Interview with Voyage MIA →

Daily Inspiration: Meet Rose Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rose Miller.

Hi Rose, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am genuinely interested in getting to know people, speaking about important issues that affect us all, getting along, and making meaningful connections through the medium of art. I do this by way of creating hand-painted (wearable) miniatures and teaching.

Since an early age, I watched and follow along with Bob Ross on WLRN. I drew on toilet paper while using the bathroom for 30 mins at a time. I had a multicultural upbringing, Latin Mom and American Dad living in a predominately African American neighborhood, Miami Gardens. I was fortunate that my parents found magnet art programs for me to attend. There were sacrifices of early wake-up times and taking metro buses and trains just to get to and from school. It was so worth it though. Those schools, NWSA and Norland Middle, shaped and guided me on my artistic journey. I pay homage to those who lead the way for me by following in their footsteps and becoming an Art teacher myself. The problem with being an educator is it takes a lot of energy. It always leaves me little gas to fuel my personal artistic practice.

My teaching career started at Hialeah high, I was only 22, with little experience, no planning period, and classes packed to the brim. I had no life. I was exhausted. I did that for two years. Then, I had a breakdown, and EAT PRAY LOVE moment, I call it. You know the one where you cry on the floor and talk to God or yourself?

After this epiphany of inner dialogue, it was decided I’d seek out a study abroad program. I had completed one in China years before while attending FIU and still living at home with my parents. This time around, I called a former Art school I had briefly attended, MICA in Baltimore, and asked about their painting study abroad in Italy. At that time, I swore I was going to meet the Italian man of my dreams. However, to my dismay, that program was fully booked. The disappointment weighed heavily on me because it didn’t compute with the visualization I had in my head along with the mountain of homemade pasta I was going to have at my Italian wedding.

I promptly ask, “what other program was the closest to the Italy one?”

“Greece,” she said.

“Greece?”

Sigh. I already live in a place with beaches and warm weather.

Alas, I listened to my soul’s yearning to go. I stayed open to the possibilities that were presented to me even though it wasn’t exactly how I imagined it. I signed up for Greece and still determined, I also booked a five-day solo trip to Italy after my completion of the program because… gelato. And you wouldn’t know it… of course, that trip changed my life!

I met the most amazing human being in a remote village in the mountains of Olymbos, Karpathos at our group art show. Get this, though, he wasn’t Italian, wasn’t Greek. He was Danish! I swear the fairest and sweetest person I had ever met. This was exotic to me.

After accepting two subsequent summer invitations to visit Denmark, I stayed on the second visit per request from my soon-to-be husband. Mind you, that summer I only packed a suitcase of Miami winter clothes because it was supposed to be a one-two month visit. I was unprepared for a Nordic country. I stayed on and off for three years, learned a bit of Danish and painted my days away. On that last year, I was living on the island of Bornholm. I made a visit to a bohemian store and purchased my first wooden ring. It was a deep warm brown rosewood with a flat surface to showcase the beautiful grain.

Then, on a slow day, as any artist would do with a blank surface, I painted on it. A tinsy tiny 13th-century fortress called Hammershus that I lived nearby. It was a mere 1” x ½” painting. This was my first miniature painting. I later posted the picture on Facebook and shortly after, I had a request from a local Bornholmer to purchase it. She had grown up there on the island. I obliged and was delighted. I created a piece so meaningful and transferable for someone I didn’t even know. From there, I went back to the store to purchase a few more rings and painted on those and sold them as well. Eventually, my supportive husband bought me 200 rosewood rings all the way from Bali. I have been painting on rings ever since then, 2011.

I returned to Miami in 2012, went back to teaching in elementary art, and started my life over. Through the years, my miniature rings evolved to include pendants and earrings as well as expanded to larger wooden panels. I also now draw on an iPad. More than that, I have continued to push the aspects of the wearable miniatures by including them in larger interactive pieces. The possibilities continue to be endless and exciting.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Let’s just say it has been slow, with some life detours. Like Miami rush hour on I-95 and merging into two lanes. No express lane, and don’t cut anyone off. I stay in my lane and keep going, slowly but steadily. As an artist, I just want to work on the creative process and sharing it with those whom it resonates with. I am not into the business side of things or making a quick buck, but we all need to make a living. It’s been difficult for me to make the complete jump from the security of my teaching job. Plus, I’m not into managing sales, a website, or social media, but through the years, I’ve learned a bit, and I try. I’m an artist. I’m curious and want to know how things work. I am the master of none except painting, but even then, there is still much to learn. I like to do it all myself and save money by doing so, but the truth is when I do, I take time away from the art-making. And so, it has come down to the realization of giving up either time or money to get it all done, and I’d rather have my precious time. I’ve had to learn to ask for help, and even harder for me, accept the help, to relinquish complete control, let go of judgment of inadequacy and outsource tasks when necessary.

The other factors of the long and wandering road are the things that make life interesting. In my case, it’s being a single mom to a 6-year-old… and no, I didn’t have her with my former Danish husband, but rather my ex Haitian partner once I returned to Miami, but that is a whole other story. I also have a teaching job that steadily pays my mortgage but takes most of my time and energy, and so I resent it. There, I said it. I do my daytime job with a lot of consideration (maybe too much), take care of my responsibilities (I have a great credit score) and then make it a point to carve out time for myself, however small, to create (which sometimes means sitting to think).

Now, I could sit here and complain about the little time and the speed of how things are going and that I’m not a famous artist (yet) living off my art, but I’m living. More than that, I know I have a choice, and it’s a privilege in all aspects. I know there are people out there that wish for a full-time job, a house to call their own, or maybe even a child. So, I’m grateful, but it doesn’t mean everything is always rosy. All those things come with sacrifices and I still have desires.

If I could share my one wish, it’d be to make the switch to being a full-time artist and part-time teacher. I’d love to make art in a collective studio space. Right now, I feel I’m in transition. I make my art in my spare time, when I’m not being mom, other major chores are taken care of and if I’m not roller skating. I don’t really stop though. There is always something to do.

Though I remember a time seven years ago when my dream was going to be a reality. I was going to share a studio space with another artist friend of mine. The day we met up to sign the lease. I sadly had to decline because I announced I needed to save money instead because I was having a baby.

Penny, my daughter, is my greatest ever-evolving masterpiece that I pour into daily. I love her more and more each day. I mean, wow, she is just a marvel. I cry just thinking of her. (literally crying). And so, I have the image of what I want, it is something to work toward, but I also count my blessings as it may end up better than I had initially imagined.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m best known for my hand-painted miniatures that can be worn as pendants or rings. Now, off the bat, that may sound specialized already because there aren’t many artists out there that have the patience, desire or eyesight to do miniatures. Yet, beyond that, I believe I am the only artist in the world that has miniatures that are housed in bigger works of art that can be taken from a painting and worn. Hence, we have an emergence of fine art and artisan craft in play.

Imagine you have an 18” x 18” painting that hangs on your wall. A small piece of it is either a ring or a pendant that you can pull out and literally wear as a piece of jewelry. This piece is typically critical or a focus point to the painting, thus it not only changes the meaning when it isn’t present within the piece, but the hope is that is brings awareness or conversation with those who encounter it.

The size of miniatures is significant as the piece inversely reflects the magnitude of the topic painted, often requiring the extra effort of a magnified glass for viewing. My work highlights subjects that are often neglected. Hence, the deeper essence of my art often calls the viewer for a close examination of not only the meaning but also one’s own social inclinations of concern or empathy.

As far as the subject matter, it varies. I consider myself a social realism artist who paints on the notion of cultural relativism. I portray individuals and issues dear to me, such as immigration, gentrification, pollution, etc. but also work with individual clients to create their personal vision.

My paintings aren’t always so serious or thought-provoking. Sometimes they are just plain silly or odd because laughter is so universal. That’s why I also love being present at shows. I get a kick out of viewer’s reactions when I encourage them to touch, open and wear a piece of the art. I’ve gotten incredible feedback of how brilliant and genius my work is and that they have never seen this concept before. It keeps me going, especially since I feel there is so much more I can do.

Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’d be down to connect with just about anyone because we are all only strangers until we aren’t. I for one, absolutely LOVE hearing life stories, especially people from other countries; in particular, I have a weakness for love stories. I’m interested in life lessons, relationship dynamics, and improving the quality of life for all. If anything I’ve said vibes with you, reach out to me to make a connection. Chances are, if you’ve taken the time to read my story all the way through, we have similar interests. Write me an email at rosemillerart@gmail.com or DM on Instagram @ rosemillerart. And if you see me in person, you simply have to stop to say hi and share a bit of you. I mean it! Isn’t that the whole premise of this interview!? To get to know each other at a deeper level.

What I’m really looking for now is my creative tribe, and maybe that is you. People to make art or conversations with, people to make meaningful art for or to teach a creative way of being. If you have an idea for an art project, space, wood scraps, wood cutting tools… I’m open to it all, especially in the summertime! That’s when the magic happens. 😉

As far as an example of direct artist-to-client collaboration, I have done a series of custom pieces in recent times. In particular, “mourning pieces” of those who have passed away, be it a husband, mother, cat or dog. I consider these very sacred and special. Delivering these pieces is always so heartfelt and rewarding because they mean so much for the recipient. So, if you have a desire for a custom art piece, it would bring me much joy to create that for you, especially those who are like myself, selectively social introverts.

I have also taken up a bit of digital portraiture, so I encourage you to check out my website rosemillerart.com for more information on that realm of media. Ultimately, the most substantial way to support me or any artist is simply to buy the art or share it. However, other easy and freeways I’d appreciate your support is liking and following me on Instagram. I’m not consistent, nor do I have all the bells and whistles of an influencer, but I’m real, and I stay connected there.

So I leave you with, how can we create deeper connections? Are there little pieces of ourselves we can share? Can we have the courage to be vulnerable and quite possibly rejected?

I just did. Now it’s your turn. “What part of you are you sharing today?” be a sure tag or hashtag me #rosemillerart

Pricing:

  • Custom rings or pendants starting at $95

  • Custom ring or pendant in hanging (solid color) plaque starts at $145

  • Digital Portraits – $60 & up

Contact Info: