Izzy Miller was born in Hong Kong and has enjoyed living in the Middle East, Sweden, Italy and America. She relishes the opportunity to travel but has regarded the north of England as home since moving to the Peak District twelve years ago. After atelier training at both The Swedish Academy of Realist Art, Stockholm and Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Izzy went on to complete a Fine Arts degree at Lancaster University, securing a First. She is currently completing a Masters at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Izzy has international collectors of her work with paintings in the Middle East, New Zealand, Europe, Australia and Asia. Recently she was invited to take part in an art colony based in a Macedonian monastery and has represented the United Kingdom in Abu Dhabi’s first Art Biennale.
1) Which art movement do you consider most influential on your practice?
Quite possibly, in equal mixes, the Renaissance and Art Nouveau.
2) Where do you go and when to make your best art?
I usually make my best pieces in my room, in isolation, so I can let my thoughts run away with me! Although, I do find painting pieces outside very satisfying.
3) How do you describe your 'creative process'?
Usually, I have an idea..build up references for it and then begin. Normally this involves a preliminary sketch (recently I have found that charcoal sketches are useful before a painting to work on shapes and tonal value) and then I build up the layers, slowly!
4) Which artist, living or deceased, is the greatest inspiration to you?
The artists I most want to paint like are John Singer Sargent, Zorn and Bouguereau. There are plenty of painters today I find inspirational too, such as Jeremy Mann, Jeremy Lipking and The Putney Painters.
5) If you weren't an artist, what would you do?
Not too sure, I've given this a lot of thought over the years- being an artist is certainly not the easiest option..but I don't think I could do anything with as much conviction or meaning..possibly only something humanitarian?
6) What do you listen to for inspiration?
There are lots of podcasts, such as Suggested Donation where I can listen to painters who have made it through the other end of the artist struggle and are now making a real living from their work and their teaching- I think hearing this is the biggest motivator for me- it can be done!
7) If you could own one artwork, and money was no object, which piece would you acquire?
Pygmalion by Gérôme!
8) If your dream museum or collection owner came calling, which would it be?
The Louvre! It's become a bit of a joke between me and my friends that my work should end up in the Louvre!
9) What is your key piece of advice for artists embarking on a fine art or creative degree today?
I'll pass on a nugget of information that someone recently told me- If you want to be an artist, there should be no plan B.
10) What is your favourite book of all time (fiction or non-fiction)?
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.
11) If you could hang or place your artwork in one non-traditional art setting, where would that be?
I would take a piece of artwork back to Florence, Italy, to my old living room near San Lorenzo where all this began.
12) What was the biggest lesson your university course or time studying taught you?
That you can always do more, and you can always learn more...and that the tutors aren't always right.
13) And finally, if we were to fast forward 10 years, where would we find you?
Somewhere sunny in Europe (the Mediterranean?) with a little studio and a dog! Surrounded by lots of sold paintings awaiting shipment :)
