creative highlight
MEMBER from our community
MAGGIE MILLER
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Hello I'm Maggie an artist, textile and surface designer, an occasional soap maker, published author who gets excited about vibrant color, textures, patterns and florals.
Most importantly though, my ambitions aside, I am a child of God and worship at the Tara Church of Christ in Georgia. I’ am also a wife to a husband who always keeps me laughing and mom to a very talented artistic daughter.
I delight in the process of creating from what I see in the natural world, a butterfly, landscapes to beautiful skies and everything in between. It is my way of interacting with all things and the creator. So many things go unnoticed, but when we sit and pause for a spell there they are and I'm compelled to paint them unto canvas. Being a painter was not in my original career goals but how great are God's plans for us. I have always been a creative soul from the beginning. As a child I spent hours with my many coloring books, crayons, and colored pencils. My favorite memory is of coloring in those books with my mom. My creativity was sparked when I received a clay casting kit one Christmas, followed by a candy making machine and my beloved organ. From crayons to music I began nourishing my creative tendencies that would one day flourish into much more.
My creativity took off to another level in 2000 during a difficult time in my life. It was a season which was very scary, painful, and filled with many failures, disappointment, shattered dreams, and illness. Though there were some great times as well, this part of my life was filled with some bittersweet memories. The paintbrushes, canvases and paint became my saving grace, and my own form of art therapy to help heal from a very difficult time in my life. There was a lot of healing from emotional and physical pain that took place. I discovered art and how to create it in a new form.
Instagram: @maggiemillerdesigns
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaggieMillerllc/
Website: www.maggiemillerdesigns.com
Most importantly though, my ambitions aside, I am a child of God and worship at the Tara Church of Christ in Georgia. I’ am also a wife to a husband who always keeps me laughing and mom to a very talented artistic daughter.
I delight in the process of creating from what I see in the natural world, a butterfly, landscapes to beautiful skies and everything in between. It is my way of interacting with all things and the creator. So many things go unnoticed, but when we sit and pause for a spell there they are and I'm compelled to paint them unto canvas. Being a painter was not in my original career goals but how great are God's plans for us. I have always been a creative soul from the beginning. As a child I spent hours with my many coloring books, crayons, and colored pencils. My favorite memory is of coloring in those books with my mom. My creativity was sparked when I received a clay casting kit one Christmas, followed by a candy making machine and my beloved organ. From crayons to music I began nourishing my creative tendencies that would one day flourish into much more.
My creativity took off to another level in 2000 during a difficult time in my life. It was a season which was very scary, painful, and filled with many failures, disappointment, shattered dreams, and illness. Though there were some great times as well, this part of my life was filled with some bittersweet memories. The paintbrushes, canvases and paint became my saving grace, and my own form of art therapy to help heal from a very difficult time in my life. There was a lot of healing from emotional and physical pain that took place. I discovered art and how to create it in a new form.
Instagram: @maggiemillerdesigns
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaggieMillerllc/
Website: www.maggiemillerdesigns.com
Can you tell us about your introduction to art? How did you know you had a creative gift?
I have always been a creative soul from the beginning. As a child I spent hours with my many coloring books, crayons, and colored pencils. My favorite memory is of coloring in those books with my mom. My creativity was sparked when I received a clay casting kit one Christmas, followed by a candy making machine and my beloved organ. From crayons to music, I began nourishing my creative tendencies that would one day flourish into much more
My creativity took off to another level in 2000 during a difficult time in my life. It was a season which was very scary, painful, and filled with many failures, disappointment, shattered dreams, and illness. Though there were some great times as well, this part of my life was filled with some bittersweet memories. The paintbrushes, canvases and paint became my saving grace, and my own form of art therapy to help heal from a very difficult time. There was a lot of healing from emotional and physical pain that took place and I discovered art and how to create it in a new form.
I have always been a creative soul from the beginning. As a child I spent hours with my many coloring books, crayons, and colored pencils. My favorite memory is of coloring in those books with my mom. My creativity was sparked when I received a clay casting kit one Christmas, followed by a candy making machine and my beloved organ. From crayons to music, I began nourishing my creative tendencies that would one day flourish into much more
My creativity took off to another level in 2000 during a difficult time in my life. It was a season which was very scary, painful, and filled with many failures, disappointment, shattered dreams, and illness. Though there were some great times as well, this part of my life was filled with some bittersweet memories. The paintbrushes, canvases and paint became my saving grace, and my own form of art therapy to help heal from a very difficult time. There was a lot of healing from emotional and physical pain that took place and I discovered art and how to create it in a new form.
Did you ever think you'd be selling your art, or teaching art?
No, at first creating was all part of my healing journey. I share my work with family and friends and requests starting to come in. I painted mostly murals early on, but my health continued to decline with major back problems, which ended that part of my painting journey. My journey since then has changed and grown to selling original artwork, and products with my artwork on them and I published a book sharing my health crisis and how I overcame it through painting and journaling titled “The Seasons of our lives” an interactive devotional journey of self-discovery and healing through the creativity with painting prompts.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don't find themselves in a creative background or field, whether family/friends/strangers?
The challenge has been making people understand that I am making a living as a living artist. When asked what I do, I let people know that I’m a multimedia artist working in different disciplines, and I give them examples of what I do from original art works to showing them what art looks like on textiles and surface designs.
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
My favorite ways are through the painting process, I also love to sew and making things for my family and loved ones. Cooking is another way I love to be creative. I’m also teaching myself how to play the ukulele.
Are others in your family creative too?
Yes, my daughter is a SCAD graduate, she is a writer, bookmaker and paper maker, we usually collaborate. I love using the paper she makes out of cotton and jeans for my small paper works, painted with gouache, acrylics and watercolor.
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I have been dealing with a brain pressure issue the past two years this week, I have struggled to live life and be creative. I only have small pockets of time of being pain free when I can enjoy simple moments. I can’t laugh, cry, bend lift anything without suffering excruciating brain pressure pain. God during this season in my creative and personal life is to learn to take things a day a time, not to plan to far ahead, but to enjoy being in his presence and to trust in him with all the details of my life.
Is it costly to be a creative/artist?
Yes, it can be, especially if you are an artist who has inventory. I paint on many different surfaces and usually have inventory so there is always a risk when something does not sell like you hoped it would and seeing that inventory stack up. I’m always in search of sales and best prices for surfaces I use to paint on. I also sell through online print on demand sites which require no overhead and that also helps with costs.
Some practical steps you'd encourage other creatives to take to become productive and learn business skills etc.?
This would depend on how one learns and retains information, as most creatives, I’m very visual, I have dyslexia so reading and writing can be very difficult for me, so I rely on visual learning and by hearing. I would say to explore all avenues of learning to acquire the skills sets you need to grow. Also setting up a space where you can create and time to create so you are able to grow your creative muscle.
How do you juggle your business/family/social time?
When I’m feeling at my best health wise, I spend several hours creating, or learning a new art method. My family knows to give me my space and time in my art studio. I normally take breaks throughout the day. I also try to plan out my studio days because I have so many art projects going all at once, I tend to get overwhelmed so creating a project to do list helps me to stay focused and being able to enjoy the studio session.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
I would say to spend a lot of time with God, include him in every aspect of your creative journey and to be patient. Sometimes things can happen in life that puts a pause in one’s creative journey as in my case with my health crises, during this time I have spent a great deal of time in scripture and asking God for his guidance during this difficult journey. Always count your blessings, jot down your gratitude’s and look back at them so you can see how far God has brought you in your creative journey. And above all to stay inspired during your creative process, there is always so much to learn, to get better at and always an opportunity to see where God has lead you to.
No, at first creating was all part of my healing journey. I share my work with family and friends and requests starting to come in. I painted mostly murals early on, but my health continued to decline with major back problems, which ended that part of my painting journey. My journey since then has changed and grown to selling original artwork, and products with my artwork on them and I published a book sharing my health crisis and how I overcame it through painting and journaling titled “The Seasons of our lives” an interactive devotional journey of self-discovery and healing through the creativity with painting prompts.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don't find themselves in a creative background or field, whether family/friends/strangers?
The challenge has been making people understand that I am making a living as a living artist. When asked what I do, I let people know that I’m a multimedia artist working in different disciplines, and I give them examples of what I do from original art works to showing them what art looks like on textiles and surface designs.
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
My favorite ways are through the painting process, I also love to sew and making things for my family and loved ones. Cooking is another way I love to be creative. I’m also teaching myself how to play the ukulele.
Are others in your family creative too?
Yes, my daughter is a SCAD graduate, she is a writer, bookmaker and paper maker, we usually collaborate. I love using the paper she makes out of cotton and jeans for my small paper works, painted with gouache, acrylics and watercolor.
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I have been dealing with a brain pressure issue the past two years this week, I have struggled to live life and be creative. I only have small pockets of time of being pain free when I can enjoy simple moments. I can’t laugh, cry, bend lift anything without suffering excruciating brain pressure pain. God during this season in my creative and personal life is to learn to take things a day a time, not to plan to far ahead, but to enjoy being in his presence and to trust in him with all the details of my life.
Is it costly to be a creative/artist?
Yes, it can be, especially if you are an artist who has inventory. I paint on many different surfaces and usually have inventory so there is always a risk when something does not sell like you hoped it would and seeing that inventory stack up. I’m always in search of sales and best prices for surfaces I use to paint on. I also sell through online print on demand sites which require no overhead and that also helps with costs.
Some practical steps you'd encourage other creatives to take to become productive and learn business skills etc.?
This would depend on how one learns and retains information, as most creatives, I’m very visual, I have dyslexia so reading and writing can be very difficult for me, so I rely on visual learning and by hearing. I would say to explore all avenues of learning to acquire the skills sets you need to grow. Also setting up a space where you can create and time to create so you are able to grow your creative muscle.
How do you juggle your business/family/social time?
When I’m feeling at my best health wise, I spend several hours creating, or learning a new art method. My family knows to give me my space and time in my art studio. I normally take breaks throughout the day. I also try to plan out my studio days because I have so many art projects going all at once, I tend to get overwhelmed so creating a project to do list helps me to stay focused and being able to enjoy the studio session.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
I would say to spend a lot of time with God, include him in every aspect of your creative journey and to be patient. Sometimes things can happen in life that puts a pause in one’s creative journey as in my case with my health crises, during this time I have spent a great deal of time in scripture and asking God for his guidance during this difficult journey. Always count your blessings, jot down your gratitude’s and look back at them so you can see how far God has brought you in your creative journey. And above all to stay inspired during your creative process, there is always so much to learn, to get better at and always an opportunity to see where God has lead you to.