We were lucky to catch up with Forrest Miller recently and have shared our conversation below.
Forrest, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Painting and drawing have been a part of my life since I was very young and I’ve been lucky to have amazing parents and teachers that continue to fuel me to this day so it’s not hard keeping my creativity alive, it’s a massive part of who I am. This year will be my twelve time in Artprize here in Grand Rapids and it also has played a huge role in my growth and dedication as an artist.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I specialize in the art of realism. In college I used watercolor, watercolor gouache and colored pencils but no medium could compete with my love for oil paint. I have been drawing realistically since I was very young so that was really the base for my career in painting. I love to paint all subject matters and every year have switched my focus. I enjoy the challenge of painting a new environment weather that be my beautiful home state of Michigan or anywhere else on land, ocean and even space. In 2022 I took my experience with portraits and was hired by FOX 17 in Grand Rapids to do court sketches of the Whitmer Kidnapping Trial. It was a very overwhelming experience for the first few days but I gained confidence overtime.I also court sketched the retrial of that case later on that year working with Upnorthlive, Mlive, Dailymail, CNN and CBS. It was an amazing experience that is without a doubt the biggest highlight of my career so far.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important thing is to continue to learn and grow as an artist. I like to listen to podcasts highlighting creative professionals and their journey to success. I was lucky to have some great teachers growing up that help build my work ethic and the understanding that high level paintings or drawings take time and patience. I also think it’s important to be optimistic and to not get discouraged as an artist. I never imagined I would work for the news as a court sketch artist. You just don’t know what opportunities will come your way so stay positive and keep working.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents have been a huge part of my development as an artist. They both have a deep love for art history so growing up I went to many museums around the country whenever we traveled. I think the most impactful thing they did for me is taking me to all these museums and showing me a variety of painters in person. They have always given me so much motivation to work hard.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: forrestmillerart
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/forrest.miller.140
