Stan Miller has been painting in watercolor for more than thirty years. Over that time, he’s developed a style that feels patient and observant. There’s nothing rushed about his work. A lot of that seems to come from simply spending years painting, teaching, and learning to notice the little things that are easy to overlook.
Miller is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, and his work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the United States and in other countries as well. He also continues to teach watercolor workshops, both around Spokane and in other parts of the country and world.
Spokane has been home for most of Miller’s life, although he didn’t grow up there. His childhood was spent on a small farm in South Dakota before his family moved to Washington. He later studied Applied Arts and Commercial Art at Spokane Falls Community College. Other than about two years in Pennsylvania, he has remained in the Spokane area.
When he talks about becoming an artist, Miller often goes back to things that happened when he was young. He remembers watching his older brother draw and also remembers visiting the home of a watercolorist and being impressed by what he saw. They might seem like small experiences, but they stayed with him.
His start with watercolor itself wasn’t exactly a success. In his first watercolor class, Miller received a C, which was the lowest grade he had ever received in an art class. Instead of giving up on it, he took the class again. The second time around, he earned an A. More importantly, he discovered that he really enjoyed watercolor.
By 1973, Miller was selling some of his paintings. The prices weren’t much at first sometimes only a few dollars but it gave him enough encouragement to take the next step. He decided to pursue watercolor full time. That decision eventually led to decades of exhibitions, awards, teaching, and a growing reputation beyond Spokane.
Over the years, Miller has received recognition from the American Watercolor Society and has exhibited his work internationally, including in France, Thailand, and Vietnam. He has also received several Best of Show awards. His paintings have appeared in museums, magazines, books, and juried exhibitions.
He continues to paint and teach today. His workshops take him around the United States and internationally, giving him a chance to share what he has learned over a career that began with a C in a watercolor class and grew into a lifelong commitment to the medium.