artist statement

Scott Miller sometimes wishes he had a mind blowing and thought provoking statement, one that reflected a lifetime of pondering and artistic exploration. But he doesn't. I don't. I think the artist in me has been buried beneath the rubble of logic and uncertainty. If art had a formula I would know it, I would run tests and feed it different arguments. If I wasn't fearful of putting myself out there, I would put myself out there. Really out there. So maybe the camera has been my way towards the artist within. It's technical enough to where I can feel a certain comfort in holding it, knowing it. And when I look through the view finder I think in a way I can look through a tunnel to a quiet place that makes simple sense to me. In that way I feel like an explorer or astronaut, going around looking through my lens, trying to understand if what I come across says anything to me. Sometimes it is very clear, I see how I need it to be right away. Other times I only sense there is a picture there and have to come back over and over. I guess that is where I am at now: The Secret Picture = it's right there. It could be that dumpster, or that lone tree, or that empty parking lot. Whether or not I can see it, and get it, is never a sure thing. Or maybe it's right in front of me but, because I can't see it in myself, it isn't there. That's as deep as I can go right now.

These ideas are what has led me from the scenic colorful landscapes at first, to black and white or muted urban scenes, which is where I want to hang out now. I don't know all that is drawing me in - the challenge of finding something that isn't obvious; feeling that I am surrounded wherever I go by compositions I can't quite see; maybe I just like places that are empty at night, or textures of old walls, or creepy vibes. Whatever and wherever, I feel like I am in the right place at the right time with the Central Arts Gallery. Walking around at dusk in an industrial area of vacant buildings is where I'd like to be, and my new artist friends at the gallery can totally relate.

As far as my background, I spent 15 years in the software industry so fully immersed that I didn't take a serious picture until I had decompressed for another 4 years. (And yes that includes a lifetime of completely ordinary vacation snapshots with no clue of what was in my hands.) 5 years ago during a trip to Canada I was suddenly surprised to find it, right there, all along. Now I am trying to make a living of this, while my wife teaches and our new baby goes goo.

Scott Miller
http://scottmillerphotos.com
scott@scottmillerphotos.com