and she is moving here on the same day I did two years ago - must be good Karma!

What?! SNOW in Houston!

2008-12-10T19:24:00.002-06:00

It was a very rarely and fleeting sight that we had snow flurries in Houston tonight! December 10th, 2008 around 6pm we have had a few hours of snow. Enough to catch on your tongue! Once it hits the street or the car it melts. But it was a nice reminder of the season!

New Homes for New Art

2008-12-10T19:14:00.003-06:00

Attached are photos of artwork that now has new homes with individuals who live in Houston and Dallas.

The Triptych to the left is now in a great home in Dallas, owned by David H.

This is now owned by RQ in oakcliff part of Dallas.

Chris & Lisa are enjoying their commissioned piece with some wine, a pet barking at some watermelon in the Woodlands, TX.

This great couple owns the piece called Motel Memory in their Houston home.

And the symbolic Red Dot is now in a new home as well in Houston.

Good Memories

2008-12-10T19:06:00.002-06:00

This is an amazing photo that I took while I was away for Thanksgiving in Florida. It was one of those moments. To be able to capture such a smal creature in such great detail.

This is a picture of how I used the Painted Umbrella that I got from jim when I moved to Houston. It was used for a backdrop of the food table for the Art Chatter group I hosted at my home. (It was also good at hiding boxes of junk!)

This is my tree this year, small and practical, and blue glowing lights and blue balls!

Finally the evening at Art Conspiracy -- Auction Auction Auction --- so much fun!

A co-worker and his wife, and their friend joined Armando and his cousins and I for the evening and they really got into the art buying. Here I captured one such high bid! Who knew they were artists themselves. Lots of cool people! Lots of great art.

ART CONSPIRACY CREATION

2008-12-10T18:50:00.003-06:00

On December 5th, it was another yearm the fourth actually for Art Conspiracy. Artist's gathered among their supplies and heaters in a semi open warehouse that was the staging area for the creation as well as the event.

Two Artist Knomes, not sure they are woodsmen, helped with the supplies, we never did catch their names. They were supposed to be welcome gifts for someone who shall no longer be named. But he had different plans and decided Dallas wasn't the right place for him.

Pictures of my P.A.C.E. art buddy, Jim looking great - not sure which I like better the piece of art or his art shirt! (To think someone tried to throw that away! Never!! That would be treason)

Jim is standing between his "I need a hand" painting and my Artist Soul painting (digital art on canvas with acrylic embellishments).

The afternoon ended with of all things a flat tire, and I am not talking about the beer. One Auto Rescue came and left because he could not find the crank to get the spare out. Leave that to handy lesbians - one came and quickly helped me. After two other trucks never showed, a nice fellow named Jack, (wearing a cool Billy Goat sweated hood shirt) changed the tire for me and I was on my way after three long hours in the cold. Nice friends, Al & Robb took Jim home so he could get warmed up and not wait for this to clear up. I topped the evening off with getting warm, comfort food from Cyndy's New York Deli!

Some great links of other artists that documented the event

http://lifeoutsidethebubble.com/2008/12/08/awesomeartcon-4/

http://sarahjanesemrad.blogspot.com/2008/12/sitting-in-my-all-good-cafe-rempte.html

http://artconspiracy.org/

and I was the proud owner of David Hopkins' created piece - here is a blog about his creation of the piece

http://antiherocomics.com/2008/12/120708-art-conspiracy.html

Abstract Madonna

2008-11-17T21:10:00.002-06:00

I created this image from images from taken at the Madonna concert from my camera.

In a way it is very dream like, you see images but you do not. I like the layers of this piece and how it is your own imagination that fills in the gaps and your mind trys to make sense of this abstract image.

Madonna

2008-11-17T20:22:00.002-06:00

Lots of images from the master of crafting images. The concert was a feast for the senses. I can only hope that my art communicates as much as those who experience it.

Soul Signals

2008-11-15T23:43:00.002-06:00

It was an interesting day. Listening to my own thoughts. Cleaning my house. This new computer image was created from an image that I painted.

Copyright 2008 William H. Miller All Rights Reserved

Explain Why?

2008-11-11T23:09:00.001-06:00

YES WE DID !

2008-11-04T22:43:00.004-06:00

I am proud to be an American.

It should be noted that Harris County, the county that I live in, voted and won for Obama even though Texas did not. Proud to be part of Texas that is changing with the times.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-30T22:27:00.000-05:00

Getting back to normal

2008-10-26T20:10:00.002-05:00

Today was a day to just relax, be a couch potato, be a geek. I napped more than I should have. I watched tv. I even fixed the wireless router.

I have been without my wireless router for over a month since Hurricane Ike.

Now I can sit in the livingroom, with the TV on Desperate Housewives, blogging on my laptop.

Dream to Me

2008-10-25T22:57:00.002-05:00

This is how I feel when I got home from the show tonight

4th Annual Winter Street Studios Artist Exhibition

2008-10-25T08:41:00.002-05:00

Drop into Winter Street Studios and see my open studio and studios of 68 other artists. Work on display in the gallery as well as in each studio and the halls of the building. Live music, wine, beer, valet parking and good visual fun.

WOW !! DV-TV

2008-10-13T15:02:00.001-05:00

http://www.dallasvoice.com/dvtv_track.php?s=336

My First Canadian Painting

2008-09-29T17:33:00.003-05:00

After spending the weekend with Carmen one of the things we did was discuss art. I shared my story about how I had created some art painting using found objects of crushed cans. She mentioned that she had seen an artist create art from crushed cigarette packs that littered some of the Toronto streets. As we spent time this weekend walking around in the drizzle and rain, I spied a discarded cigarette package lying in the street among the fallen leaves. After drying it out, a quick trip to Michaels for some art supplies, I created my first painting called "Toronto Smokes" in Canada. I used elements to remind Carmen of our walks, leaves, the cigarette pack, ripped newspaper that contains a graphic of the Skylon Tower, graphic elements to represent the city, steps, and time. The painting is small, 8"x10"- but it was created in my hotel room with limited suppplies. It is only a matter of time and the Canadian Seven invite me to become the first American to join them. (Wishful Thinking!)

Oh Canada Fall

2008-09-29T17:28:00.006-05:00

Spent this weekend driving around with friend, Carmen in Toronto and as you can see Fall is upon the Canadian residents here.

Cooking with Mike

2008-09-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

Up North

2008-09-21T16:40:00.002-05:00

I flew to Buffalo, NY this weekend, so I can drive to Toronto and work for two weeks. I escaped Houston without any power only to learn in the Cleveland airport from my landlord that the power came on Saturday.

This is a photo from the plane of Lake Chautauqua! Good Times and interesting shape.

This is a photo of downtown Buffalo as we approach.

Michael entertained me and we drove around Buffalo doing things he normally does on the weekend. We ate at Bettys, a restaurant within walking distance from his home. His friend, Gretchen joined us and for a long while we had the restaurant to ourselves. Great conversation, food, wine and dessert.

After a nice sleep with the windows open...we went to Ambrosia, a greek restaurant for breakfast. I took this picture of Michael and edited it in photoshop.

Now a nice dinner, homemade by Mike, watching some television and relaxing.

Copyright 2008 William H. Miller All Rights Reserved

Another Day

2008-09-18T17:03:00.003-05:00

Still no power
Another day at the office
Not much to write about
but more emails from friends across the country.

Getting back to Normal ?

2008-09-17T14:44:00.003-05:00

Today, a little bit of regular routine. Wake up early, shower, and off to work. But this time you need to stop at every intersection (no traffic lights), dodge down debris, carry a flashlight since the parking garage has no power. About 30% of the people in my office made it to work - we all shared the different stories of who had power, who did not, who had ice, who needed ice, and more... can not say that things are back to normal, but working today in airconditioning, with internet access and phone is much better than being at home without. Still may be some time before people have basics covered (gas, water, ice, electricity, cable, internet). But working does somehow keep you distracted... that is until you have to head home.

The Kindness of Strangers - Tuesday

2008-09-16T09:10:00.002-05:00

Just a short post as the Internet Cafe that became a haven is now like a factory for all those with computers, cellphones, blackberrys and need a charge and some communication with the outside world. They are limiting users to an hour, which is plenty of time, but certainly not for some who planned on camping out in the cool airconditioning.

Yesterday, I met my neighbors behind me - I am still with out power, but they never lost power. Strange how the electric grid works. So after a knock on their door, an introduction, they agreed to let me run an extension cord from their front door to my back door. The cord runs into my kitchen and has my refrigerator hooked up. Back in the business of keeping items cool and making ice. Can not believe how a simple electrical applicance can be so important here.

I was able to return some kindness to them by giving their car battery a jump. Strange how you can live next to people and not know them until something like this happens. Now I have welcome faces on both sides of me and across the street.

The artshow that we planned for Team Tough as Jim has been cancelled until October (we are hopeful that Jim will be back in Dallas then).

Take care - Billy

More Ike -Monday

2008-09-15T13:41:00.003-05:00

Here are some more pictures from yesterdays walk. No power yet. Coffee House has power and internet put is closing early due to lack of food and coffee. Food from freezer has been thrown out. Making soup from Frozen vegetables on the gas stove. No work today, but able to communicate some via internet.

Lots of perspective.

Lots Of Trees down all downtown
Blinds from building make nature's abstract sculpture.
The Chase Building next door to friend Jennifer's apartment building.

Night gameswith no power.

Love you all for you words of support.

Pink House After IKE

2008-09-14T14:10:00.002-05:00

Just thought you would like to see how the Pink House and I survived Hurricane Ike, this was shot Saturday morning around 11am. It is now Sunday, approx. 2pm- I am seeking cool air, iced coffee and charging cell phone battery, uploading information to the blog and checking the internet.... Catalina Coffee a haven in the storm aftermath.

IKE at NIGHT Commentary

2008-09-14T13:57:00.002-05:00

I posted this on You Tube and on my blog - not sure what it will sound like, but inside my house after the power went out and I was in complete darkness except for my hurricane lantern/radio and flashlight. Laying away from windows on a blowup mattress (my actual bed is located by two large windows) in the middle of the house. It was quite terrifying to just hear the sounds... the transformers exploding in the distance, the things hitting the roof, the windows, the creaking, the knocks, the rain, and that wind -howling, whistling, sounding like a train --- all in the dark. I can honestly say I had my first panic attack laying there. So I hope it captures it.

IKE at NIGHT

2008-09-14T13:56:00.001-05:00

I HEART CATALINA COFFEE

2008-09-14T13:20:00.004-05:00

The beauty is that some places can be a haven in the storm. That haven is the local coffee shop with Internet access that has power. The rest of the neighborhood is without power, but the cafe is doing a briskbusiness and I am taking this chance to update the blog for my family and friends who read this.

As you can see this is the pink house (compare to the previous post) - can you see the tree that fell on the house next door. Not many branches and leaves left - the car is ok, just a bent antenna, and it has become a haven for airconditioning and charging the cell phone.

This is a picture of the Buffalo Buyou that if you look closely you can see the lights that light up the waling path...all underwater... they are normally 10-12 feet high -so the water is really high!

This is Washington Street & Sawyer-as you can see the line of cars as far as you can see, the police stopping traffic.... they are in line to go to the local Target which is open....but they are only letting a few cars at a time,

becuase their is a building that collapsed on Sawyer.

This is a few of the skyline....not sure if you can tell but many of the skyscrapers have windows out.

So here it is 24hours since IKE roared through. Now we are awaiting power, awaiting water, ---when the simple things in life are put in perspective. Thank you to all the friends and family that have made calls to me or my parents. As long as the Catalina Coffee Shop is open - I have place to visit get some java and some electricity and some internet!

XXoo Billy

I survived Ike

2008-09-13T14:00:00.001-05:00

X marks the spot

2008-09-12T23:45:00.003-05:00

It's almost midnight, the winds are heavy around 40-50mph... all my windows are taped up with duc tape

The scariest thing is the sound. The noise of the wind is so ominus. The lights are flickering, so this might mean that power is going to go out soon.

Wonder what I will wake up to this morning, when the eye should be over us? That is of course if I can get any sleep.

Just Before Dark

2008-09-12T19:48:00.001-05:00

Cascade

2008-09-12T18:43:00.002-05:00

While I have time and the computer has power and internet connection I am creating some digital images. This is one that reminds me of water cascading over rocks... appropraite given the water that will be flowing during IKE.

The curfew has started, the winds are starting but are small, no rain yet... it's going to be a long nite.

Copyright 2008 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Something to past the time

2008-09-12T17:33:00.001-05:00

The Pink House awaits IKE

2008-09-12T16:43:00.003-05:00

This is the house today at 5pm
This is the house this morning at 8am.

Sounds like they are planning a 7pm curfew, and the streets here are very clear. Expecting to lose power at some point, and planning what to do if a window should break in the middle of the night. I have my camera battery charged and ready. Strange to still be hours away and not a drop of rain... already 45minutes away people have lost their homes to the flooding and tidal surge.

IKE ART

2008-09-12T06:29:00.002-05:00

I created some IKE art from the weather.com satellite photo of the hurricane that is preparing to hit Houston.

Will be interesting to see what other photos and art get created this week. Just hope one of those items isn't a handmade sign for me to hold while I am on the roof of the house!

Hunker Down Now

2008-09-11T22:09:00.003-05:00

Looks like I am staying in Houston to ride out Hurricane IKE, where I live is High Ground as was not given status as a place to evacuate, not mandatory or even advisory evacuation. I have my water, batteries, peanutbutter, games and will be very happy as long as I have power & internet. I removed all the items on the front porch. Lots of caring friends and family have called to check in and offer me places to go. I hope to share more pictures as the weekend goes bye and pray that nothing too drastic happens on Lubbock Street at the Pink House. You can click the picture to see it larger. The good thing is that I do not live in an area that floods. Dealing with the wind might be the problem.

Studio Workout

2008-09-07T22:40:00.002-05:00

I spent the weekend in the studio working. I finished the commission piece, that you see here. It is called "watermelon catalyst".
I also worked on sveral pieces in the studio. My friend, Armando came for a surprise visit and we painted together in the studio. Orginally I thought this was the 2nd Saturday, but it was not... that's next weekend.
The next three pieces are works in progress.... it was great to make so much progress on art.

Upcoming fall art shows at Winter Street, Art on the Avenue, Art Conspiracy, The Box Show all require new work. Art Chatter starts up again and I am looking forward to meeting with my art friends.

Sometime when you work, you keep pushing, photography allows me to understand and look back at the different versions, thus improving my internal thought process.

Working on this helped me de-stress from my corporate job. I often think about what it would be like to win the lottery - and I would just work on my art.

Copyright 2008 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Keeping Touch

2008-09-02T23:15:00.003-05:00

I was reunited with an artist friend from Dallas - Jesus Chairez - this is his blog. http://jesuschairez.blogspot.com/ .

We were brought together again becuase of a note I sent out requesting donations for Team Tough As Jim - Click Here if you would like to learn more and donate... this is in honor of artist & friend, Jim Frederick.
https://www.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=265911&lis=1&kntae265911=024555FF3CD44BE988908AA73129C902&supId=0&team=2773939&cj=Y

From the ashes

2008-08-31T20:38:00.005-05:00

These are photographs were taken the night of August 7th around Midnight. I know this because I Twittered about it.

The lights, the wet streets because of rain. Something was happening down the street.

I forgot about being awoke by the firetrucks, so it was a few days later that I was driving down the street and noticed that this big old house had burned down.

Makes you realize how life can change in an instant.

This piece of computer digital collage is from these images. Fire can be a combustive creative catalyst.

Copyright 2008 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

relax

2008-08-29T22:23:00.002-05:00

Hurricane Gustav is coming, but first Warren is coming to Houston this weekend. Been very busy with my exciting corporate job. It's time to relax this weekend.

The Vision

2008-08-25T20:47:00.002-05:00

Tonight I watched the DNC on PBS and am reminded of the reasons why I am a Democrat.

Listening to the narrative of the speakers I am moved, I am empowered, and I can exercise that with my vote - which will be for Barack Obama.

What is vision, but seeing hope and new frontiers, and being able to point others toward that vision, to make each person feel that they can contribute to the success of that vision.

This artwork symbolizes vision. What do you see?

Copyright 2008 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Official Computer Geek

2008-08-24T22:02:00.004-05:00

I spent the weekend being a geek. It started with assisting a fellow artist with her website. Then a drive to Fry's Electronics to get a power supply for my desktop that died on Thursday. After a brief visit with some other artists at G3 Gallery at Winter Street Studio for a returning friend, John; I headed home to take apart my computer and hopefully put it back together --- and I did! and the computer worked! Guess that makes it official - I am a geek! Sunday was spent relaxing with watching the Olympics, napping, reading, and creating on the computer. I created this image which reminds me of a forest of birch trees. Can not believe that it is already time for kids to go back to school. I have volunteered with a few other artists to teach 7th grade art class at a school here in Houston. It is sad that art is one of the classes that gets cut. Maybe Obama will address education? He had some tough decisions ahead, and I hope that restoring the pride in education will be one of them.

Waterfall

2008-08-20T22:36:00.002-05:00

Tonight I worked on this digital piece, using photoshop, a photograph of a painting I did, a drawing, and a digital art piece. I think it captures alot of what I think I am experimenting with now...layers, painting of lines that create movement that underlies the image, a graphic element (circles, rectangles), and then the thought --- what is a waterfall?

NYC

2008-08-19T21:42:00.002-05:00

I just got an email from an old pal, who like me has had trouble keeping her blog up to date. Some many things to do, and then you have this blog. Her blog reminded me of when I used to live in NYC. Lived on the upper east side on 90th Street between 2nd & 3rd avenue in a 5 story walkup (on the 5th floor) across from Rupert Towers. She has a section now of the stars that she has seen in public --- I saw Diana Ross in Central Park (twice, the first time in the rain), I met Andy Warhol in Union Square, saw Liza Minnelli at the Red Parrot, met Morgan Fairchild on the dance floor of Studio 54 on Valentines Day (she floated down from a heart shaped swing), had Divine sign my underwear at a club called The Tunnel after singing her new hit called "Trash", seen Kevin Bacon filming a movie, was an accidental extra for a movie called Those Girls in their Summer Dresses on fifth avenue (forgot who was in the movie), am sure I could think of others but those are the most memorable star sightings. NEW YORK .... if you can make it there you can make it anywhere!

Took a Big Brother Test - I am KAYSAR

2008-08-18T21:06:00.000-05:00

Which Big Brother Houseguest Are You?

More on 24. Created by BuddyTV

EDOUARD

2008-08-05T11:36:00.001-05:00

Working from home today as Tropical Storm Edouard hits Houston. Rain and Wind, but so far no worries.

This just in...

2008-08-04T23:15:00.002-05:00

Tropical Storm, Tropical Surge, or Hurricane Edouard will hit Houston tomorrow... should make for an interesting blog, if I have power and do not loose internet access. My first big storm.... got my water, peanutbutter, flashlights & batteries and worst case scenario --- I can read a good book or I can draw or I can take photos.

Working in the Studio

2008-08-03T18:59:00.002-05:00

This is how the commission piece is progressing. When I walked into the studio today this is the way I last left it, three weeks ago.
I started immediately adding some more layers of color. ...and then I had to wait for it to dry.

So while the item dried I worked on a few other pieces that I have been working on. This piece is called "ocean view" It reminds me of being in a room looking out through slit between the wall and a curtain seeing out to the ocean.

This piece is called "Celebration", while it still needs to be varnished, I think it is finished.

This is where I left off with the commission piece when I left the studio today.

Copyright 2008 William H. Miller All Rights Reserved

It's that time again

2008-07-11T23:15:00.001-05:00

Watch CBS Videos Online

Happy Birthday & Anniversary

2008-07-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I created this piece for my Dad, who is celebrating a birthday. This is for my dad who likes clowns, and at one time collected them from his favorite, clown!

I had fun working on this and see application of a possible transfer to actual canvas.

and Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad... wow... 49 years!!

Copyright 2008 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Life & Risk

2008-07-10T22:53:00.001-05:00

Digitally Altered

2008-07-08T22:38:00.002-05:00

I took the digital doodle and played with it in photoshop....and this is what came out. I think I prefer the original more simple drawing.

Digital Doodling

2008-07-08T22:14:00.003-05:00

My latest work with my digital recording pen.

You can also see it drawn live

by clicking here !

Fireworks

2008-07-07T07:25:00.000-05:00

Houston & Friends

2008-07-06T21:29:00.003-05:00

Houston was visited by my Dallas Friends Tim, Stephen (aka PH), Steve and Rob. We spent the evening visiting the art studio at Winter Street.
Where we were treated to a wonderful sunset from the roof top.
Which reflected on the buildings of the Houston skyline.

I got to get in with the group as we waited for darkness to fall so we could watch the fireworks. You can see what we saw that evening - by clicking the video below.

4th of July Fireworks

2008-07-06T21:19:00.003-05:00

Appears my video was too large and long for You Tube... I will need to figure out how to reduce the length and show you the highlights... something new to learn on the video and web front....

But in case you missed last years... click this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buedl2X9sII

Train From Winter Street Studios

2008-07-06T20:33:00.002-05:00

30 Years

2008-06-28T21:17:00.002-05:00

I created this abstract from the cover design that I did for a brochure that will be used for my 30th High School Reunion. This summer my class of 1978 of Williamsville North High School will celebrate along with the class of 1978 of Willamsville East High School. Our two classes entered Williamsville North in the ninth grade, only to be split in two when they build the new "east" high school.

DIGITALIST, ARTIST, JOURNALIST

2008-06-27T22:15:00.005-05:00

I created my first digital portrait today. This is using a new electronic gadget. I am such a geek. It records the drawing as well as the sound. Thus this is a drawing that also captures the voice, story and spirit of my artist friend, Robert Derr, who agreed to be my first model.

Click This Link, and then click the play arrow under the drawing box to see the drawing and hear the story.
http://www.livescribe.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/LDApp.woa/wa/MLSOverviewPage?sid=HmDtkmmzFkbz
Copyright 2008 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Studio Night

2008-06-24T23:21:00.002-05:00

I spend tonight relaxing from a stressful busy corporate day by letting my anxieties go and I just had fun creating. I worked on several new pieces. Some new landscapes that I will send to a store in Dallas that is successful selling those. Some new abstracts that will be for work that I would like to exhibit in the fall. New ideas are gelling. I met my new neighbor, Christine, nice person who moved here from Austin.

Six Degrees

2008-06-23T22:23:00.004-05:00

Me & My Friend, Michael
PBS (the station Michael & I watched tonight)
Emile Norman (the program that was on PBS)
Big Sur (the place Emile Norman lives)
Henry Miller (a neighbor of Emile in Big Sur)
To Paint Is To Love Again (a book Henry wrote, and I bought)

It is interesting to connect the dots of how the spirits of connection can happen. What six degrees have you experienced lately?

Water Melon Scares Dog

2008-06-21T23:23:00.003-05:00

It was a great Saturday. A breakfast at Katz Deli with friend, shopping at Aaron Brothers penny sale, a drive to the woodlands, dinner with new friends and collectors of my art. While visiting them their dog, a cute black cocker spaniel started barking wildly.... at a watermelon on the kitchen counter. Funny, and it took some time to get the dog calmed down.

Lillian

2008-06-20T21:53:00.003-05:00

Old paint on canvas, as it ages sometimes, becomes transparent and when that happens it is possible in some pictures to see the original lines, a tree will show through a women's dress, a child makes way for a dog, a boat is no longer on an open sea, that is called Pentimento, because the painter repented, changed his mind.

What was there for me once
What is there for me now

Dad's Day

2008-06-14T23:36:00.002-05:00

I painted in the studio today

I created on the computer

I took a photo

and combined everything...

A check arrived in the mail, another sold painting ! Yeah, we like that.

Happy Fathers Day!

Interesting people

2008-06-11T22:26:00.002-05:00

I have had an interesting few evenings with artist friends who I have randomly, and quite spontaneously ran into. Each person has their own stories. I like stories. I remember Robert speaking about the comfort of sitting in this chair. "Wow, this is a deep chair" he said. I created this drawing from memory of him sitting in the chair and we swapped stories. Another artist friend, Alex, dropped by yesterday evening. Alex is deaf... but he sure can talk alot, anything but silent. My evening have gotten me away from the lonely routine I have found myself retreating. Re-energizing my creative thought processes, re-energizing my social skills and making plans with other artists and friends.