FANtasy

Today was a day of not feeling well.

I read my friend, Jim's blog and it seems he was not having the best day either. A good day for a white blanket, a couch and a good old movie that makes you cry. A few movies I like are Now Voyager, Love Affair, Wizard of Oz and Pay It Forward.

I found this old drawing that I did of a broken fan. I thought I would see what I could digitally transform this drawing of mine into.
At first it was just playing with the lines and the shades of gray. It is interesting to see the vitality of the lines now that they intertwine with each other.

But add some color and the piece turns to fantasy. Your mind will look at it and create it's own story. But whatever you see, feel, emote - it basically started with a broken fan. I am sure there is a metaphor in there somewhere.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Hold that thought

Tired, going to watch TV, play Jewel Quest and go to bed.

Brain Full

I had a long day. But have made it through 3 days now at work.

Getting stronger each day.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Day 2

I created this piece of digital art using the picture of my legs in the hospital bed (see previous blog entry). I thought it was appropraite that two months later I am recovered and getting back to my old self.

Good things are happening again, friends are planning visits, Mom & Dad are coming to visit, commissions & sales are increasing, and new people, new venues, and new opportunities are happening.

It's all about changing your perspective on things. Call it P.A.C.E. (Positive Attitudes Change Everything), Call it Doing Only What You Can Do, Call it whatever.... it's working. And so am I.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

BACK to WORK

Back to work in many ways - corporately and art wise. It was my first day back at my corporate job in two months. My surgery is healed well and now the projects are in que. I have to work on my promotional materials, website and gallery. I have to get my design ready for Via Colori this November, work on a Diffa Jacket Design before December 1st, I have two commissions that I need to finish in the next two months, I have shows and open studios coming up the next three months. All good news! Great news to be so busy so quickly. Now even with all this I need to begin thinking about shows next year and the year after that, gallery representation.

Did I mention it feels good!

Studio Work

Spent today in the studio working on a few paintings. This is the latest version of "Angel", you may recall it was orginally "Angel Wings", and it is being reworked.

This is the piece entitled "The Gall" and I muted it by staining (a J.F. technique).


Tomorrow, I start my corporate job again fulltime.

Well time to watch the Emmys and go to bed early.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

TRANS

Today was about listening to your inner voice. We have lots of them. When you listen to them they will transform you. They can transfix you. They can translate for you.

Each of these eight images evolved from the previous.

As I went along, I listening to the inner voice which guided me in the transitions.

At times it was like transcendental mediation.
In many ways each of these art are family related by common transferred to the child canvas that is was created from.
You can look at these pieces individually and each stand on there own, or you can transverse the transcribed abstracted emotions and transfer those emotions into your own psyche.
Like a transducer, you will transmit your translated emotions to your those that you transplant the feelings and ideas that these abstracts bring forth to your conscienciousness.

Transform yourself.

Transport yourself.

As we are only transient observers here for a short time.

Copyright 2007 William H. Miller All Rights Reserved

conflicted

Not sure what to say.
So best to say nothing.

Doctor's Orders

Well the Doctor and Surgeon have given the ok for me to return to my corporate job on Monday. I have been building my strength up by getting up early and staying awake all day (no more afternoon naps, darn). I worked some more on "wings" today.
I also took a picture of this painting that I have been trying to decide if it is done.

This is a painting that I struggled with becuase of the bright colors, so I took lessens from Jim and I added some stain. I used a ivory stain and a brown stain to mute the colors. I think it is now heading in the right direction.

More art and stories to come (along with lots of rain!)

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Predicting Stains

My artist friend, Jim Frederick loves and I usually disagree when it comes to full color. Jim usually stains and watermarks his paintigs and they then have a more muted feel to them.

This is my digital representation of what the work might look like if he were to stop working on it (which I am sure there are not enough layers for him yet) and stain the canvas. I admire Jim and his work and constantly grow my own artistic work by sharing and interacting with him.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller and Jim Frederick All Rights Reserved

Old Standbyes

In an effort to keep myself entertained I resorted to my old comforts. I got the new version of Jewel Quest II (jealous Jim & maFred?) and I watched the Wizard of Oz.
Both let me pass the time, and reflect.

Watching my favorite Reality Contests -- Big Brother 8 and The Biggest Loser.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Patient

Just a quick note: It was a good day, a not so good evening. Meet with the Surgeon again tomorrow. Patience. It is difficult at times especially when your body is not responding the way you would like. Not sure if that makes me a good patient or not. Off to have a warm bath, some relaxing music, and a good night's rest.

Happy Birthday Timmer.

Stretching My Wings

Today I ventured into the studio. I lasted the full 5 hours and the studio tour. The traffic was sparse but I met a few very nice individuals and that is all you ever need.

This is a picture of the Houston skyline I took today from near where the Winter Street Studio are.


This is a view of the studio and a painting that I did many years ago, actually 4 years to be exact. I figured it had lived it's life and it was time to breathe some new life into those wings.



So I began pouring paint on the two canvases. This was the beginning of the new wings. I will keep the progress posted and like my friend, Jim Frederick, you never know where this experience will take you -each layer representing different emotions.


This is the progress of the painting which I previously posted on.

Ending the evening watching "Legally Blond".

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Motherly Inspiration

This is a scan of a painting done by my mother. I have also enjoyed looking at this painting of water lilies.

This is my digital reinterpretation of the painting.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller and Dorothy E Miller All Rights Reserved

Diner

Today I took my attitude and said get out of the house and see what life has to offer today. So I went to a local diner for breakfast. I brought my camera along becuase you never know when either inspiration will strike or you'll be in the right place at the right time to capture a moment.

The rightness of this moment was that no one was sitting on these great swivel diner stools.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Gratitude

I watched the movie The Secret tonight before writing this blog and before heading to bed. I realize the blog previous to this was focused on what I do not want. So to change that let me start to say that I am grateful for healing from my surgery, I am grateful to be employed with a company that has great health and disability benefits, I am grateful to have great co-workers, friends, and family that have hung in there with me and provided me the help and spirit uplift when I need it most, I am grateful that my body tells me how it feels, and I am grateful that I have a creative mind that can visualize being healthy, to feeling well, and doing the multitude of things I want to achieve. It is this feeling that I want to have more of. It is this feeling of wholeness, of adrenaline, of creativeness, of empathy, and contribution that I look forward to growing each day stronger and in abundance. I can be what I see and feel myself being.

Gives a whole new meaning to sweet dreams.

Gurgles

Having a self pity moment, my stomach is gurgling hard, making noises that one should not normally. You would think I had not eaten in days and yet it has been only minutes. I took my new antibiotics and the rumbles started. I keep wondering why me, what am i supposed to learn from this.

Starting to Paint

This is the beginning layers of the digital painting that I did. I am working in acrylic at home on my dining room table. This makes good use of time since there is nothing on television and I am listening to music - it takes me away to another place where I am not dealing with cronic diaherrea. The doctor gave me some antibiotics to try this week, so cross your fingers this does the trick and I can get back to being my full force in the world. I entered two pieces in the "SNAP TO THE GRID" exhibit with LACDA in Los Angeles, the show runs from September 13 - October 4th.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved.

more art

Just another version... this will be another digital sketch for a painting.





Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

PH climbing the staircase

This is a piece I created today. In an effort to show how you can take something that is real and abstract it I added the steps to create this image. This image started from a photo I took of my friend, PH (Stephen) in a stairwell of the studio. Then after manipulation in canvas painter and photoshop playing with the colors and shapes.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Digitally Painting

This is a digital painting that I did. I think this is one that I may try to recreate on canvas. It will be interesting to see if I can achieve the same brightness and if I can blend the colors as well as I did here.


Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Luann Platter

I actually changed my pattern tonight and went out to eat tonight. I had dinner at Luby's and had the Luann Platter.

It felt good to get out. The food tasted good.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Who needs a canvas?

Seattle artist Phil Hanson painted 30 different people that influenced him one on top of another on his torso, then he trimmed a little off of the edges, took that strip and rolled it up.

Nightlight Cutouts

This is a piece that I created using several photos that I took of some nightlights in my home. I was reminded of Matisse's cutouts when I was working on this image.

Today I spent time working on updating my website, or at least tried to. I had some problem when I went to save it so I might have to work on it some more.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

more

finding solice

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Expanding

Creating -

Today I spent time working on what if this does not get any better than it is right now. I went to bed visualizing how good it would feel to be well. I woke and still things had not changed. So I tried to carry out things today. I returned movies, I paid rent, I visited the studio and met a new artist moving in. Then I got some lunch before going and picking up some new canvas for the new commissions. I am looking forward to trying to paint. I took a nap, called some friends and Mom & Dad. Then I learned some more about web design and then created some digital art. The piece above was created from scratch --- here is one of the first pieces as it began to develop.

It is interesting to know that from some random scribbles - you as the viewer can create your own story with the image.

A sea of balloons to a picture illustrating someone living with a virus in a background of viruses.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Changing Perspective

I had a day that was not one of the better of the past week. However after reading Jim's blog today and after something I picked up on my phone call with my Parents I realize - I can let this illness Define Me or I can Define Me. What if it never gets any better than this? Then I am going to have to find a way to cope. Because sitting and resting, watching TV game shows and doing crossword puzzles all day does not pay the bills. So looking at things - Positive Attitudes Change Everything - I need to find the right P.A.C.E. and get back to doing the things that are important to me. One of those things is art. Artisan's Collective has moved and reopened it's doors, I have a commission piece to do for Flavors From Afar, it is time to switch out work, we have 2nd Saturday's coming up, not to mention a slew of charitable events to donate pieces too - Artworks For Life, Artist's Against Aids, LifeWalk - Guys & Dolls, Art on The Avenue, Designing my DIFFA jacket and more to come.

So I will take time to rest but will also try to find the adrenaline needed to jump start myself in doing creative pursuits.

this is it?

Not much to write today.

seeing the light

this was a photo of the light rays coming in through the kitchen window and hitting the floor. It took me away and I had to grab my camera and capture it. In many ways this could be a metaphor for many things - taking time to see the beauty in ordinary things, finding the extraordinary in the everyday and being alert enough to know the difference, taking a breath, getting well takes time.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Early to bed

Early to rise, makes Billy all better.

Well I am heading to take a soothing bath and then fall into bed. If how this weekend was - the new meds must be working. I am hopeful that each day I will get a little more strength back and my old productive self will be back. It is hard when you are told to just rest, to just rest. I spent most of the weekend on the couch watching TV, doing puzzles or sleeping.

REST

The doctor told me to rest.

It reminded me of the painting I did based on the first time, Jim, Armando and I met to paint in Jim's living room. Jim took a nap and became the subject of my painting. It sold to someone (never found out whom) while it hung at Nodding Dog Coffee Company in Oakcliff.

Now the doctor tells me to rest. So I am going to bed now almost 9pm on a Friday night.

Dedicated to DLT

Tonight I was joined by fellow dorks and watched Big Brother, while texting with my friends about the show. I read my artist friends blogs and rejoiced in being able to share a little with their lives, and I hope they get the same back from reading mine. I am grateful for health benefits and doctors who take care of me even when I am recovering from surgery. My dad said I should write a book about my experience -- "The Diaherrea Diaries!" how's that for a title. Or how about "How to Play the Poopie Game and Win!" I'm still dealing with some digestive issues, but the pain is gone, the surgery is healing fine, and my positive spirit is coming back. I had the thought today when I was thinking about wanting to do art but not feeling well - the your health is the most important thing.

Creative Eyes

Just doing a little bit of self intraspection.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Creating Stamina

Just an abstract to show that I am still creating. Actually I am back to creating. I worked at my corporate job part of the day today and hope that will continue the rest of the week as I get my stamina back. Who knows if this goes well I may even make it back into the painting studio over the weekend.

So like Jim says " I can only do what I can do."

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

I scream, you scream!

Jim -

this entry is for you! Scream Away if that is what helps you get through it.

Doing what only you can do and screaming a little along the way!

Love from a fellow screamer.
Billy

Popsicle Toes

Taking a bath is such a nice luxury, especially when you do not feel well. The fun of having an old claw foot large bathtub to soak in.

Not much happening here. Mom has left to return to Myrtle Beach. I am trying desperately to get my digestive system back to some sort of normalcy.

Happy Birthday Shouts to Steve, PH, Tricia, Laura, and Ann!

Pop-art-sicles Sticks

Here are some photos of the many stained popsicles sticks that I have collected. Photos are the beginning of the art cycle (actually eating the popsicle is the first step). So while the rain poured down today in Houston and flooded many of the streets, I rested and finally took some pictures.
Each day I can feel getting better and stronger - little things like being able to roll on my side for a while without pain, having a hour go by without pain from indigestion, gas or diaherrea. But my spirit is coming back and it all looks brighter ahead. I would not have said that a few weeks ago when nothing was being determined.

I sent in my form to be a designer for the DIFFA jacket collection, very excited to be part of this next event to be held Feb 2007.


Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Surgery Art

Well I couldn't wait any longer and had to take some photos and create out of this experience.

The first one reminds me a a raft floating in a large ocean. Actually it is a manipulated photo of the area where they removed my gallbladder from and the raft is actually the tape that is holding my inner guts in .


This next piece is not what many of you might believe. No it is not an alerted scab or pictures of my diaherra on the edge of the tiolet bowl, but the light drifting through the blinds and captured on the wooden floor at 3am from a street light. You may remember my many nights of being in pain and walking around aimlessly. So to pass the time I took pictures of odd things I saw during that time.

I am still saving my popsicles sticks and have quite a collection of them now. I am sure at some point they will become the subject of an art creation. It feels good to get back to creating.

I know the drugs are working and not just because the doctor said so - because of the wild dreams I am beginning to have - I try and remember them --- this time my Mom & I leap from a plane and free fall into Lake Champlain where on the way down we were trying to spot and land near my Uncle Skip and Ina in their sailboat they were sailing down the St. Lawerence Seaway (we were very high up)... I remember asking my Mom if she had a good hold of her purse as well held hands and about to hit the water... then on to being in an upscale trendy boutique where Cindy Lauper was a salesperson and their was this ugly man with tattoos that ended up being a woman in costume... and a woman named Blair was fired becuase of a chocolate stain that got on one of the white leather jackets, and Drew Barrymore drifted into the shop as a Princess from another time and we left together.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

600

Well this is the 600th posting on my blog! Wow!

Had my Drs. visit today and all of my blood work shows my body is working well. Some items the doctors think will improve now that the gallbladder is gone. But he said my liver, kidneys are all working well and my cholestral was really good! 184 (and that's without yogurt Michael!). He said that considering the surgery was only 4 days ago I was doing extremely well recouping and expected that next week I will be able to sleep on my side and have a wider range of motion in the adominal area.

I must say that it has been a wild painful ride and one that I do not wish on any of you. But the ride was made tolerable by all the friends and family that checked in on me, sent me cards, made me laugh (even though it hurt), took me for rides to and from the doctors, fixed me food, picked up items at the store, sent me text, emails and phone calls. It does take a village and I have one of the best villages.

Now it is time to try and get better each day so I can get back to my corporate job, get back in the studio and create some paintings (maybe I should do some on this experience! hmmm). Catch up with people's birthdays that I have missed along the way (August is such a party month!)

Here's to a much better September and end of August.

Another day...-

It's Monday.

It's Very Very Hot.

I am still sore, but feel as though I am getting better each day.

I see my primary Doctor tomorrow and the surgeon hopefully on Friday.

In the meanwhile, lots of rest and healing.

I was told I haven't blogged in a long time

The surgery was Friday, all went well, the Dr told my Mom that is was Red, infected, inflammed floppy and gross and it needed to come out. My gallbladder that is not something else you may be thinking.

Been getting better each day but the pain with the cuts on the abdomin is quite painful, everything you do hurts. Still enjoying my sugar free popsicles, and Mom says hi!

Random Thoughts

I had my colonoscopy today - thought of posting the pictures but decided you could live with out that pleasure. A few polups were removed.

Surgery is scheduled for Friday.

Mom comes to visit on Wednesday.

An artist friend, Jerome Ortiz, passed away yesterday.

My brother Mark, passed away a year ago.

Friends and co-workers have been very supportive during all of this. I am blessed.

Others are having health scares of their own - Armando, Karen, Jim, Burt's Mom -- thinking of positive thoughts of wellness for all of us.

Art - I think about it a lot --- popsicle sticks are piling up just waiting be become something new.

Andrew visited this past weekend, Patrick & Ellie have been with me the last two days. Comforting to have friends and pets that can give you some extra loving when you need it.

A warm bath is a nice treat.

Commission and Still Life

Another satisfied customer came by today to pick up here commissioned protraits of her "babies". This funny coming from a woman who will be induced to have her son on Monday.


Andrew is visiting this weekend and helping me as I get through another weekend. I created this stilllife or shrine in my livingroom bookcase. It contains a postcard that Laura sent me of Mona Lisa from the Louvre in Paris.

Copyright 2007 William H Miller All Rights Reserved

Losing a part

Today I got a diagnoses today that my gallbladder is not functioning properly. Although I continue to have the symptoms it is good to know that next week Friday, a surgeon will remove my gallbladder.