Today we’d like to introduce you to Quinn Miller.
Hi Quinn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I remember one day after school in 8th grade my mother called me over to show me a chain e-mail she received. It was some of the earliest works by Erik Johansson, an artist who specializes in photo manipulation. I was entranced! How did someone make something so dream-like look so real? I always had an affinity for the arts, but that singular experience caused me to pick up my parents’ 2.0-megapixel Kodak camera and my photography career took off since.
I became that teenager who would take weird, surreal photography throughout high school. I constantly experimented with Adobe Photoshop to hone my skills as a surrealist. My passion continued as I entered college and received an AA in Graphic Design at South Florida State (Community at the time) College and my Bachelor in Art at Florida Gulf Coast University.
I am currently a High School teacher in the Palm Beach County district where I teach Digital Art at both entry and collegiate levels. Professionally I am pursuing my first ever solo exhibit as an artist, and am finishing my latest series /men/tal which brings awareness to men’s mental health.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
At one point in my career, I didn’t create a single piece of art for over a year. I thought it was normal; I was transitioning jobs, cities, everything! I simply didn’t have the time to create anything, right? Looking back though, it’s pretty evident that the lack of creativity was due to depression. I was at my lowest, and I couldn’t see the bottom of the ocean around me.
That’s what caused me to create my newest series. Besides that, even if I wanted to, I could never quit art. I dream of it, think of it, create it, teach it, and speak about it daily. It’s part of my very existence as a person. Smooth or rocky, I have faith that some type of art will be born out of me often.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve always been exploring life through surreal imagery. My goal is to make intangible things like feelings/thoughts/experiences into tangible scenes. My work could be described as dreamy, dark, or conceptual. I strive to create photographic scenes that look real as possible, even though they’re photo-manipulated. This means a lot of my work is done on camera, with little Photoshop in the final composition.
My current success is landing my first-ever solo show (coming up in April/May) at the Eissey Campus Theatre at Palm Beach State College. Another recent highlight is showcasing one of my pieces (Dreamer’s Disease) at the Palm Beach International Airport.
I think what sets me apart is an attempt to keep my models’ identities obscured, to give a sense of anonymity so that the viewer can implant themselves within the scenery. I feel that growing up in a small agricultural town (Clewiston) also developed my style to be unique and different from others. A final easter egg is that all of my models are either family or friends.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Oh man, so many to name! First of all, before I can mention anyone else, I have to thank my parents, Deborah and Charles Miller. When I called them in community college to inform them I switched my Criminal Justice major to Art, they’ve been nothing but supportive. They’ve been in my corner since day 1, and have hardly missed any milestone in my artistic career. I love them dearly.
Ray, Mrs. Furtral, and Ms. Doctrow were the instructors at SFCC that nourished my interest in the arts. Tricia Fay, Andy Owen, Anica Sturdivant, Mary Voytek, Michael Salmond, and Sarah Truman were vital in my growth as a student artist at FGCU, and I am thankful to them every day for the skills they taught me in all mediums.
But James Greco, my photography professor at FGCU, really is the one who kept my spark alive about Photography. He is the reason I was able to create my first series for my senior capstone, and he is still the reason I practice photography daily. I don’t think we have enough space to list every family member or friend who has supported me, I amazingly have a lot!
Recently I made a photo thanking them all, and there are over 50 names. There is one more person I have to thank, my fiancé. For motivating me, inspiring me, modeling for me, and always casting away the shadows of doubt that I experience in my artistic career. I love you so much!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.qmillerphotography.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/qmillerphotography
- Facebook: facebook.com/qmillerphotography
