FEATURED ARTIST: Millian Glenn
Tell me a little about yourself…
My name is Millian Glenn, and I am from and reside in Dallas,Tx. I paint using oils and acrylics and I lean towards figurative work, though I tackle other subject matters as well. My journey began with drawing and progressed to painting in high-school, and though not on a formal college level, all of the art classes that I had over the years really shaped and molded my evolution as an artist today.
How’d you get started…
I had my first separate art class at 8yrs. old in public school, something that we unfortunately see a lot less of today. It was geared mostly towards pencil drawing, with splashes of color here and there; so this was the genesis of my journey in art.
Where can we check out and buy your work?
My work can be seen and purchased at: http://millianglenn.com/
My Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/millian7art?ref=pr_shop_more
And the words behind the art can be seen at: http://millianart.blogspot.com/
What do you think sets you apart from other artists?
Well, I think being an individual and having my own unique perspective automatically sets me apart, but there’s one thing I experience that seems unique to me that I’m sure many other artists and creators have and do experience on a regular basis, and that’s the “fortunate accident”. I’ll be going along on a painting, and all of a sudden make a stroke on the canvas or surface that I didn’t intend to make, and instead of “correcting” it, that stroke many times will correct me. Because most of my work is so symbolic, it often leads me in a direction where what I wanted to convey comes across so much better than what I would have conveyed had my strokes been perfect.
What do you get out of being an artist?
The fact that I get to take a thought or deep seeded emotion and convey that in visual form is a really awesome thing. Many times what you create can feel like a baby you’ve birthed, making it pretty hard to part with. I actually speak about this in my art journal on my site, connected to a painting I did called, “Child of Promise”.
What inspires you to create the art you do? Where do you get your inspiration?
Many things inspire me: from what I’m feeling, to what I’ve experienced, to a simple thought about the nature that surrounds me. As an artist I feel that I’m a conduit, and not the source of the images that I express, and I believe that every artist is at his or her most creative when they allow God to flow through them those ideas that give life to the imagination.
What’s the weirdest or most astonishing and controversial work of art that you have ever created and how so or why?
The most unique, and maybe controversial piece that I’ve done so far is a painting found on my site called, “The Tree of Good & Evil”. The reason being that the subject in the painting is partially nude, though covered with a fig leaf. It has, by far, more symbols than any of my other paintings, prompting me to write an art journal post on my site with the same title, describing them.
What do others seem to love about your art, as far as feedback you have gotten?
Many people say that my work brings back certain memories, and some have said that it evoked emotions that either they had experienced or were experiencing at that present time. For my work to speak to anyone, especially in a very real, deeply profound way, is always so rewarding for me.
What is your advice to fellow crafters/artists?
The best advice that I would give to any other artist or creative person period, is the same advice that I would give to myself, and that is to be the best and truest version of you that you can possibly be. We are all on this artistic journey, and in the process it can be daunting when comparing your work to that of other great artists and creators, but if you continue to grow at conveying who you are, people will be drawn to the honesty which makes you unique.
How would you describe your style, or form of artistry?
My work is expressive, as I tend to focus on the meaning and emotion behind my work, as much if not more than painting precise figures. Some of my work like, “The Tree of Good & Evil”, falls into the surreal.
Do you have any future plans for your artwork?
My plan is to continue in the journey of self- discovery, and continue to create and display work that shows my growth, and depicts an honesty that draws people in along the way.
How long have you been an artist? When did you first discover your artistic ability?
I began producing art before I even knew I had the ability. My mother tells me as a pre-schooler I would be over in the corner drawing or doodling something, which naturally led to that first art class I had at 8yrs. old, and that led me to the very journey that I’m on today.
My work falls beneath the heading of “Millian Glenn Fine Art”.
