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Jeff's Bio |
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 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
The Art of Loving Nature
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
Quick facts Born 1931 in New York City ~ Lived, educated New York Sate, 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.
Copyright (c) 2005 LookSeePaint. All rights reserved.
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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”.
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 
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.