Meet Gary Millard,
I have found that life holds no guarantees and that people are not perfect or not always who they appear to be. Life is about choices, some we regret and some we are proud of. It has been said many times before, not trying to be mister philosophical here but, “what lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us”. It has also been said, “true love, is giving someone the ability to destroy you but trusting them not too”. Hummm….
What happens in peoples past, may or may not have to be painful or life altering. The reality is that our past, has a great deal to do with who and what we are today! It doesn’t take allot of strength to hang on to our possessions or the prefect life we think we have, it takes allot more strength to just let go…..
We cross our bridges when we come to them and sometimes burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress in life, except a memory, of the smell of smoke and the perception that once our eyes watered.
People often say that this or that person has not found himself, I don’t believe that “self” is something one finds, it is something one creates.
I find painting to be rewarding, and one of those important things in life, that has subjected me to some of the most memorable and life altering experiences life has to offer. I feel it is better to paint for myself and have no sales or followers, than to paint for only the sales and have no self. Wow… yes, painting gives me the ability to not try to be better than my contemporaries, but, that each time I pick up a brush, to be better than myself.
Sometimes we have to reinvent ourselves by not moving the chess pieces but by moving the board.
Click on the Green Colored links below to see some of Gary Millards
Latest “Plein Air” Painting Adventures
Cedarburg Plein Air 2015 Competition - June 2015
a production of the Cedarburg Artists Guild, Cedarburg Wisconsin
150 Plein Air Artists from across the United States competed in this incredible annual event.
Follow this link to the Cedarburg Plein Air 2015 Event website for more information on the event and all the artist participants.
We painted in Port Washington, Lions Den Gorge, Cedarburg and also one day in Thiensville, all in Wisconsin.
Below are some of my entries for the main Cedarburg event that were painted on location in some of the above locations. The participating artists paintings, were then all hung in the Cedarburg Cultural Center for the judging, followed by viewing by Weekend Strawberry Festival fair goers.
This Plein Air Exhibit will be on display (containing only the paintings remaining for sale) until August 8, 2015.
This is my entry for the Quick Paint Competition, meaning…. you have 2 1/2 hours to get your panel that you are painting on stamped (verifiy that it is being painted at the time of the competition), then run out to your painting location, paint like crazy or in some cases you are crazy already, finish the painting, varnish the painting, frame the painting, and return back to the registration counter, all of this within 2 1/2 hours…. whewwww…
These were some of my entries for the Port Washington portion of the competition.
If it holds still in Cedarburg during the event … it is likely to get painted !!! As with this painting, it is a “quick” painted sketch to capture the moment.
Summer Sounds Mobile Administration office.
Cedarburg painting wasn’t all work 🙂
My History as an Artist
The following “Artists” each had their hand in helping me succeed as an Artist. I will never forget their influences, kind words that convinced me to continue on to paint.
Gary’s Artist Mentors…
Gary Millard's Process
See Gary Millard’s Process of a Typical Studio Painting – From Start to Finish.
Starting with the under painting, rough sketch, Acrylic Blockin of shapes, Oil Finishes to bring out or setback in some cases the focal point of the painting. Tis the season for Plein Air Painting so this painting will be completed by the end of summer 2015, no rush for a change 🙂 But in the mean time you can click here to see what progress I have made!
My Favorite Artists Sites !
The links here are by no means a complete list, but I am sure you will enjoy!
Making People Happy!
I think an artist has a gift that goes beyond just painting on Canvas or Hardboard panels.
We have the ability as artist to express our talent in many ways…
Click on this link to see some of the reasons why I love what I do!