"My works are based on my journeys and the places I explore.
They reflect my creative experience while being there.
The resulting painting isn't so much a portrayal of a particular
place but a portrayal of the inspirational aspects of being there.
My aspiration is to capture the essence of that experience."
Miller’s paintings are deeply rooted in the natural world, particularly the Newfoundland coastline. He frequently explores coastal coves and beaches, drawing inspiration from the ever-changing interplay of light, texture, and form. He conducts numerous studies in nature that culminate in his studio works, capturing the essence and atmosphere of the landscapes and seascapes he portrays.
Currently residing in Newfoundland, James H. Miller continues to create compelling artworks that reflect his deep connection to the island’s landscapes and seascapes, inviting viewers to experience the profound beauty and complexity of the natural world through his eyes.
James H. Miller – Artist Statement
"Seasons of the Sea"
"Seasons of the Sea" is a body of work that comes from a lifelong relationship with Newfoundland’s coast.
A place where the ocean is a constant presence that defines rhythm, livelihood, and memory.
These works explore the essence of the changing seasons on the sea and the communities that live by it.
Working primarily in oil, I embrace the medium’s slow, deliberate nature.
Its ability to build texture and depth mirrors the layered realities of life by the water.
The salt-worn wood of a fishing stage, the soft reflection of a harbour in early morning light, and the vastness of the sea and sky.
Oil allows me to express my thoughts and visions on canvas like a poet expresses thoughts through words on a page.
The seasons in Newfoundland are more than changes in climate.
They are cycles of survival and transformation.
Spring brings thaw, renewal and potential.
Summer offers abundance, warmth and light.
Autumn carries, at first, stillness and reflection, but then the gales arrive and carve their power into every aspect of life on the sea.
The year ends with winters arrival and the endurance and respect for the harshness and beauty of the sea is renewed.
Each of the seasons affects the sea, the coast, and the people in different ways.
In these works, I explore how these changes mark the land and seascape, how they influence colour, tone, light and shape,
and I search for the essence of all of this.
Through these works, I hope to offer viewers more than the vision that I imagine, but I invite them into the feeling of the place.
The hush of fog on a summer morning, the expance of sea and sky, the colours of late sunlight on retreating waves.
These are moments that speak to me and the intimate, ongoing relationship between people, sea, and season.
"Seasons of the Sea" is both a tribute and a reflection—a way of holding time, of honouring place, and of bearing witness to the beauty and power of a life shaped by the ocean.
— James H. Miller