JESSEL'S ARTISTIC PROCESS
I begin each painting by putting strokes of paint on canvas or paper
and then wait for the direction I hear from the voices in my head.
and then wait for the direction I hear from the voices in my head.
Transformation of the Heart     Napa End of the DayFantastic Florals           Books, Birds, and the Beauty Dolly Parton       Progression of Fall Fantasy       Progression of Asian Angel   Progression of Napa Quiet and Calm
   Progression of Window Women
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A STUDENT'S VIEW by Joy West You must be willing to let go of the picture you wanted to paint for the picture that wants to be painted, “ she had said in those early days of my taking watercolor classes from her. And now, six years later, Jessel Miller exemplifies those words, that philosophy, in spades. I have been privileged to be behind the scenes, to see and discuss the stages in allowing the “picture that wants to be painted “to fully come forth. I have witnessed the obliteration of specific aspects of a painting, sometimes painstakingly created over days, with the swipe of a palette knife, the flick of new paint, the arrival of a new blank spot to paint “what wants to be painted.“ More than ever, Jessel has allowed herself to be the vessel, the conveyor, the channel through which pictorial and sometimes written words and symbols, essences, windows into other perspectives and realms can be viewed. When at last she is finished, willing to put the paint brush down for the last time on the piece in front of her, the results may look deceptively simple, balanced in position and color, a pristine slice of what is or could be, of a cohesive message that breathes and lets the viewer breathe with it. Yet I am privy to wonderful incarnations, beautiful figures and forms worthy of their own moments, sacrificed in the drive and focus of surrendering to the purity and the authenticity not of the picture she thought she would paint, but of one that was asking to be painted. And we, the viewers, are richer for it. |
Monkey Moments
This was called Mercury in Paris and I decided to change it so I turned it horizontally and Monkeys appeared.
Faces of the Valley
Angel Face became Napa Valley Hispanic Heritage
The Spirits Are Speaking
Angel Face
You Light Up My Life
Hummingbird Heart
This painting was inspired by the story of my saving a hummingbird this week
https://www.jesselmiller.com/art-journal. I was so moved by the spirit of
this tiny creature that I had to express the joy I felt when this tiny
dormant creature came back to life and flew away. The response to this story
was so amazing. We are all in need of a positive, loving, uplifting
narrative right now.
Late Sunset Light
Switch Up
She began as a face looking up and transformed to a face looking down.
Young Buck
Deer Woman in the Moonlight
Noble One Horse Guardian
Noble One Horse Guardian
This spirit from ancient times is wrapped with the love of his horses and
the earth he honors and respects.
Chadwick Boseman
Kamala ~ Hope for the Future
I started this painting with something completely different in mind and the
paint moved me in a completely different direction.
The young woman's image I used was from a picture I took of a biracial 16
year old who modeled for me years ago.
Kamala came into my thoughts and I knew this was the path I had to follow. I
am not political...I am proud that someone has been chosen for this powerful
position who represents so many women in the world.
Hidden Mysteries
Jennifer Lopez Living Light
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I took a different journey with Dr. Martin Luther King. It started with the simple face and mostly white background and progressed to include a childhood picture of Martin. After filling in colors around and removing the child hood image I felt like it was too busy and went back to the white. When I began this image I had in mind there would be doves in the image and when I went back to the white the doves appeared.
All images in this progression are available as prints / products.
All images in this progression are available as prints / products.
Shadow Dancer
Bear and Wolf
The bear and the wolf are the two of the most powerful spirits in the
forest.
Wolf
The symbol of the wolf represents communication. It is considered a deity in
many cultures, and its imagery is often used to inspire loyalty, compassion,
and fierceness. It is a valuable symbol to many people.
Bear
The bear is a sacred animal of many meanings in Native American culture.
Most prevalently, the symbol of the bear is a sign of spiritual and physical
power and courage.
Buffalo Series
There's a Place for Us
Recent progression on floral piece There's a Place for Us
Stillness
A Place of Stillness
Interesting dramatic variation from stripes to a calm quiet moment of meditation
Shawl Dancer's Sister
There was such simple beauty in the start of this painting that I have this available in products just like it is as a abstract on Fine art America The palette knife work reminded me of Shawl Dancer Innocence. I found a face that fit the page perfectly.
Silhouette African
The frustrating day I had getting started on this piece turned into a magical painting with iridescent color and quality. I like all the stages of this piece.
Timeless Turtle
Postcards from Toucans in Paradise
Shawl Dancer Innocence
Shawl Dancers are from the American Indian Culture. Women dressed in brightly colored shawls doing beautiful movement I loved the colors in the palette knife past the first abstract image and felt the spirit of dance. Joy mentioned Shawl Dancers because she knows about this concept and it fit the colors perfectly.
Here are the 4 images of the really simple Shawl Dancer Innocence DONE I felt this piece just needed a tiny hint of a sweet soul and the magic of the wonderful bright colors completed the painting.
Here are the 4 images of the really simple Shawl Dancer Innocence DONE I felt this piece just needed a tiny hint of a sweet soul and the magic of the wonderful bright colors completed the painting.
Boy Buddha Brings Serenity
Peregrine Vision of the World
Simple, fast and clear.
Falcon power animal interpretations and symbolism revolves around "speed". The falcon is the fastest animal on Earth, that is the Peregrine Falcon. It has been clocked at 245 miles per hour when it goes into a dive. Thus the connotation with speed. It also means opportunity is near, and I am prepared.
Falcon power animal interpretations and symbolism revolves around "speed". The falcon is the fastest animal on Earth, that is the Peregrine Falcon. It has been clocked at 245 miles per hour when it goes into a dive. Thus the connotation with speed. It also means opportunity is near, and I am prepared.
Angel Enlightenment
This painting started with a face embedded in the middle of the painting. It hit me right away that this piece was about an angel and the world inside the body and spirit of this angel. I begin by turning the paper in all 4 directions and this one had a definite up and down!
Tibetan Tenderness / Tsewa
What is Tsewa? | What is Buddhist Radical Tenderness ... https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/buddhism/what-is-tsewa Such is the case with the Buddhist concept of tsewa, or radical tenderness. Tsewa is a Tibetan word that translates roughly to "tenderness" and is used to describe a common Buddhist ideal.
Eagle Nights / Buffalo Moon
Sometimes faces appear and then disappear as in life. Spirits come and go. The final pieces has the shape of a Buffalo in stars in the sky and oddly the Eagle which usually flies is on the earth the buffalo that roams the earth is in the air. A sign of the upside world of today.
Moonlight Becomes You
I tried something different with this image and it put me through a tailspin. I had images of animals and a face I love and instead of letting the painting lead me I led the painting. I put the faces in before the piece was formed and it took a real struggle to get to the final image. I really like it yet think it best to let the painting speak.
Japanese Dreams
Spring Rebirth
Majestic Majesty
Alaskan Penguin Pride
Parrot Princess of South America
Forever Free - Horse Dignity
Cocoon to Butterfly
Innocent Dreamers
Horse Whisperers
Crane Children
Land Light Easter
Easter and Passover Wish
New York Spirit Angel
This piece came from a tiny face I saw amidst the rubble and chaos. I find the correct direction when I see something that stirs me and I feel at ease going forward. This was just an eye and white paint and slowly he rose from the paper. This is the New York Angel and all my prayers are directed at the healing of the epicenter of the Pandemic of 2020. This Angel Heals the sick and comes to the spirits passing and holds their hand. This is the calm, quiet voice in the night when we face fear and death and sorrow. He is for me a child of God and leads us to a sanctuary of silent relaxation and Peace.
Incarnation of Buddha
Process painting of Incarnation of Buddha. I changed this painting and still miss the 2nd incarnation yet I kept changing this and finally the Buddha face appeared. This is the process of life birth living and passing to spirit in my mind
The Maiden, the Monk, and the Hawk
One World
Tali and Dinah
Please visit my blog for more on Tali and Dinah.
Below is a piece I started and once I got into it, I realized it was Tali and Dinah. "To" appeared amidst the clothing of the dress beside little Tali. Note to the side of the Buddha's Hand is the letter Chai which means "to life" in Hebrew.I did not paint this in.
It was a blot that accidentally became this word. This image speaks of the brilliance and wisdom this child had with the owl as her companion and her mother who holds the weight of the world in her hands. The Buddha protects them and the bird above Dinah gives her wings to create her inner world on the canvas.
Below is a piece I started and once I got into it, I realized it was Tali and Dinah. "To" appeared amidst the clothing of the dress beside little Tali. Note to the side of the Buddha's Hand is the letter Chai which means "to life" in Hebrew.I did not paint this in.
It was a blot that accidentally became this word. This image speaks of the brilliance and wisdom this child had with the owl as her companion and her mother who holds the weight of the world in her hands. The Buddha protects them and the bird above Dinah gives her wings to create her inner world on the canvas.
The Indigo Ladies of Hope
Every night I get messages as I fall asleep or wake. "Indigo child" came to me in the night and I heard the voice of children all speaking about how to save the world. This is the way I develop a painting from scratch. It begins with an abstract I do with a palette knife and then I take a day to let the images come to me. I find faces in the painting or I search around on the internet and an image will appear that resonates with me, These three children are of different ethnic backgrounds and cultures. I let the painting guide me and sometimes eliminate figures or faces as the work develops.
Indigo children, according to a New Age concept, are children who are believed to possess special, unusual, and sometimes supernatural traits or abilities.
Indigo children, according to a New Age concept, are children who are believed to possess special, unusual, and sometimes supernatural traits or abilities.
