Randall Miller, Emily in Red, Oil, 8 x 10 in, 2015
Artwork Statement:
I'm an artist who is deeply invested in painting and drawing the human figure. I'm fascinated by the complexity of the body, our endless capacity for expression, and the narratives that can be created through our physicality.
With that interest comes an understanding that when I draw or paint the figure, I am creating an image of a person who is subject to the gaze of others, including myself. What happens if the subject does not want to be viewed? Emily is a friend of mine. She graciously agreed to model for a series of images in which we agreed that she would obscure her face with her body. Emily in Red is a painting that captures the tension between what we see and what we are allowed to see, looking and the refusal to be subjected to the gaze of others.
Artist Bio:
Randall Miller is an artist and educator whose work explores the shapes and expression of the human body. In 2009 he graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute with a Masters of Fine Arts, specializing in painting and drawing. He teaches 2D Design, Figure Drawing, and Art Appreciation at Truman College and Harold Washington College. He also teaches painting and drawing courses at the Hyde Park Art Center. He lives and works in Chicago.