LookSeePaint About Jeff Miller

“That’s when I really got close and started to see myself, irrefutably, as nature” In Jeff Miller’s poem, The Canoe, he relates that his most important learning happened in a canoe....at the edge where the water meets the land. These ideas began almost 60 years ago on his first Algonquin Park canoe trip. They continue today. After “a million miles” of paddling and portaging, through Ontario’s back lands and waterways, it was only natural that Miller’s understanding of wilderness values led him to advocacy for these areas. He saw that the unspoiled wild places on this earth had more to do with our lives than just “summer fun”. In fact, he gleaned from his canoe, that the natural ecosystem was really our “HOME SYSTEM”.

Some 35 years ago he put down his fly rod and picked up his brush and paints. “That’s when I really got close and started to see myself, irrefutably, as nature”. In the wilderness, far from human artificial environments, Miller realized the intensity of his own love for this northern wild beauty, but how could he share it with others ? Convinced that deep love for nature can come from contemplative and intimate observation , the simple idea of looking , seeing , and painting , in nature, started to formulate in his mind.

Lack of Reverence or Love of the land

Miller believes that an intimate connection with nature particularly at an early age will endure throughout the life of the individual. In the writings of Stan Rowe, Theodore Rozak and David Suzuki, all suggest that the missing element that prevents humanity form making fundamental progress in the area of saving our planet is our lack of Reverence or Love of the land. These writers stop short of suggesting HOW we acquire this Love. As Miller says, “ its not as though you drop into the Love Shop and pick up a few pounds of Love”. Miller believes Art is the vehicle that connects people, particularly young people to nature. “ The message and the method seem to be working”, Miller smiles, “. What’s really going on here is not a mystery, everyone here is Looking, Seeing and Painting in they’re own way”.

The Art of Loving Nature

In the early 1990's, working with his long time friend and colleague cinematographer, Dave Thomas, these ideas crystalized into LOOK SEE PAINT, The Art of Loving Nature. With the production of a video, the creation of a hand held artist quality paint kit and the development of a simple and elegant method of painting which avoids the defeating concepts of masterpiece and “art- for-excellence“, Miller employs “our nature-ness” and the nature around us ,in his method of gently guiding everyone with the “itch” to paint, to really participate in the process of painting that is right for them. Using benchmarks such as bio-diversity, The Art Nature Program has lead over 10,000 painters, men and women, young and old, experienced and not, through this sensory program and has produced an equivalent number of enlightened painters as individual as snowflakes.

Jeff Miller has been referred to as “the last of the old time Canadian painters”, continuing in the traditions begun by Tom Thompson and the Group of Seven. Miller paints onsite in the wilds, either from his canoe or on the shore. Although he has painted coast to coast, Miller feels particularly at home in the Algonquin Park and Lake Superior regions on Ontario. His paintings can be viewed online in his Gallery or in person at two locations:

Limberlost Studio and Gallery OR John A Libby’s Fine Art

Active painter, teacher, writer and speaker

Jeff Miller remains an active painter, teacher, writer and speaker. He guides small groups on short intimate teaching excursions to quality wilderness areas, full days , weekends and on special events, as well as private tutoring.

Quick facts

Born 1931 in New York City. Lived, educated New York State, Tarrytown, NY, Hackley School Williams College, Williamstown Mass. Attended Camp Pathfinder, Algonquin Park, first wilderness canoe trip. Moved to Ontario, late 50's; worked, raised family in Toronto, Pastime Canoe tripping ~ Started painting 1970. 1973 started canoe guiding service Jeff Miller Canoe Trips. Founding director of Algonquin Wild lands League 1968 & President 1971-1973 .Became a Canadian Citizen 1970. Video & Outdoor Paint-kit 1993, LOOK SEE PAINT, The Art of Loving Nature, produced with Dave Thomas. Development of the ART NATURE PROGRAM ongoing.

Ross Carlin

Ross spent the first half of his working life as a morning DJ on radio stations across Canada, reaching the top of his profession. His career started where he now resides, in Huntsville Ontario – just outside of Algonquin Park. Ross has performed morning shows in over a dozen stations including CFGM and CKEY Toronto, CFUN Vancouver, CJBK London and many in-between.

Following radio, Ross was the driving force behind the creation of the first professional recordings of our National Anthem – O Canada – in over 20 years. In 1992 Ross and his crew presented the country with two new versions, a 72 piece orchestral with the Toronto Orpheus Choir, and the more well-known contemporary version with 244 music stars from across the country (Rita MacNeil, Tommy Hunter, Gino Vanelli to name a few).

Ross received a medal from Queen Elizabeth in 1992 for his “Outstanding Service to Canada”.

Since then Ross was responsible for rebuilding the Gravenhurst Opera House, acting as Manager of Arts and Culture for the Town of Gravenhurst from 1997 – 2002. He also operates a tourism consulting business “SmartArts” in his spare time.

Look See Paint

In 2004 Jeff Miller came to see Ross Carlin about joining Look See Paint. Ross liked the company so much he joined Jeff as partner and President. With his experience as President of the national not-for-profit O Canada Foundation, Ross brings first-hand knowledge of sales, marketing and promotion of “a love for the land”.

Ross credits Jeff for opening his eyes and heart to the beauty that surrounds us.

“In my O Canada project I was the one responsible for getting people to stop and really think about how lucky we are to live in Canada. With Jeff’s Look See Paint Program we want to get people to stop and think how lucky we are to live surrounded by nature.” Says Ross “We want people to really see what we all too often take for granted”.

Quick Facts

Born in Toronto 1954. One wife, three kids, one grandson and two cats.